Hiking Ben A’an and visiting Loch Katrine in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a Scotland must do! Combining the two, which are located just by each other, makes for the perfect day trip to experience Scotland’s natural beauty.
Ben A’an, while technically a hill, is essentially a mini mountain. You could confused the views, which are worthy of an even bigger climb, with those from a Munro, Scotland’s highest mountains. If tackling a Munro doesn’t appeal to you just yet, you want a starter hike before you do, or you want a more chill but active day out, Ben A’an is the perfect hike!
As for Loch Katrine, this is the second largest loch in The Trossachs after Loch Lomond. Loch Katrine is more than the perfect view from the summit, and well worth its own explore. You can even go for a relaxing boat cruise to balance out the activities!
Since Ben A’an is a short hike, visiting Loch Katrine, too, helps extend the day in the best way, or vice versa if Loch Katrine is your priority!
In this post, I’ll give you an insight into this must do Scotland day trip, to help guide you with your trip!
How to get to Ben A’an and Loch Katrine?
Located in the Central Belt of Scotland, the Trossachs is within relatively easy access from major cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh. Getting to Ben A’an and Loch Katrine is around an hour drive from Glasgow, or 1.5 hours from Edinburgh.
Do note that there is no public transport to Ben A’an and Loch Katrine, so you will need your own transport. If you’re interested in renting a car for your Scotland trip, which will ensure you can get to spots such as this, you can check for rental cars here.
The nearest towns to Ben A’an and Loch Katrine are Callander and Aberfoyle.
You will pass through Callander if coming from Edinburgh/the East Coast/further north, but if you travel from Glasgow direction, you will go through Aberfoyle. If you want to make more than a day trip out of visiting this area (there is so much more to explore nearby), you might even want to consider a stay in Callander (check for accommodation here) or in Aberfoyle (check accommodation here).
Car Parks
Both Ben A’an and Loch Katrine have their own car park. You will come across the car park for Ben A’an first. If you continue along the road for a few more minutes, you will reach Loch Katrine’s car park.
Parking charges apply – £2 for an hour, or £5 for all day.
There are no facilities at the Ben A’an car park, however if you head to Loch Katrine there are free public toilets here. There is also a water station where you can fill up your water bottle for free.
Note that the car parks can get busy, even full, during peak times (weekends, sunny days).
I’ve read that it can be ‘jam-packed’….. but don’t forget, if you visit in the late Spring/summer months, the sun doesn’t set until late. You don’t need to do the hike in the morning!! Despite visiting on a gorgeous Monday, the car parks were more empty than full one my visit, as I went later in the day.
Visiting Loch Katrine
Lets take a quick look at visiting Loch Katrine. The car park lands you right at Loch Katrine’s Trossachs Pier. Here, you can find the Visitor Centre, boat tours, a bike rental shop, elevated scenic lookout, a café, public toilets and water refill station.
I visited Loch Katrine before doing the hike, but you can do the hike first if you wish! However, if you do want to do a boat trip, just make sure you have time to fit that in post-hike.
– Scenic Cruise
To experience Loch Katrine to the fullest, you can go on a cruise of the loch.
You can opt for the:
- 2 hour Loch Katrine – National Park Scenic Steamship Cruise. This is the most popular option, and giving you a good amount of time out on the water and see Loch Katrine’s natural beauty. You will get to sail on the Sir Walter Scott Steamship, which has sailed here since 1900!
or the:
- 45 minute Loch Katrine – National Park Natural Wonders Scenic Cruise. If you want to spend a little less money or just don’t have so much time, the 45 minute cruise is the option for you.
– Walk and/or Cycle
There is a loch-side path so you can go for a long or short walk around the loch (a warm up/cool down for the hike!) or you could even rent a bike to explore.
– Rhoderick Dhu Viewpoint and Scenic Tower
From the car park, you will see some steps leading up into the trees. GO up them!! The steps take you up to a boardwalk which climbs to a scenic tower, which just opened in summer 2024. The path is short, around 200m (but may seem a little longer with the incline).
I almost missed this, and I am so glad I didn’t!! After strolling by the loch then returning to the car, I had forgotten I’d seen the steps on arrival. So I thought, ‘should I bother getting out again?’. Of course, I did, because I realised I couldn’t leave without knowing what was up there. Anyway, I LOVED the little boardwalk, climbing up through the trees. The scenic tower is a cool addition and there is another viewpoint outwith the tower, too!
The views don’t quite rival those from Ben A’an, but still well worth the short walk up here!
– Have a bite to eat/drink
The Steamship Café if the go-to if you want to grab a bite to eat or drink. They have some outside tables, too, so if you visit on a sunny day you can take advantage of that! The café is open 9am-5pm.
Alternatively, if you bring your own snacks you can find a spot (there are some benches) by the loch and enjoy a picnic (if you don’t want to save it for/haven’t already eaten it on the hike!). This was the option I went for (although I actually sat at the table for the café as it was already shut on my later in the day visit!).
Hiking Ben A’an
Time for a closer insight to BEN A’AN!! Lets start with some key information before taking a closer look at the hike itself….
How high is Ben A’an?
Ben A’an is 461m high, with an elevation gain of around 350m.
How long is the Ben A’an hike?
Time-wise, the hike takes around 2-3 hours. This is including stops to enjoy the views. If you’re relatively fit and don’t stop for long you can do it in under 2 hours for sure.
Distance-wise, from the car park it is a 3.6km round-trip. (Although my watch recorded it as a little over 4km!).
What is the terrain like?
The path up Ben A’an is rocky, it’s like climbing big rocky stairs for most of it. The route is very clear and easy to follow.
How difficult is hiking Ben A’an?
Ben A’an is not technically difficult, so in that sense it’s an ‘easy’, beginner friendly hill walk. That being said, the climb is steep in parts. The peak is very pointed, so yeah, that’s where you’re heading – you have to climb up there!
I personally loved the climb, and there are plenty spots where you can stop for a little break.
Best time of year to hike Ben A’an
The best times to visit are spring/summer/autumn. While you can do this hike in winter, be cautious of the conditions. That being said, if conditions are good, this could be a great option for a winter hike due to its great path and short length. You won’t need to endure too long out in the cold!
I hiked Ben A’an in May and it looked very lush and green and honestly it was hard to believe it was Scotland at times! So if you want to see the most greenery, spring/summer is the time. Visiting in Autumn, around September/October will also be very beautiful as nature showcases its red hues.
Ben A’an – The Hike
Beginning of Ben A’an
In the car park, there is an information sign including a map of the route. Just across the road from such is the trailhead. You won’t miss it!
The trail begins as a gradual climb on a very straightforward path amongst the surrounding greenery (if you visit in spring/summer that is!). It’s not long until the relatively flat uphill path turns into the first set of rocky steps, followed by the next…. you can expect to see a lot more of them! The steps to begin with are not too difficult to climb and it’s still all quite gradual.
First views from the trail
While up ahead might still be more path and greenery, Loch Achray soon appears behind you. So, do turn around for a look every now and then! Although, you will get to see a lot of this view on the return.
Bridge
After more climbing, of both flatter path and some quite big steps, you will reach almost like a staircase to a little bridge. This is a cute addition to the walk! Enjoy that small respite on the bridge as the stairs continue as soon as you cross it.
Views of the pointed peak
The next most notable point of the walk comes from the first views of Ben A’an’s pointed peak! Yes, you are going up there. No, it’s not as out of reach as the initial glance might have you thinking!
Oh and as you can see it’s not just steps here. There is a little stone crossing and some flatter (though still gradually ascending) pathways. I loved this part with the views up ahead.
The downhill section
It’s not long unit you hit an ‘easy’ part aka a sneaky little downhill path, but of course you do question ‘Why am I going downhill?’, you know what this will mean afterwards…..
Climbing climbing climbing
Rest and view point
If you’re a little tired from the climbing, don’t worry as you will come across a little rest and view point. The views being those behind you, have a stop to take them in again and then continue on up!
More rocky steps
Almost at the pointed peak
There is almost like a ‘first summit’, where you can now, finally, view Loch Katrine in front of you! tHE views from here are amazing, but don’t let that have you think you shouldn’t climb the final section.
The summit
It’s just a short climb to the summit now! It’s a little rocky again but nothing more difficult than what you’ve already climbed. Once you get to the summit, you’ll soon forget about the climbing and the many ‘stairs’ it took to get there….
For such a ‘short’ climb, the views are incredible!!! Loch Katrine from above really is a must-see.
THIS is Scotland!
I was SO lucky on my visit – as I (we, I was with my Mum!), got to the summit, there were just two others up there, who soon began their descent. We got the whole summit to ourselves, on the most beautiful, clear sky, warm, sunny evening, with the sun starting to lower in the sky giving the first of the sunset vibes. So, remember, even if you go later in the day, you might end up with more of a treat than the early birds (unless you’re an early early sunrise kind of person!). There’s always something special about having the summit and views to yourself, but even if you don’t, you will not be disappointed!
The Descent
For the descent, just follow the same path you came up on. Even though it’s the same path, the way back down is still a treat as the views over Loch Achray are in front of you for a large chunk.
As I was heading down, the sunset really started to take over the sky, adding those extra colours to an already bright and colourful hike!
Overall, hiking Ben A’an, with its unique pointed peak, short route yet ‘good’ climb, and views that have Scotland showing off without having to put ‘too’ much work in, really is a Scotland must do! Mix it with a relaxing or active time at Loch Katrine, and you will most definitely have a day to remember!