The rain finally ceased.
So we set our sights on one of our main “bookmarks” for this Loch Lomond holiday: Loch Katrine.
In particular, our true goal was a small yet isolated hill high above the loch called Ben A’an (461 m/1,512 ft). It’s a very popular hill walk and for good reason: it offers one of the grandest and most spectacular views in all of Scotland (check out the Wikipedia view here).
Unfortunately, at least for us personally, the car park and trail for the hill are being upgraded until the end of December 2021. It’s understandable; both the car park and the trail must take a battering every year.
Instead, we ventured on a loch shore walk along Loch Katrine’s northern and northeastern shore, breaking off every now and then for various compositions.
Despite the lack of ascent, the clarity of atmosphere and glorious conditions more than made up for it. Loch Katrine is 13 km long and only 1 km at its widest point, a true ribbon lake typical of a post-glacial make up. It’s ringed by various peaks all around except for the eastern shore. In particular, Ben Venue (729 m/2,392 ft) looms constantly above the loch’s southern shore, demanding your attention.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my two prime lenses: an adapted Pentax 55mm f/2.0 and a Laowa 9mm f/2.8 lens. Developed using RNI Films’ Fortia SP film profile.
The booking office, should you wish to go on a delightful cruise down Loch Katrine.
Folk getting ready for a lovely boat ride on the loch. The coats and hoods are to protect against the cold; the day turned out to be gloriously sunny.
Y’know what’s better than a boat? A boat with bunting .
Autumn colours around Loch Katrine are looking proper lush.
Once you move beyond the Trossachs Pier area, the loch opens up and Ben Venue immediately draws your attention. I shot this photo as a vertorama, five separate images top to bottom.
Towards Loch Katrine’s eastern shore reside many small islands. They are noteworthy as being able to look back in time for an idea of what a fully forested valley this would’ve been.
We managed to drop down to the loch shore near Silver Strand for some compositions across the loch. I used my 9mm ultra-wide lens to get this composition looking towards Ben Venue.
Across the loch from Silver Stand is Eilean Molach , or Ellen’s Isle.
Autumn fern popping up amongst the lush forest colours, my Lisabet striding purposefully ahead.
One of many beautiful little cascades that flow into Loch Katrine from the many hills that surround it.
We eventually reached a spit of land—variously known as either Brenachoile Point or Ruinn Dubh Aird —that protrudes out into the loch, affording us fantastic views all the way up and down Loch Katrine. Looking east, the unmistakeable profile of Ben A’an comes into view and I shot this photo; a mental bookmark to return to this area again and summit that hill.
We clambered down to the eastern shore of this spit of land, and I was of course delighted to find various boulders strewn around. On went my ultra-wide lens, and I began making compositions.
In addition, the loch’s water level still hasn’t quite recovered from this year’s remarkably dry summer. As a result, various wave-sculpted rock formations are still visible above the water.
Another sculpted boulder provides an interest foreground subject as contrast against the dark mountains in the distance,
Above the spit’s eastern shore, the last of the year’s heather bloom and a fantastic rock formation give another chance at a different composition.
The boulder in question.
Back onto the loch shore road, I keep my 9mm ultra-wide lens on to nab some compositions looking deep into the forest that looms above the loch.
Beautiful autumnal fern and the looming forest of pines above.
A wonderfully craggy tree that almost seems to grow from the boulder itself.
Further along the loch road, silver birch make an appearance as stark paint brush strokes amongst the autumn palette.
After returning to Trossachs Pier, we moved the car a short distance to the Ben Venue car park. We weren’t about to tackle Ben Venue itself; despite being “only” 700 m high or so, it’s notoriously steep. Instead, a considerably smaller crag— Creag Noran , only a 10-minute walk or so—promised lovely views to Ben A’an, Ben Venue, and across to Loch Achray. It did not disappoint. This is Ben A’an’s southern profile from Creag Noran .
Well, this is glorious. A nine-image panorama of Loch Achray from the top of Creag Noran . Bloody lovely.
My lovely Lisabet, amongst the heather and trees on the summit of Creag Noran .
Looking southwest from the summit of Creag Noran to Ben Venue. Lisabet has the perfect hair for this kind of photo.
Then support me