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Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Johnny Corbett » Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:20 pm
Route description: Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil from Culra
Munros included on this walk: Beinn Bheoil, Ben Alder
Date walked: 25/08/2011
Time taken: 5 hours
3 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).After getting soaked yesterday i'd decided if todays weather was going to be the same i'd head back home and leave Ben and Beinn for another day. But as i looked out the bothy door at 8am it was blue skies, the boots were still wet but after putting on dry socks i never noticed, so off i set at 09.30. I took the path that crosses the river, following it up Ben Alder forest, a forest with no trees and left it to climb the rocky north east ridge of Ben Alder. This is a fine ridge which is narrow at times and involves a wee scramble here and there but certainly the most interesting route up Ben Alder, well i think so anyway. Once up the ridge you come to the rocky then grassy plateaux which leads you to the summit of Ben Alder, from the summit i followed the ridge round descending down to the Bealach Breabag and over to the 955m point, following the ridge to Beinn Bheoil. From here it was down to just before Sron Dreineach, then taking to the slopes to pick up the path back to the bothy. Today was a fine day compared to yesterday and made the trip all worthwhile and i fully recommend the use of the bothy,which is a cracker, for tackling this group of six.
Last edited by Johnny Corbett on Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by spiderman » Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:40 pm
Excellent photos they captured the route exactly. It was nice to see Culra bothy but I did not recognise the inside of it as it must be 20 years since I used it. It looks luxurious to what it used to be.
- spiderman
- Rambler
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Jun 19, 2011
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Johnny Corbett » Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:17 pm
Thanks Spiderman. As for the bothy, it's probably better than some hotels i've kipped in.
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Stretch » Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:27 pm
Argh, I'm so jealous of people with bikes! Most of the hills I have left to do within 2 hours of me would be much easier with a bike and I gave mine away 2 years ago! Awesome pics of the ridge, looks like a good warm-up for Kintail!
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Bod » Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:17 pm
That's great you got your 2nd day Johnny, good for you. Enjoyed both of your reports and really fancy a stay at Culra myself. Going to have to check out my old bike though, I presume the 2 wheels are a bit of a must? 

Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Johnny Corbett » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:13 am
Stretch, it's one of the best ridges i've done so far. Ask Santa for a new bike this Xmas.
Bod, it's roughly 10 miles to the bothy along a decent road so a bike would be best. It's over 1 hour to get in but a lot less on the way back.
Bod, it's roughly 10 miles to the bothy along a decent road so a bike would be best. It's over 1 hour to get in but a lot less on the way back.
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by skuk007 » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:37 am
Nice report Johnny, glad the weather stayed good for you, looks like you made the right decision to stay.
I like the look of that ridge, doesn't look too demanding scramble-wise.
I like the look of that ridge, doesn't look too demanding scramble-wise.
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by ChrisW » Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:25 pm
Great report JC and some beautiful photos to accompany it - that bothy looks positively palatial
glad the weather picked up for you for day 2 


Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by KGBMC » Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:19 pm
Spent 2 nights in Culra bothy after cycing down from Dalwhinnie , best way to reach the hills only 1.5 Hrs as opposed to
4 Hrs walking, easy riding.
Thanks to the MBA the bothy is now one of the best in Scotland
Long may it last
4 Hrs walking, easy riding.
Thanks to the MBA the bothy is now one of the best in Scotland
Long may it last
- KGBMC
- Hill Bagger
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Jan 20, 2011
- Location: Kelty,fife
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Johnny Corbett » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:04 am
Thanks guys, the scrambling is quite straight forward with plenty of foot and hand holds.
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by malky_c » Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:04 pm
Missed this one. Great weather! Done these hills from the north and the south now, but still haven't seen anything from the summits 

Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by Philwalker » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:39 pm
Thanks for some great pics and what looks like a good route up. I still have these to do, having had quite a memorable day on the other four. See my report on 'The Loch Pattack Four'. The weather could have been better, but at least I got some views! The bike is essential unless you want to spend a couple of nights in the bothy, which was being worked on by several MBA members when I was there in May, so should be in an excellent state of repair now.
Good luck with the remaining Munros,
Philwalker
Good luck with the remaining Munros,
Philwalker
- Philwalker
- Mountain Walker
- Posts: 11
- Munros:282
- Joined: May 20, 2012
Re: Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil from the bothy
by monty » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:11 pm
Excellent photos Johnnny. Nice 

- monty
3 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
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