I had a walking companion for this one, in the shape of Stuart, a colleague from work who was keen to get out in the hills. He’s no novice himself, but hasn’t been out as regularly as myself. I’d made a few suggestions, and we decided on Beinn a'Bheithir as he hadn’t done this hill himself before. So, with the Olympics coming to an end all talk of Oosain “Lightening” Bolt was replaced with talk of the Thunderbolt
Weather wise it was a perfect day, as we had warm sunshine all day, with enough breeze from time to time to cool us down. Really don’t need many words, as hopefully the pictures tell the story
- Beinn a'Bheithir from the start of the walk
I’d chosen to include Sgorr Bhan as well as the two Munros, to make a proper circuit of the walk and also because the view from that top up to Sgorr Dhearg is (in my opinion) breathtaking
Got some great views back toward the Loch Leven and the Glencoe and surrounding hills on the way up. I had warned Stuart that the trek up the flank of Sgorr Bhan was steep, pathless and involved a lovely section of heather and bracken before we eventually located the path. I’d forgotten just how steep and just how lovely the heather and bracken was
A tough introduction to the hill, that’s for sure. - The bracken-fest
- And the at last, the path
- The "Pap" and Loch Leven
- Down to the bridge and Loch Leven
Once on the path the rest of the route is a sheer pleasure (well, except for one section that Stuart was not at all keen on later in the day
)- On the route up Beinn Bhan
- Beinn Bhan ridge higher up toward the summit
- Loch Leven from Beinn Bhan summit
- The view from Beinn Bhan to Sgorr Dhearg
Walking to Sgurr Bhan and then onto the two Munros of Sgorr Bhan and Sgorr Dhonuill is on a good path and any steepness doesn’t really feel that bad. Had great views from all three summits
- On the way up Sgorr Dhearg
- View back from Sgorr Dhearg to Beinn Bhan
- Sgurr Dhonuill from Sgorr Dhearg
- The route up Sgurr Dhonuill
- The Dragon's tooth
- Sgurr Dhonuill - the classic view
- Sgorr Dhearg from Sgurr Dhonuill
- The Bidean
And then the descent
I’d chosen to drop down off Sgorr Dhonuill and work our way round Coire Dearg. Here there is a steep, scree filled gully
I should have taken a picture of Stuart’s face, but it would have been cruel I don’t think he realised we were going down that And the look he gave suggested he thought I was taking the p*** He definitely didn’t enjoy it, that’s for sure. - View out to sea coming down of Sgurr Dhonuill
- The "other" side of Sgurr Dhonuill as we descended
- Yes Stuart, that is the way down...
- See, it wasn't that steep....
- Route heading into the forest back to the road
We made it down safely though, but not before some young female whipper-snapper jogged down past us like she was out for a quick stroll to the shops
After the gully we picked up a path through the forestry and onto the land rover tracks. We turned right here and made our way to the roadside close to the old church and the short walk back to Ballachulish.
- Just liked this view of the burn coming down through the trees at the point we hit the forestry track back to the road
- A nice view of the Loch on the walk back down the forestry track
- A last view of the Pap and Loch Leven
All in all another great day on the hills and good to re-visit this beauty
I take all as part of the fun of the hills.
