Ben Shee

The fairy hill of the Ochils, Ben Shee is a small (516m) yet distinctive summit in the Glendevon area.

  • Distance: 5 miles / 8 km
  • Ascent: 1200 feet / 365m
  • Terrain: Grassy hill paths and tracks
  • Start / finish: Wodland Trust Glensherup car park near Glendevon grid ref NN 971 051.

Route Map

Ben Shee route map

From the car park there is a path next to the information board that takes you into the forest to join the main forest track. After almost 1km on the forest track you will reach a signpost for the Glendevon Reservoir Trail. Go right here off the main track, down the hillside to the Glensherup Reservoir dam. Ben Shee is the prominent hill directly across the reservoir. Cross over the dam and the outflow then go up hill slightly on the opposite side to join a water authority road. Go left onto this road to reach the fishery car park.

From the fishery the road continues as a grassy track / path. After passing through a large gate / stile you will in an area managed by the Woodland Trust where a tree regeneration project is taking place. The grass path provides very pleasant walking above the reservoir. Waymarker arrow posts are located along this section of path. Once past the reservoir the path starts to rise uphill to reach a bealach below the summit of Ben Shee. Turn right when the path joins a track at the bealach. Stay on the track passing a sign for the summit of Ben Shee. Do not follow the waymarker posts which lead down to the Lower Glendevon Reservoir.

The track contours around the side of the hill so it is necessary to leave the track close to its highest point. A feint grassy path covers the short distance from the track to the summit of the hill.

From the summit the path continues in a north east direction, firstly across grassland and latterly through young trees. There are two path options and both of them will bring you back on to the track. Follow the track downhill through the woodland until you reach a large gate / stile. After crossing the stile, go right downhill alongside the fence on a feint grassy path to reach the water authority road.

Turn right on to the road and walk back to the area of the dam. Cross the dam and go back up the hillside to join the forest track at the signpost. Go left remembering to look out for the path to the car park on your left hand side (if you miss the path don’t worry, you will still end up back at the car park but by a longer route).