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I was camping at Duror with friends Bod and Val (on Walkhighlands) and Andy and Gill. Saturday dawned bright and sunny so it looked a great day for us to pay a visit to our neighbouring mountain, Beinn a Bheithir. Having two cars to work with opened up possibilities and we decided to leave one at the forest car park at South Ballachulish and drive on to Ballachulish village to start our traverse of this mountain range. We set off past the school and soon had amazing views of the north-east ridge of Sgorr Bhan which was to be our means of approach.
- Sgorr Bhan from the north-east
Soon the hard work began with the ascent of the ridge which became steeper as we ascended higher!
- The ascent of Sgor Bhan
Then there was some scrambling needed to take us forward.
- Scrambling up Sgorr Bhan
Eventually after a minor diversion off the ridge to the left and then scrambling back up we joined the crest of the ridge again. With hindsight it might have been just as good to stay with the ridge but the scrambling might have been harder. All the hard work was worth it when we took in the views.
- Looking down towards Ballachulish village
The ridge led us up to the summit of Sgorr Bhan and we found ourselves wondering how the round pink stone had arrived at the top of the cairn - presumably on somebody's back, as it wasn't from around there.
- The summit of Sgorr Bhan
From Sgorr Bhan the summit of Sgorr Dhearg could be seen rising up along the beautifully symmetrical ridge line. "That's the way to go!" Bod was heard to say!
- Sgorr Dhearg from Sgorr Bhan
The walk along the ridge to Sgorr Dhearg was delightful. There was a real sense of space and altitude as we made our way up the narrow ridge line.
- On the ridge to Sgorr Dhearg
Soon the team was gathered at the summit of our first Munro of the day.
- At the summit of Sgorr Dhearg
Setting off from the summit heading for Sgorr Dhonuill, the views to the west were stunning.
- From the summit of Sgorr Dhearg looking towards Sgorr Dhonuill and the sea
From there it was downhill for a time on the way to Sgorr Dhonuill, passing some mystical looking stones on the way!
- Sgorr Dhonuill from Sgorr Dhearg
The climb up Sgorr Dhonuill was grassy at first but soon we reached some rocky ground and there was a bit of simple scrambling again - but it wasn't as hard a climb as it looked at first from below.
- Climbing up Sgorr Dhonuill
Soon we were on the very spacious summit enjoying the views again! And it was even less windy up there!
- The summit of Sgorr Dhonuill looking towards Sgorr Dhearg
From there we walked west heading for the beallach about 1 km west of the summit. The views out over Loch Linnhe were amazing!
- West from Sgorr Dhonuill
At the beallach we discovered our way down was a rather steep and unpleasant scree-filled gully which needed care on the descent. It is the way the SMC handbook brings you up to Sgorr Dhonuill - but it wasn't much fun! Maybe it would be easier climbing up it!
- The descent into Gleann a' Chaolais
Once down it was a straightforward walk on a woodland path and landrover roads down Gleann a' Chaolais back to our parked car at South Ballachulish. Looking back we caught tantalising glimpses of the ridges of Sgorr Dhonuill in the evening sunlight. It had been a great day out on Beinn a' Bheithir.
- Sgorr Dhonuill from Gleann a' Chaolais