Stay at home

[Johnny Corbett]

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.

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Ben Alder looking good today

Ben Alder ridge

The way up

The view down Alder

More of the ridge

A scrambling section

Another look down

More of the rocky ridge

The stony plateaux

Seeing where i was yesterday

Ben Alder summit

The weather suddenly changes

But doesn't last long as Beinn Bheoil is in view

Ben Alder

The Loch

Beinn Bheoil summit

Yesterdays 1st Munro

Ben Alder

Beinn Bheoil view

View down the Loch towards Dalwhinnie

More of yesterdays location

Route down Beinn Bheoil

View from the bothy

The bothy

[spiderman]

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.

[Johnny Corbett]

Thanks Spiderman. As for the bothy, it's probably better than some hotels i've kipped in.

[Stretch]

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!

[Bod]

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?

[Johnny Corbett]

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.

[skuk007]

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.

[ChrisW]

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

[KGBMC]

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

[Johnny Corbett]

Thanks guys, the scrambling is quite straight forward with plenty of foot and hand holds.

[malky_c]

Missed this one. Great weather! Done these hills from the north and the south now, but still haven't seen anything from the summits

[kevsbald]

Lovely stuff.

[Philwalker]

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

[monty]

Excellent photos Johnnny. Nice