Beinn Donachain

[Benaden887]

Beinn Donachain 12/11/2017 11.8km 760m 6hr

Between the glens of Orchy and Strae lies the nondescript Graham of Beinn Donachain @ 650m. my route for the day. A weather break hints for sun, wind and a cold outing, gives a try out for my new bought gloves and dodgy knees.

I park @ gr232305 Katnish cp, Glen Orchy and gear up. Frost is on the ground as I view a locked gate with warning signs on a wired suspension bridge. It spans the river Orchy here and being the shortest route to my top is good enough for me. Climb on and cross over. L, on a boggy path thro trees forestry to a new fenced area with a rusty padlocked double gate. Go 50m L for a walkers gate. Cross burn, grass and heather on an av track L then R to where a higher gate allows escape from this enclosure. The track runs on, as I climb between two outcrops and join a tired old fence line to crest the rise. A strong wind and bitter cold in the sunshine, so on with jacket and gloves. Take a direct line, across rough ground with some up and down, over another section of new fencing for a final push to the cairn. A break here on this barren plateau and look about. Ben Lui and Cruachan, tops in snow. Meall Garbh lies N across the Strae Glen and beyond it the more remote Beinn nan luss. I`d hoped to link these three over a big 12h day from Duiletter farm, to Donachain then NW up Coire dubh Ealcha for Garbh / Luss and return via Dhoireann. Ah well, the best dreamed schemes are sometimes never realised. I cross a small wet basin for a walkway to the second cairn, the true top to continue past lochan Uaine for another top which seemed higher. I return to the twin tops and my first cairn then head downhill. The new deer fence has a ladder style. Cross for Heart lochan and a look at the col with Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh, a winter`s day outing. Back then the trees had just been planted and gave easy passage to the hill. I consider a forest return, taking in the Eas Urchaidh falls, however on hearing stags bellowing somewhere in the trees ( they seem to dislike the colour red, being my jacket sac and gaiters all tick the box) I opt for a bog trot along a reedy wet strip atween crags and trees for my inward route. I`m taken by the wee lochan areas created at this end of the forest. Multiple atv tracks here as I reach the fence again. Instead of going into the enclosure, a swift descent beside the deer fence suffices to reach the padlocked gate. A further paddle thro the mire, deeper now in places, and I cross bridge to the cp.

Seen enroute no one on the hills, little bird life and deer in the trees. No midges.flies or bugs.
Good workout for the ailing joints and an enjoyable day out.