Over The Hill

Beinn Achaladair and Beinn an Dothaidh, two popular hills, and ones which we have climbed previously. However, the pairing has usually been Beinn Achaladair with Beinn a'Chreachain or Beinn an Dothaidh with Beinn Dorain. Today, however, Ian has come up with a new, and interesting pairing, Beinn Achaladair with Beinn an Dothaidh, And so a little logistical exercise saw us leaving one car at Bridge of Orchy Hotel, before continuing aboard the remaining cars along the road to the hillside car park at Achaladair Farm from where we would start our walk.

Following the rough, and at times quite boggy track across the grassy hillside we crossed the footbridge over the West Highland railway and followed the course of the Allt Coire Achaladair as it gradually climbed towards the high bealach at Coire Daingean for about 2kms before leaving the track and descending to cross the river and onto the east bank. Here we were presented with the aspect of a full-on ascent of 600 metres to the ridgeline that seemed to stand almost directly above us.

A small stream flows down from just below the ridge, forming a very prominent gully at this point, and it was along the south side of this gully that we made our ascent. Ian and I, accompanied with Lawrie and Kevin had climbed this same route in February 2014, and my recollections were that it was steep and hard; and so it was, 600 metres of ascent at a constant 1:2 gradient; the relief on everyone's face on reaching the ridgeline was there for all to see.

The weather was a bit fickle above the 1000 metre height, one moment a slight drizzle, next mist and fleeting views to the lochs and glens below, but above us, thick grey clouds continued to blot out the sun and sky; it had also turned noticeably colder, as evidenced by the fact that layers were added, and gloves donned. We had joined the ridge about 1km short of the summit, and so, after a short break to refuel and get over the exertion of our climb we continued along the much gentler sloping ridge to the summit and high point at 1038m.

Our next objective was Beinn an Dothaidh; reached by a leisurely descent down the 3km long south ridge to the 750m bealach above Coire Daingean. Here we split into two groups of four, one group returning, via Coire Daingean, to the cars left at Achaladair Farm, and the other setting off for the south east ridge of Beinn an Dothaidh.

Swinging slightly to the south of the bealach we were able to miss the predominantly craggy areas of this ridge and found the route to be considerably easier than anticipated, and the brow of the ridge transpired to be crag free and predominantly a steady climb on good grassy slopes; as was evidenced by the fact that 30 minutes later we were standing atop the 993m south top of Beinn an Dothaidh with the easy, flat plateau ahead of us.

Unlike the dull weather at the summit of Beinn Achaladair, the clouds had been dispersing as we ascended Beinn an Dothaidh, and by the time we did a round of it's south top, summit cairn at 1004m and the east top at 1000m we had good visibility and some fine views to round off this second Munro of the day.

Downhill all the way from here, descending Beinn an Dothaidh's south ridge to the 744m bealach and then the long descent on the rough and boggy track down Coire an Dothaidh, through the West Highland railway underpass and into the car park at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel to retrieve the car conveniently parked there just over 8 hours previously.

A wonderful day on two great mountains, a new, and very interesting route, with, of course, the best of company - Although we did miss some regulars, but they will be pleased to hear that their names came up - quite often on that initial steep 600m climb - Yes Alan, you did get a mention, or two!

Thanks Ian.