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I woke early and looked out the window - a fine morning so I set of for the Ben A'an car park at 6.30 to avoid the traffic through Glasgow. Needless to say my car was the first there. £3 fee paid and boots on I set off up the Ben A'an track, or should I say staircase. Man, some of these stone steps are large. I was glad for my 36" inside leg. I wonder of small children make it? After a quick visit to the Ben A'an tops, it was time to try to work out the best way over to my hill. I have to say that I would hate to try this in mist because it's bad enough with good visibility. In the end, it was just a case of ploughing though the rough terrain as best I could in the right direction.
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- Looking over to Meall Gainmeach (right) from near Ben A'an
Eventually, I went through a metal gate in a high deer fence and made my final steep ascent to the summit, where I had rest looking over to Ben Ledi and back from whence I'd come to Ben Venue.
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- Looking back to Ben Venue from the summit
On my way down, I followed the old fence line which crossed the top which led quite steeply to another fence which I followed over several ups and downs and through some boggy sections, all the time the heather and bracken pretty solid.
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- Following the fence lines from the summit
It was quite a relief to reach the top of the Ben A'an track for an easy descent, meeting plenty of overseas tourists on their way up to photograph the views of Loch Katrine. I don't think any of them would be tempted by Meall Ginmheich!
