How did Ben A'an Walk get its name?
The name Ben Aan is a misnomer that may be traced back to Sir Walter Scott. The Scottish author called the mountain "Ben Aan," although its original name was Am Binnean, which means "little pointed peak" or "the pinnacle"—an apt description for this small, finely sculpted hill! Walter Scott was not alone in his use of the term "ben" before its actual meaning. Many people today still use the word "ben" when they mean "mountain." For example, someone might say "That's a ben king." Or, "We're ben an apple tree." However, the word "ben" has come to mean "peak" or "top" only since the 1600s. Before then, it meant "hill" or "slope." So, technically, Ben A'an does not really have a proper name; rather, it has a phonetic name based on its origin story! The name "Ben A'an" first appeared in an English-language book published in 1772. This book described a trip up the west coast of Scotland made by one of my ancestors, David Allan. Although he lived more than 200 years ago, David Allan's journey fits with many modern trips up the west coast of Scotland because the A8 road follows much the same route today.