Hiking Ben A'an | Most Iconic Views in Scotland

Situated in the Trossachs, the iconic pointed peak of Ben A’an is a picture perfect miniature mountain with superb views from the top. With it’s rocky staircases and a well worn, very well maintained path it is a great walk for families and really fun for kids.
Ben A’an isn’t actually it’s own mountain, but a pyramidal rocky outcrop on the way to the top of the 100m higher Meall Gainmheich. (In Gaelic its name actually means “the small, pointed peak”.) But it is the peak of Ben A’an that we all know and love!
The Route
From the Ben A’an car park head across the road. You’ll immediately see a path in front of you that heads steeply uphill, an intense warm up section, with some wooden steps. The views down towards Loch Achray are great from almost the beginning of this walk so make sure you turn around for a look.
After a few minutes the path swings round to the left and up a rocky staircase, skirting the edge of the tree line as it climbs. Cross the little wooden bridge and and the path will continue on the other side of the burn. Eventually you’ll cross the burn again via some big stepping stones.
This section of the walk looks a bit bare because the non-native trees have been felled and are being replaced with native conifers so if you go back in a few years you will see how the native forest is growing. But for now it is pretty bare at this point and you will get a fantastic view of the pointed summit that you are heading towards. There is a nice break from the climb for a while as the trail flattens out before you reach the forest again and the climb resumes. (You will come to a crossroad in the trail: head straight through it.)
Keep following the trail and you’ll eventually poke out of the trees for a minute with a steep climb in front of you. This is a good spot for a snack with the kids and a beauty of a view out over Loch Katrine. The next climb is steep and rocky. It’s basically a rough staircase made out of rocks and boulders. There are a few bits that feel like a bit of a scramble and some of the steps are really tall.
The Highlights
Ben A’an isn’t a really easy walk up a hill, but the path is exceptionally well kept. You absolutely cannot get lost on this walk.
Those views from the top of Ben A’an are absolutely sensational. From the top you can see an often cloud topped Ben Venue just across the valley. You can see the expanse of Loch Katrine and the white Sir Walter Scott steamship looking like a tiny speck in the vast loch, heading back and forth on its sightseeing journeys from the dock. And there are panoramic views of Loch Achray too. For the effort you put in, it is quite spectacular.
Difficulty: Moderate. This is a pretty steep hill in some parts and it isn’t the easiest climb if you have little legs (including myself in that) because a lot of the rocky ‘steps’ are pretty high. The smallest (aged almost 4) needed a bit of help at points but coped pretty well the rest of the way.
The Logistics
Wheels: Ben A’an is not wheel friendly.
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Beautiful 😍