Summer Bridge of Orchy 5
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:26 amDecided to tackle the Glen Orchy 5 as its getting to the end of what was supposed to be 'Summer' and the days are now getting shorter.
Was a nice drive up from Glasgow, I always enjoy this drive. Loch Lomond side is always fun untill you get stuck behind a tour bus...
I got to the car park at the hotel about half 9 as there was a bit of traffic but the weather had been forecast to be clear and it didnt disappoint, i think this turned out to be the nicest day of the year that i was in the country.
I wasnt sure how far i would get today as i have read a few reports and there are a couple of good steep climbs to be done throughout the day.
I set off about 0945 and passed a few people who must have been walking the west highland way, they had obviously got up early and wanted to get the miles in.
The first climb up between Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh was ok, longer than i expected and it varies under foot, some boggy patches and some very loose stoney parts that i would realise when i made my way back down later on!
I went right to the top of Beinn Dorain in a fairly quick time with no real rests, theres a good view from this one of all the surrounding hills, this is where the length of the walk comes into view as you can see the 4 other cairns.
From here i made my way back down to the low point and headed for all the cairns on Beinn an Dothaidh, Theres not much height difference from them but all have different views. this was a fairly srait forward walk to here and had half my lunch on the top as i though - 2 down 3 to go - easy...
Its a steep drop to get to the foot of the long slow pull to the top of Beinn Achaladair, I felt my legs on this one and had a few stops on the way up but you get good views of the hills to the south which was nice. This was not the most impressive hill to walk but opens up with a god drop to the north with views right over the Glen. I had a good 15 min break here as i was consuming the water by now due to the big yellow thing we havent seen much of this year. no 3 done!
The walk between these 2 was the easiest and most enjoyable part of the walk, as you keep good height and the views are cracking, then theres a bit of a climb up a slightly bouldery summit to the round top of Beinn a'Chreachain. This is where i finished my water and was low on food. I was feeling quite tired by now but could see a good flowing burn at the bottom on the hill so wasnt overly concerned. I did sit here for 15 mins and had my soup which was great (sainsburys tomato and lentil!). Munro 4 Done!
This was the part of the walk i knew would be tough and wasnt looking forward to it, the steep drop and back up the other side to Beinn Mhanach. This took me quite a while as i knew my legs were getting heavy, i slowed the pace down to make sure i didnt trip or do something silly that far away from the road and as time was marching on last thing i wanted was an injury that late in the day. I got to the bottom in about an hour and had lots of water at the burn, filled my water bag and i had figured a good route earlier when walking between the previous 2 hills which route i would take up, Theres a distinctive darker gully with a tiny stream of water coming down so i just stayed south of that and made my way up slowly up the steep hill there, i might have continued further round to the longer less steep route if i was doing it again as my legs were dead weights by now.
once onto the shoulder its a long but easy walk to the cairn at the top of Beinn Mhanach munro no 5 and my no 20 in total! I was chuffed that i managed 5 but didnt hang about. The las 15 mins of walk was easy so didnt need much of a break, i retraced my steps but the headed to the low point between the hills and followed this height back round towards the glen west of Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh so i could pop over and make my way back down the stioney path i first walked early that morning.
This was a crap idea as it was not easy walking on the slope for that long, few blisters were my punishment, i would follow the stream down to the bottom where it joins the next stream and then follow it back up between the hills next time as its longer but much easier terrain. I was knackered by the time i got back onto the homeward path and the sum was just setting, i sat at the top for a while just to take it in, was great as the sun was above the hills to the west. I was a bit more clumsy by now and slipped a few times on the loose stones which you walk on most of the way down. i was glad to get to the car and found the snacks i had left there to keep me awake for the drive home. All in a ll a great day out and good use of the great weather! I will def be back to get one or 2 of these in the snow!
Was a nice drive up from Glasgow, I always enjoy this drive. Loch Lomond side is always fun untill you get stuck behind a tour bus...
I got to the car park at the hotel about half 9 as there was a bit of traffic but the weather had been forecast to be clear and it didnt disappoint, i think this turned out to be the nicest day of the year that i was in the country.
I wasnt sure how far i would get today as i have read a few reports and there are a couple of good steep climbs to be done throughout the day.
I set off about 0945 and passed a few people who must have been walking the west highland way, they had obviously got up early and wanted to get the miles in.
The first climb up between Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh was ok, longer than i expected and it varies under foot, some boggy patches and some very loose stoney parts that i would realise when i made my way back down later on!
I went right to the top of Beinn Dorain in a fairly quick time with no real rests, theres a good view from this one of all the surrounding hills, this is where the length of the walk comes into view as you can see the 4 other cairns.
From here i made my way back down to the low point and headed for all the cairns on Beinn an Dothaidh, Theres not much height difference from them but all have different views. this was a fairly srait forward walk to here and had half my lunch on the top as i though - 2 down 3 to go - easy...
Its a steep drop to get to the foot of the long slow pull to the top of Beinn Achaladair, I felt my legs on this one and had a few stops on the way up but you get good views of the hills to the south which was nice. This was not the most impressive hill to walk but opens up with a god drop to the north with views right over the Glen. I had a good 15 min break here as i was consuming the water by now due to the big yellow thing we havent seen much of this year. no 3 done!
The walk between these 2 was the easiest and most enjoyable part of the walk, as you keep good height and the views are cracking, then theres a bit of a climb up a slightly bouldery summit to the round top of Beinn a'Chreachain. This is where i finished my water and was low on food. I was feeling quite tired by now but could see a good flowing burn at the bottom on the hill so wasnt overly concerned. I did sit here for 15 mins and had my soup which was great (sainsburys tomato and lentil!). Munro 4 Done!
This was the part of the walk i knew would be tough and wasnt looking forward to it, the steep drop and back up the other side to Beinn Mhanach. This took me quite a while as i knew my legs were getting heavy, i slowed the pace down to make sure i didnt trip or do something silly that far away from the road and as time was marching on last thing i wanted was an injury that late in the day. I got to the bottom in about an hour and had lots of water at the burn, filled my water bag and i had figured a good route earlier when walking between the previous 2 hills which route i would take up, Theres a distinctive darker gully with a tiny stream of water coming down so i just stayed south of that and made my way up slowly up the steep hill there, i might have continued further round to the longer less steep route if i was doing it again as my legs were dead weights by now.
once onto the shoulder its a long but easy walk to the cairn at the top of Beinn Mhanach munro no 5 and my no 20 in total! I was chuffed that i managed 5 but didnt hang about. The las 15 mins of walk was easy so didnt need much of a break, i retraced my steps but the headed to the low point between the hills and followed this height back round towards the glen west of Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh so i could pop over and make my way back down the stioney path i first walked early that morning.
This was a crap idea as it was not easy walking on the slope for that long, few blisters were my punishment, i would follow the stream down to the bottom where it joins the next stream and then follow it back up between the hills next time as its longer but much easier terrain. I was knackered by the time i got back onto the homeward path and the sum was just setting, i sat at the top for a while just to take it in, was great as the sun was above the hills to the west. I was a bit more clumsy by now and slipped a few times on the loose stones which you walk on most of the way down. i was glad to get to the car and found the snacks i had left there to keep me awake for the drive home. All in a ll a great day out and good use of the great weather! I will def be back to get one or 2 of these in the snow!
