Ben A'an – a Short, Steep Climb Above Loch Katrine
About 3 miles on foot.
Ben A'an is a small, steep, rocky hill in the Trossachs, and from its summit you look straight down the length of Loch Katrine.
It's a stiff climb but a short one, a little over 450 metres high, so a fit adult can be up and down in a morning, with lunch at the Lade Inn to follow.
- Time
- About two hours up and down, 2.2 km each way, with time at the top.
- The path
- A steep, strenuous hill path, rebuilt in the forest, rocky near the summit.
- Where to start
- Forestry and Land Scotland's Ben A'an car park on the A821, 300 metres east of the turning to Loch Katrine (FK17 8HY for a sat nav): £2 for up to an hour, £5 for the day, paid by coins, card or RingGo; blue badge holders free. It fills quickly on fine days.
- When to go
- Open hill all year, for daylight and dry, still weather; the Lade Inn serves food every day from noon (12.30pm on Sundays).
- Children
- A steep climb with a rocky, exposed summit: for older children used to hills, held close at the top.
- Toilets
- No toilets at the car park: Forestry and Land Scotland says the nearest public toilets, shops and places to eat are at Trossachs Pier on Loch Katrine.
- Before you set out
- Forestry and Land Scotland's local alerts for Ben A'an name ticks; check the page for path notices before going.
The walk
The Ben A'an car park is on the A821 west of Loch Venachar, 300 metres east of the turning for Loch Katrine. It's run by Forestry and Land Scotland and charges £2 for up to an hour or £5 for the day, by coins, card or RingGo, and it fills quickly on fine days, so come early. There are no toilets here.
The path climbs from the car park through the forest, steep in places on a rebuilt path, then crosses open ground below the peak before a last steep, rocky pull to the summit, a little over 450 metres up. It's 2.2 km each way, and most people take about two hours up and down. From the top, Loch Katrine runs away west between the hills, with Loch Achray below.
Wear boots and take a warm layer: the summit is rocky and exposed, so turn back in cloud, high wind or ice, and leave yourself at least three hours of daylight.
If it rains
The rocky top is no place in cloud, rain or a strong wind. On a wet day, climb only as far as the forest's edge for the view over Loch Achray, then come down and let lunch at the Lade Inn run long.
Afterwards
11 min by car
The Lade Inn
Lunch
Drive 11 minutes east to the Lade Inn at Kilmahog, where the A821 meets the A84. It's a pub that brews its own ales, three of them found only here, and serves food in the bar, the restaurant or the beer garden from noon to 8.45pm, from 12.30pm on Sundays. It is said to be step-free and to welcome children and dogs; ring ahead to check.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.