Over The Hill

It was a late decision on Tuesday afternoon to take advantage of the good weather forecast for the next day, Wednesday, and to drive up to Bridge of Orchy and climb Beinn Dorain – I know, the title is Beinn an Dothaidh – explanation later!

With clear blue, sunny skies and high temperatures forecast I had an extra supply of water in my rucksack as we set off from the hotel car park and walked up, through the railway underpass and onto the rough stony track which heads direct uphill towards the 744m bealach sitting betwee Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh. It is quite a relentless climb as the path dips down to cross a number of minor streams, and all the while the going underfoot gets rougher, sometimes loose stone and other times muddy worn grass and mud. The temperature was rising, and midges were making an appearance as we gained height, still with the bealach ahead, getting nearer, but still ahead. We took advantage of the streams we crossed and dipped our hand, wrists and splashed our heads to cool off a little.

Across the final stream the path really becomes very awkward as it is almost entirely loose stone and rubble, almost like walking on a scree slope as it steepens and heads onwards to the bealach. One plus, as we gained this height there was a refreshing breeze which not only cooled us, but helped disperse the midges, never to be seen again during the day, thankfully. A few metres below the actual 744m bealach lies a huge “shelter” stone, where on past trips has offered much needed shelter from wind, rain, and snow, but today offered a spot to just take a break and relax in the now pleasant sunshine. Refreshed, we climbed the remaining steep section to the bealach to survey the views back down Coire an Dothaidh to Bridge of Orchy to the west and to the east Coire a’Ghabhalach and Loch Lyon. Yet another pause on the bealach and here we then debated, turn right and take the rocky ridge to our intended destination, Beinn Dorain, or turn left and head for the big grassy plateau that forms the three tops of Beinn an Dothaidh, it was a no-brainer, we had had enough of rocky paths, the grassy plateau it was, and so Beinn Dorain was left until another day, Beinn an Dothaidh was now today’s objective.

Beinn an Dothaidh has three tops, the centre one of which it the highest, at 1004 metres. Climbing out from the bealach the path leads into the huge bowl that is Coire Reidh, and the usual circuit is done anti-clockwise, taking in the southern 993m top first, then the summit at 1004m and finally the 1000m eastern top. But today was a day of changing our minds just because we could, and so we decided to do a clockwise round for a change.

Forking directly north from the small cairn a the base of Coire Reidh we pushed uphill on a fine broad ridge, grassy and pathless heading directly for the 1000m top, a climb that seemed to take us longer than we thought, although in the end was quite straightforward. The flat rocky knoll that is the 1000m top offered some wonderful views, and so we settled down for a leisurely lunch break and to enjoy the beauty of the day. Directly east of us lay the high point on the plateau, the 1004m summit, a short, easy walk across the plateau to the summit cairn, a quick chat with three other walkers already on the summit, and then it was off again, this time heading south down a short dip then a short climb up to the 993 metre top, the completion of a stroll around this grassy plateau. A short backtrack to pick up the grassy track which would lead us back to the cairn at the entrance of Coire Reidh and onwards to the 744m bealach. Where once again we had a good break to recharge for the unpleasantries of the rocky downhill track from the bealach to the main stream crossing. Unpleasantries yes, but isn’t that what we find so exciting about the mountains, the fact that each step can be a challenge in itself, for my part a challenge not to stand on one of those small stones that seem to act as roller skates and send your foot skidding forward, and if you are unlucky, end up in a heap on the ground. My step was true today, no hugging the ground, yippee!

On the ascent, it is the 744m bealach that is constantly in view and never seems to get any closer, on the descent it is the Bridge of Orchy and a refreshing beverage that drives you forward, and the moment I mentioned that, it was interesting how the kilometres just passed by!

Thanks Ian, a great day on a fine mountain.