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I first climbed these hills on a wet June Saturday in 1980. I must have driven past them hundreds of times since and felt cheated that I hadn't enjoyed the view - especially from Beinn Dorain. I had therefore saved the reascent for a clear day and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
I parked at the now large car park in Bridge of Orchy and had a chuckle at the notice posted by the local estate about access rights - what is presented as a privilege is in fact no more than our legal rights! Thus entertained, I made my way across the road and up to the railway bridge. My original visit was in the days before I had a car and I used the railway to explore this area. Fortunately, I was on the hill long before the first train from Glasgow would arrive. I walked over to the Allt Coire an Dothaidh and picked up the path. What was immediately apparent was that in the intervening years, the path has deteriorated to a stony, ill drained mass that stretches across the hillside - although it would be a very expensive and time consuming job to rectify this. The early slopes were easy angled and made for a pleasant start to the day.
- Stob Ghabhar and Stob a'Choire Odhair from the path
- Heading up to the col
Quite a long drag up to the Dorain - an Dothaigh col. I was glad of the harsh overnight frost as it meant that the boggy ground was reasonably firm and simple to negotiate.
- Loch Lyon from the col, Beinn Heasgarnich beyond
I had a break and something to eat at the col to fortify myself for the walk up Beinn Dorain.
- Beinn Dorain from the col
- Stob Ghabhar and the Glen Etive hills
The calm of the day was interrupted somewhat when I received a text to say that a general election had been called, but I did my best to put thoughts of politicians out of my mind and concentrated on the task in hand.
- Beinn an Dothaidh from the election text spot!
A dusting of spring snow added to the quality of the day as I passed over the intermediate top and onto the summit, where there was a view of the southern (and indeed central) highlands that would be hard to surpass.
- Looking back along the ridge to the Achallader hills
- The Ben from the summit
- Looking over Beinn Mhanach to Loch Lyon
- The view south east
- The view south with the merest glimpse of Loch Lomond
- Looking south west towards Ben Lui
As I made my way back to the col, the cloud was building to the west. I had lunch at the col before making my way to Beinn an Dothaidh. There was a clear path to follow at first, but it disappeared in the boggy ground about half way up. Much of the earlier snow had melted, which partly explained the soggy underfoot conditions.
- The Achallader hills from Beinn an Dothaidh
After a few photos, I made my way downhill just as the first flakes of snow started to fall. The warmer conditions had melted the early ice and the path to Bridge of Orchy was now very boggy. Eventually, I made my way well off the line of the path and walked down the open hillside - this was a far easier option.
The views from Beinn Dorain will live long in my memory.......