Climbing Beautiful Ben A'an

Magnificent view from the top of Ben A'an, across Loch Katrine to the Arrochar Alps and Loch Lomond

In this wonderful spring weather, we decided to go for a bit of a hill walk.  And where better than the very popular Ben A’an at the eastern end of Loch Katrine?

From Appletree Cottage, we took the road north to Aberfoyle, then followed the A821 over the spectacular Duke's Pass.  As we descended to the shore of Loch Achray, we could see the distinctive pointed peak of Ben A’an poking above the trees. 

First sight of the distinctive pointed peak of Ben A'an from the main road

Soon we were down by the shore of the loch where we followed the road round to the right at the junction with the Loch Katrine pier turn off, then parked in the Ben A’an car park shortly afterwards on the right-hand side of the road.

Although it was a gorgeous sunny day, the usually busy car park was only half full.  The charge for a car for the day at the time of writing is £5 for the day for a car, but both machines were out of order, which was a bonus!

Near the beginning of the path as it starts to climb the hill

We started our journey up the hill along the steep path, on the other side of the main road from the car park.

Sometimes described as ‘a mountain in miniature, at 1512ft high (461m), Ben A’an is a perfect climb and a great introduction for novice hill climbers.

Looking back at Loch Achray shortly after starting our walk

The path rose quickly, and soon we were looking down the steep hillside towards where we had started.

This distinctive hill gives panoramic vistas across Loch Katrine towards the Arrochar Alps on the western shore of Loch Lomond, to the south to the Campsie Hills and towards Stirling in the east.

Recent works have much improved the track up the hill, which meanders through lovely mixed woodland alongside a pretty ravine with a small burn at its base.  The more vertical sections have been enhanced with stone steps set into the hillside.

A highland burn looks pretty on our ascent

The name Ben A’an is thought to be an anglicisation created by Sir Walter Scott in his epic poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’ where he describes its craggy slopes as ‘fragments of an earlier world’. The original name is thought to be Binnean, which, from Gaelic, can be translated as ‘small peak’ or ‘pinnacle’

There is one wooden bridge on the route, whilst other burns (streams) are crossed by a clever arrangement of huge boulders.

One of the many boulder arrangements providing access across the burns

After a good steep climb, at around the halfway point, the path plateaus before commencing an even steeper ascent towards the summit.

The summit viewed from the plateau section

By this point great views open up across Loch Katrine on which two passenger ferries operate.  One of these is the 125-year-old steamship ‘Sir Walter Scott’, once again in operation after a recent boiler replacement.

The climb through the woods can be steep on the final section

Loch Katrine is the main water supply for Glasgow.  A twin pipe aqueduct runs the 26 miles from the loch to Glasgow with a steady falling gradient of ten inches per mile (one meter drop in every 6334 meters)

This Victorian marvel of engineering was officially opened on 14th October 1859 by the Queen herself.  To mark the occasion, a small mansion was constructed on the south shore of Loch Katrine to accommodate the queen and her entourage.  Cannons were fired in a salute to mark the opening ceremony.  It is said that an unexpected result of this pomp was that the vibration created by the cannon fire broke every window in the new building.  Queen Victoria had to find somewhere else to sleep that night.

Near the summit looking back down towards Loch Achray where we parked the car

As we near the top, the path gets very steep. It is recommended that decent walking boots be worn for this adventure, as slipping and twisting an ankle is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Finally, at the top, we get the full view.  The Arrochar Alps and Loch Lomond to the west, the Campsie Hills to the south, with the distinctive outline of Drumgoyne at the western end of the range.  To the north, we could pick out Ben Lui, Ben More and to the east, possibly Stirling through the haze.

Two of the passenger craft on Loch Katrine. Sir Walter Scott and The Lady of the Lake

Down below, we can see the boats as they ply their trade on Loch Katrine.

Ben A’an is at the heart of the Trossachs.  Trossachs is an anglicisation of the Gaelic “Na Troisichean”, meaning land that lies athwart, specifically referring to the narrow-wooded valley between Loch Achray and Loch Katrine.

The Campsie Fells in the distance, with the distinctive Drumgoyne at the right-hand (western) end

In years past, this was the land where the infamous Rob Roy McGregor rustled cattle as an outlaw.  Rob Roy was brought to fame by Sir Walter Scott in his hugely successful book of the same name.  What is less well known is that Rob Roy’s sister, Mistress Gow, is said to be the first incumbent of Scotland’s oldest licensed pub – The Clachan in Drymen – well worth a visit and even closer to Appletree Cottage.

After a well-earned rest at the top of the hill, we started to make our descent to the car park at the end of what was a perfect walk.

Perhaps time now for a pint in the Clachan Inn, Drymen!

The Clachan Inn, Drymen. The oldest licensed pub in Scotland was owned by Rob Roy's sister.