Ben Vrackie routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
842 m ยท Perth and Kinross
Ben Vrackie is an 842m Corbett above Pitlochry, climbed from the car park at Moulin by a good path past Loch a' Choire.
Peakify lists 1 measured route up Ben Vrackie, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Ben Vrackie routes, easiest to hardest
There is one measured route so far, graded Moderate. Grades run Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moulin via Loch a' Choire | Ben Vrackie car park above Moulin | 5.3 km one way | 680 m | 2h 10m | 3h 15m | Moderate |
Ben Vrackie route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Ben Vrackie route
Moulin via Loch a' Choire
A path climbs through woods and over moor to the loch, then zigzags up the steep summit cone. It starts from Ben Vrackie car park above Moulin. 5.3 km one way with 680 m of ascent. About 2h 10m to the summit and 3h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Ben Vrackie route GPX
This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a Ben Vrackie route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open Ben Vrackie, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Ben Vrackie today and the Ben Vrackie 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Ben Vrackie routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Ben Vrackie, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Ben Vrackie
What is the easiest route up Ben Vrackie?
The one measured route listed here is Moulin via Loch a' Choire (Moderate).
How much time does each Ben Vrackie route take?
Moulin via Loch a' Choire: about 2h 10m up and 3h 15m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Ben Vrackie route?
Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.