free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Noticed the good forecast for Friday but Friday is a football day so had a look for a short walk. Ben A'an had been on my mind since I listened to a friend raving about it and it looks not bad in the various WH reports so Ben A'an it was.
Road wasn't great after Callendar so took it slow and resigned myself to not seeing the sunrise from the top.
Needn't have worried though as the path is great and it was almost totally snow free, albeit there were plenty of icy spots and still some patches of hard snow. I'd set off at 7.10am or so but didn't need the head torch for very long before the light got good enough to dispense with it.
After the steepish first third the walk levels off with impressive views of the summit cone ahead. Path got a little more rocky after the level section but this was partly because I missed the obvious crossing point on the burn there. After that, an incident free stroll to the summit with only the occasional bit of ice and snow to watch out for.
The path diverts slightly to a viewpoint northeast of the top and this gives a first fine view down Loch Katrine. Turned out too that my timing had been near perfect for the sunrise after all as the first rays hit the surrounding higher tops soon after I got to this point. Took a few snaps from where I was then hurried to the main top to take in the sunrise.
Very fine light down the length of the loch had me staying there for a good half hour to admire and photograph the unfolding early morning light and trying to name the various distant summits. Seems I could see the Cobbler, Ben Lui and Ben More from here which all came as a slight surprise. My Sony HX90 failed again to produce any decent photos when pointed anywhere near the sun though otherwise ok.
Had a couple of clambers up and down the summit rocks and this was another good wee scrambling practice to see how the back reacted. Not too bad so pleased with that.
Turned my attention back to the south where some mist had started boiling up over Loch Achray then set off back down the path.
Then I got to see what had been a bit obscure in the half light on the way up -the woodland and impressive view of the summit cone from the half way point.
All in all a very satisfying wee walk. Did take a little bit out of my running for football though I dare say nobody noticed the difference as my movement has been likened to the mannequin challenge. I play zonally though.
DSC04626 by
John Little, on Flickr
Taken from viewpoint north east of summit.
DSC04627 by
John Little, on Flickr
Ben Lui visible top right.
DSC04628 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04629 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04636 by
John Little, on Flickr
The Cobbler.
DSC04640 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04643 by
John Little, on Flickr
Ben More and Stob Binnien
DSC04641 by
John Little, on Flickr
Shadow of Ben A'an pointing to Ben Lui.
DSC04648 by
John Little, on Flickr
An opportunity for some gentle scrambling.
DSC04651 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04661 by
John Little, on Flickr
Ben Venue on the left.
DSC04662 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04667 by
John Little, on Flickr
Ben More again.
DSC04668 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04669 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04671 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04713 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04734 by
John Little, on Flickr
DSC04743 by
John Little, on Flickr
