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Beinn Dorain and Beinn an
Dòthaidh |
 
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Country: Scotland. |
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Location: Bridge of Orchy. |
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Accommodation: The Bridge of Orchy Hotel has a
bunkhouse. Camping is allowed just across the bridge (ask at reception). |
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Transport: Railway station at the Bridge of Orchy. The A82
runs from Tyndrum past Bridge of Orchy on its way to Fort William. |
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Maps: OS Sheet 50 (Glen Orchy). |
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Trip Date: 11 June 1993 |
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Introduction |
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The conical mass of Beinn Dorain ("hill of the streamlet", 1076m) is a
familiar sight to travellers approaching Bridge of Orchy from Tyndrum along the
West Highland Way (or the A82 road or railway). It
hides the flat top of Beinn an Dòthaidh ("hill of the scorching or
singeing", 1002m) until Bridge of Orchy is reached - the best viewpoint is from
the other side of Loch Tulla. Both hills are easily climbed from Bridge of
Orchy.
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Route |
Cross the A82 from the Bridge of Orchy Hotel and head up to the railway
station. Just before the station, an underpass takes you off the tarmac and
onto the Old Military Road. Leave this immediately to turn left onto the lower
moorland slopes of Beinn Dorain. A distinct path leads 100 metres to the left
(NE) over wet ground to the south bank of the Allt Coire an Dòthaidh. It
then climbs up eastwards beside the stream on drier ground. Higher up the coire
the path crosses a small stream and then tends to a NE course to avoid some
crags. The col at the top of the coire is gained via a climbing traverse south
below a line of crags and then a straight pull to the col. There is a large
cairn here.
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| Beinn an Dòthaidh from
Beinn Achaladair (Beinn Dorain on the left) |
To go to Beinn Dorain first, follow a path due south. This climbs easily
up a rocky rib on the edge of a escapement to your right. After 200m climbed
over the next 500 metres, the path reaches and crosses a small plateau
containing a tarn. The ascent continues on the other side of the plateau up a
broad grassy slope which becomes bouldery further up. A kilometre of walking
brings you to a top (not the summit) with a large cairn. The summit is a
further 200 metres on over a small 20m dip.
Return to the col along the ascent route. A narrow rocky path leads NNE
over a small stream and then climbs up to the top of a line of crags where it
becomes indistinct. Continuing the NNE course up the grassy and sometimes wet
south slopes of Beinn an Dòthaidh will get you to the east top of the
summit ridge. The highest point of the ridge is then 200 metres to the north
with the West Top a few hundred metres further to the west. The West Top is the
slightly better viewpoint since it hides the lower slopes of the mountains to
the west from the summit. However there is no reason not to visit all three
tops.
To return to the Bridge of Orchy, drop directly south from the West top
to the top of the crags and pick up the path back to the col.
If you can arrange transport from Achallader farm then there are a
couple of alternate return routes:
From the West Top, go west and then NNE along the west ridge of Coire
Achaladair. There are some quite steep broken slopes to traverse at first but
these lead to easy gradients as you descend to reach the path along the west
side of the Allt Coire Achaladair. The path leads to a bridge over the railway
just short of the farm.
From the east top, you can drop south down steep grassy slopes to a 'sheep
track' on top of the line of crags above Coire a Ghabhalach. Turn left (east)
along the crag and follow what track there is until you are above Coire
Daingean. The col at the head of the coire is gained by an easy descent on
grassy slopes. Go north down the stream until the lower extension of the coire
(Coire Achaladair) is reached. About halfway down make sure that you are on the
west side of the stream to pick up a path all the way to the farm.
