Sometimes you just need to get out and do something… Hiking Ben A’an had been on my radar for a while and as the weather was looking good yesterday then I headed up there for sunset. It’s about 1.5 hours from my house and an easy drive for most of it up to Callander via Stirling, after that the road gets a bit windy but not too bad when there is no-one else there. I had wanted to go up the Duke’s Pass but it was meant to be shut for a bike event.
A short detour to get some shots of Ben Venue with the evening light raking across the valley led to an adventure through rough terrain just to get back on the main path. A bit of brambles ripping at the skin, not too much swearing, but a lot of sweating and sliding around on the side of the hills was involved.
The bottom of the path is an easy walk but quickly turns in to a steep clamber for the second half. It was a bit of a race to get to the top in time for sunset, so the sweating continued.
Finally made it to the top and the views down Loch Katrine certainly didn’t disappoint. Views over to Stirling and Dumgoyne aren’t too bad either but looking west was impressive.
The walk back down with the light fading would have been interesting without a head torch on and no doubt there have been some casualties in the past. Did intend stopping in Callander for a chippy on the way home but resisted temptation for once…