KYQ4: Ben A'an

Wednesday, 4 November 2020

Ben A'an

Ben A'an and Loch Katrine

Ben A'an is undoubtedly one of the best viewpoints in Scotland with its pointed rock summit overlooking Loch Katrine providing a spectacular viewpoint for the Southern Highlands. It is easily accessible from the central belt and only a 350-metre climb up a steep but well-made path constructed about six years ago. It had been a regular jaunt when our children were young, although our six-month-old was probably too cold to appreciate it during her first Christmas. As the children grew up, it was one of the local hills and ideal for expending some of their energy at weekends and during holidays.

Since the new path was constructed I have not climbed the hill; its popularity, car parking charges and reports of bike thefts act as a deterrent. Aileen and I had already had three trips up Lime Craig this week as part of coping with the latest lockdown. It seemed that the time was ripe to revisit Ben A'an for the first time in several years. It was a clear autumn day and we were walking by 9:00am, there were already a dozen cars in the car park and the early walkers were coming down.

The path is fiercely steep at the start but the dense coniferous forest has been felled and the rocks that have been carefully levered into the uncompromising slopes provide a veritable staircase from Loch Achray. It curves westwards and crosses a wooden bridge before the gradient slackens. The old path meandered through the dark canopy but it now takes a more direct route through more natural open woodland. The birch and stunted oak trees help to camouflage the worst of the felling operations. The final 150 metres of climbing is the steepest part of the climb with a rock girt path twisting its way up to a small level platform. Then just the scramble to the rocky peaky McPeak.

Although the sun had not broken through we were transfixed by the views as we scrambled over and around the peaks. A young couple from Glasgow arrived with two dogs and gawped in wonder at the surroundings. They had moved to Glasgow from the home counties and could not believe the views, they felt privileged to be so close to the great outdoors. They asked what other nearby outings could we recommend and we gave them half a dozen other nearby hills before starting the descent. There were forty or so walkers on the ascent and the car park was full. We drove home for morning coffee with our lifetime of fond memories of family days on Ben A'an rekindled.