Beinn a'Bheithir
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 5:56 pmAnother solo, or nearly, to add to the growing list. Used to always think I'd need someone who 'knows what they're doing,' with me, but confidence must be improving, though favourable forecast always helps. Had seen a few good reports on these hills and fancied the views. What I didn't realise was the tough start up from Ballachulish! Did I say tough? Nay, brutal - for me!
Left the car park about 9 a.m. and soon made it over gate by the school, gradually taking my eyes off what I thought was the first Munro, focussing on what looked like a steep hike up to join a clear path, heading for Beinn Bhan. It sure is steep and just a case of picking your own route up, then climbing the fence and on upwards, getting ever more desperate to meet this path. At last! Temptation may be to follow it left, but go right, to make the ascent, which remains hard going, but just that bit more bareable by being on track. Fortunately, once the ridge has been reached, things level off for a while, about 600m height and one is able to enjoy a great panaroma of views, while catching one's breath.
The next stage does become more stony, crossing some loose scree, with a variety of paths, as it steadily rises and curves southward, onto the next ridge, to what I had assumed was the summit. 'Not bad, 2 hours, I thought and that must be Sgorr Dhonuill, just up that fine looking ridge. Seems kind of close. Wonder if I'm right?' Quick check of map. Wrong! Of course I was only at the top of Sgorr Bhan. Eejit! Anyway, it is still a handsome spot and great place to enjoy more views and anticipate the fine ridge ahead. So, off once more and a fairly easy and enjoyable hike to Sgorr Dhearg, at 1024m.
Some more photo's and then off down to the adjoining bealach, over more stony, steep descent. It was there I caught up with Richard, a young man from the east, enjoying his hike, too. We got chatting and enjoyed the company for the remainder of the walk. Nice having somone around, especially for that wee bit of exposed scramble refered to, as one nears the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill, 1001m, in three and a quarter hours. Unfortunately, the gathering haze didn't help with photo's of the lovely views out to the west, but that's the way it goes.
Again, it's just that wee bit tricky heading back down to the bealach, but not too much bother in good conditions. The route down Gleann a' Chaolais, is a bit boggy here and there and as stated, one should cross to the right of the fence nearing the trees, where one picks up a path through the forest. We saw a couple heading down the line of the burn and imagined they might be there for a while. Or, perhaps there was other things on their mind?
There's quite a few different forest roads and tracks, here and there, but between us we managed to get directly back to Ballachulish, in just under the 6 hours. Tired, but well satisfied with a great hike and some great views, despite the haze.
Left the car park about 9 a.m. and soon made it over gate by the school, gradually taking my eyes off what I thought was the first Munro, focussing on what looked like a steep hike up to join a clear path, heading for Beinn Bhan. It sure is steep and just a case of picking your own route up, then climbing the fence and on upwards, getting ever more desperate to meet this path. At last! Temptation may be to follow it left, but go right, to make the ascent, which remains hard going, but just that bit more bareable by being on track. Fortunately, once the ridge has been reached, things level off for a while, about 600m height and one is able to enjoy a great panaroma of views, while catching one's breath.
- Sgorr Dhearg from Beinn Bhan.
- Ballachulish Bridge from Beinn Bhan.
- And, of course, the Pap.
The next stage does become more stony, crossing some loose scree, with a variety of paths, as it steadily rises and curves southward, onto the next ridge, to what I had assumed was the summit. 'Not bad, 2 hours, I thought and that must be Sgorr Dhonuill, just up that fine looking ridge. Seems kind of close. Wonder if I'm right?' Quick check of map. Wrong! Of course I was only at the top of Sgorr Bhan. Eejit! Anyway, it is still a handsome spot and great place to enjoy more views and anticipate the fine ridge ahead. So, off once more and a fairly easy and enjoyable hike to Sgorr Dhearg, at 1024m.
- The fine looking, pointy, Sgorr a'Choise, with Sgurr na h-Ulaidh and Glencoe hills behind.
- Didn't know it at the time, but this was 'Richard,' heading up the ridge to Sgorr Dhearg. (If you can spot him?)
- Ridge over to Sgorr Dhonuill.
Some more photo's and then off down to the adjoining bealach, over more stony, steep descent. It was there I caught up with Richard, a young man from the east, enjoying his hike, too. We got chatting and enjoyed the company for the remainder of the walk. Nice having somone around, especially for that wee bit of exposed scramble refered to, as one nears the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill, 1001m, in three and a quarter hours. Unfortunately, the gathering haze didn't help with photo's of the lovely views out to the west, but that's the way it goes.
- On top of Sgorr Dhonuill, looking back to 1st Munro.
Again, it's just that wee bit tricky heading back down to the bealach, but not too much bother in good conditions. The route down Gleann a' Chaolais, is a bit boggy here and there and as stated, one should cross to the right of the fence nearing the trees, where one picks up a path through the forest. We saw a couple heading down the line of the burn and imagined they might be there for a while. Or, perhaps there was other things on their mind?
- Looking back up to the bealach and Sgorr Dhonuill.
There's quite a few different forest roads and tracks, here and there, but between us we managed to get directly back to Ballachulish, in just under the 6 hours. Tired, but well satisfied with a great hike and some great views, despite the haze.
- Looking back - Sgorr Bhan, not Sgorr Dhearg!
