I challenged myself to summit Ben A’an one time while paddleboarding on Loch Venacher. The views across were stunning, so I did a bit of research and realised it was a popular hill to climb.
We set off from the car park (paid, postcode: FK17 8HY), and from there it’s steep from the start. There’s big stones set out as steps to take you up the first bit, which can be a bit of a slog. The path takes you through a forest area, and around half way there’s a nice flatter park to stop for snacks! (The most important part about climbing, right?). At this point there’s a great view of the peak, and the views are already stunning. There’s also an excellent point for silhouette photos!
It took around 45-50 minutes to climb, and we hung around for around 40 mins to catch the best sunset I’ve ever seen, with the sun sliding down behind the Arrochar Alps in the distance, and reflecting off Loch Achray on its way down.
The descent was slightly more tricky due to the crumbly ground on the parts that were not steps. We made it back down in roughly 40 mins.
Great Mountain in Miniature!
Common questions about Ben A’an:
How long does it take to climb Ben A’an?
It takes roughly and hour and a half up and down, however I lingered at the top to watch the Sunset, so I think I was three hours in total.
How hard is Ben A’an to Climb?
this hill as known as Scotland’s Mini Mountain, not only for the way it loos, but it is a fairly steep climb at parts. I’d definitely say it’s moderate, although short compared to some climbs.
Is Ben A’an a Munro?
Despite being moderately challenging, Ben A’an is neither a Munro, nor a Corbett. It’s a fantastic, easily accessible hill.
