So after some frantic googling and various discussions about completely altering our plans for the 3 day trip we decided to stop at Tyndrum and pick up a map of the bridge of orchy area. Google had thrown up Gorton bothy and not fancying the idea of using our bivvy bags we decided to strike out for Gorton and assess our options from there. Fortunately the weather was glorious with a forecast for more of the same - we couldn't have chosen a better weekend on that front at least! 
IMAG0266 by Trev Povey At the car park, ready for the offThe walk into the bothy took a couple of hours of very straightforward walking along the landrover track. Eventually the bothy came into view and we met with a few lads who were already installed. Plenty of room at the bothy though with two large rooms.
After a little consultation with the guys at the bothy and after unfolding our crisp, new map we settled on the obvious target of Beinn a Creachain for the following day.
IMAG0270 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Not a bad place to spend the eveningA splendid sunset looking down to glencoe across Rannoch Moor and a (reasonably) good nights sleep later saw us ready to ascend first thing on sunday. Following the landrover track soon brought us under the west highland railway line from where we followed the gentler contours upwards. The sun was already burning hot even at 9am and the first hour or so was heavy going with plenty of stops for water, chocolate and sunscreen but the views were already starting to reward us. We could even see north to the Stob Coires where we should have been!!
IMAG0276 by Trev Povey, on Flickr On the up
IMAG0279 by Trev Povey, on Flickr where we couldve been!As always, once we were into a rhythm the going became easier and soon we could see Creachain smiling down on us. The ridge looked a little tricky from down below with plenty of snow but we decided to continue and assess it when we got there.
IMAG0286 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Summit in sightAs we climbed the views down to Lochan a Creachain opened up and we could see the broken ice sheet on the water. Not the time of year for a dip so we pressed on upwards finding that the ridge was clear of snow and an easy stroll in the sunshine.
IMAG0290 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Lochan a Creachain
IMAG0294 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Nearly there, stay off those cornices!Once on the top, the views were stunning with snow capped peaks for miles and miles around in all directions. Difficult to imagine a more perfect place to spend your sunday afternoon. We lingered on the summit with the place to ourselves for the best part of an hour soaking up the sun and the vista before dropping down to the bealach.
IMAG0297 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Nice enough!We decided not to continue to Beinn Achaladair as that route would take us further away from the bothy which we were intending to return to as we had no other plan in mind having been forced into the late change.
We quickly descended down the gradual slopes towards the railway which made for a pleasant walk through the woods, allowing us to collect some dead wood for that night's fire.
IMAG0306 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Heading down with rannoch moor and glencoe in the distance.After fording Tulla water (the footbridge marked on the os map is now virtually non existant) we plodded back to Gorton, tired and hungry but very content after our improvised adventure had been such a huge success!
IMAG0317 by Trev Povey, on Flickr Fireside chatWe had Gorton to ourselves on the sunday night and enjoyed a roaring fire and some dirty rum and brandy before retracing our steps to the car in the morning for the 5 hour drive back south.
All in all a wonderful adventure in truly amazing weather in a unique part of the uk.
