Ben Bowie

About Ben Bowie

Rising above the Highland Boundary Fault near Helensburgh, this modest Marilyn offers a grandstand view of Loch Lomond’s southern islands. The ascent through quiet woodland and open moorland is straightforward, rewarding walkers with a clear perspective of Ben Lomond and the rugged Luss Hills to the north, contrasting with the Firth of Clyde southward.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Beinn Bhuide', meaning 'Yellow Hill', likely a reference to the colour of the bent grass or gorse that covers its slopes in the autumn and winter months.
• •The summit serves as an excellent geological vantage point; looking north-east, you can trace the line of the Highland Boundary Fault as it cuts across the loch towards Conic Hill and the Menteith hills.
• •The hill is a common detour for those trekking the John Muir Way or the Three Lochs Way, both of which traverse the lower slopes and Goukhill Muir to the west.
• •Despite its lowly elevation of just 313 metres, it qualifies as a Marilyn because it is physically isolated from the higher Luss Hills by the Fruin Water valley, giving it the required 150 metres of prominence.
• •While the name might suggest a connection to a legendary rock star or a famous knife, any expectation of glamour is usually tempered by the traditional Scottish reality of the boggy ground near the summit cairn.