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Ben A'an is one of Loch Lomond's most iconic peaks, a well-photograph stone summit and a not too difficult ascent at about 455 metres, half that of Ben Lomond.
For this reason, and its accessibility from the northern tourist part of the national park around Aberfoyle and Callander, it becomes very busy. Particularly in summer. Particularly when the summer in question is, unlike many before it, genuinely warm and sunny most days. So much so that even the midges have cried off.
During our month-long stint working on the path, re-routing a section to avoid a particularly steep gradient, we have come into contact with a steady stream of people climbing their way to the top.
So many have stopped to say hello, perhaps primarily to catch their breath ahead of the next hiked section, but this has been a great opportunity to talk about what we are doing, and why, and explaining more about both the area and our efforts as an organisation. Many people have expressed emotions ranging from joy at the nature of the path and the surroundings, to amazement that we could do such a physical job day in day out, to surprise that this is how pathways are often built in upland environments. A sort of world-wide code for 'you must be tired' has emerged from many of these people, even if they can't speak the actual words in English. So many tourist have been from abroad, America, Spain, France, Canada etc. All brought to this place at this team by the hope of a wonderful natural experience in Scotland. It is hugely positive that our work is perhaps helping to facilitate in that in some small way. We, in effect, being paid to work in locations that these tourist have paid hard earned money, and lots of it, to travel to from all over the world. Even the scottish-speaking locals have interacted, bringing their own knowledge of how the paths used to be here, giving their opinions.
Above all it has been a wonderful 'office' to work in this past month, among a landscape so revered and clearly so special to so many people. That we may have shaped the future use of that landscape, in some small way, is something for us each individually, and as a collective, to be very proud of. I now I am.
Next Ben Lomond as a work site! Yet another iconic peak to tackle. We look forward to bringing back similar positive stories from there (with pictures attached hopefully, when I finally get round to that side of these reports)