Hillwalking in the Trossachs. Ben Aan walk

Hillwalking in the Trossachs - Ben A'an walk

Ben A’an walk (Quite energetic and a wee rocky scramble near top) Description Distance Height Start Approximate time Parking 2.5 miles 1491 ft 200 yards west of Tigh Mhor near Loch Achray 1 ½ - 2 hours Car park A821 opposite the track.

List of medium ability walks Callander area Bracklinn Falls and Upper Crags Ben Gullipen from A81 Trossachs area Ben A'an hillwalk Bealach nam Bo Menteith Hills Achray Woods walk The Boundary Fault Trail. Strathyre/Balquhidder area Bein an t-Sithean (Shian)  Creag an Tuirc  (Balquhidder) Killin area Killin Junctn & GlenOgle Sron a Chlachain (Killin) Acharn Woods (Killin) Acharn & GlenOgle (Killin) Auchlyne & Killin Jnctn Loch Lomond area Conic Hill

Panoramic image

The view over the Trossachs and Loch Katrine from the summit of Ben A'an is phenomenal for it’s height making this a very rewarding walk.

Cross the road from the car park to a path which climbs up steeply through mixed woodland and is soon accompanied by a burn on the right. The path levels out after crossing the burn by a footbridge (a).

On the left there is a viewpoint looking over the Trossachs steamer pier. The path meanders through pines and when it emerges from the trees the conical summit of Ben Aan is suddenly revealed ahead. The path now becomes more demanding, a steep scramble up loose rock.
Pause occasionally to catch breath and enjoy the view back.

The steeper route leaves to the left and is often used by rock climbers(b), while the ‘tourist’ path continues to the top.

It generally takes about an hour to reach the summit though the super-fit can do it in half this time. The highest point on the route (c) is 1,491 feet and the path ends at its twin rocky peaks each providing vast landscapes of Scotland in different directions — west over Loch Katrine past Stronachlacher at Loch Lomond to the 'Arrochar Alps' and 'the Cobbler' and south-east over Loch Achray and the Campsie Fells. This walk gets a bit busy at times - last time I was up there there were about 25 people on the top!

At the summit, if you have the time and energy it's worth continuing west past the summit on the ill defined path leading down towards a fence in the distance. Don't cross the fence, but follow down a somewhat wet path to the woods, staying close to the fence all the way. This leads down to Loch Katrine with a walk of about 3 miles along the lochside and down the Trossachs road to Loch Achray and the car park.

Twice a day in summer the sound of a pipe band will drift up from the steamer Sir Walter Scott as she leaves for trips up Loch Katrine. The return is by the same path and should take little more than thirty minutes.