After the long day and exertions of Ben Cruachan we wanted a something a little easier for our last day in Scotland (easier is a relative term in Scottish winter conditions)
The weather was stunning and the forecast settled and we agreed on Ben Dorain. Its sits directly above the hotel (no need for any driving) and as its very popular, we guessed it might have a trail stomped out through the deep snow.
The ground was frosty but the sun warm as we started out for the long climb through Coire and Dothaidh up to the ridge.
The views out over the south-west highlands was magnificent.
Other than one short steep stretch where the party ahead of us had been sliding about on the snow and obliterated the trail (thanks!) it was easy going to the col.
From there it was a winter wonderland!
Our guess was correct and there was a deep and compacted trail through the snow that made the walk along the surprisingly long ridge an absolute delight.
TBF with Beinn an Dothaidh behind.
Ben Dorain looks fairly simple in terms of its topography from afar. On closer inspection it has a long ridge with several small spurs and corries/depressions holding deep snow. It would have been a hard work breaking trail up here the day before.
With this excellent trail (compacted and frozen so micro-spikes were very handy) we just strolled to the top,.
As we climbed the views just got better and better. Mountains as far as the eye could see, interspersed with lower clouds.
Glen Orchy and Ben Cruachan, our mountain from the previous day.
A look along the long ridge to the top.
I’ve been up here a couple of times before, both in dense cloud. When you arrive on the subsidiary top of Carn Sassunaich, you’d have to check the map closely to realise that despite the massive cairn, its not actually the highest point, seen here beyond. Indeed on my first visit I’m not 100% sure I did go to main top!
Its a nice albeit short ridge across to the summit.
Here’s Danish Matt approaching the final climb.
And a team photo (minus me) on the summit.
Its pretty steep on all sides so the views are airy and spectacular, well at least I know that now having been to the top on a clear day at last.
We lingered on the top for an extended lunch and spent a while wandering about and taking in the amazing vistas.
East over towards Glen Lyon, Glen Lochay and the Ben Lawers range.
Panorama looking east.
And one looking west.
The edge that faces west is quite dramatic looking out over Glen Orchy and Loch Tulla.
Very much satisfied with our lot and our choice of summit we began the route down. Summit selfie (well a Carn Sassunaich selfie anyway).
The walk down was as much a delight as the walk up as the sun began lower and change the lighting.
We felt we had enough time to tackle Beinn an Dothaidh. It was a tougher climb as its less popular and the trail hadn’t be stamped out quite as well. Looking back to Beinn Dorain from the way up.
Well worth the extra effort as the view over Rannoch Moor to Lochaber and Ben Nevis (close to the left edge of the skyline in the above photo) is stupendous
There had been a thin veil of cirrus cloud all day and as the sun went down it lit those clouds up to dramatic effect.
Happy lads on the summit.
Highest point of Beinn an Dothaidh.
One of its other summit points and the best one for views.
The light was fading fast and we had to head down. The temperature was dropping fast and its no place to get caught out in the dark.
Magificent skies as we headed down to the hotel.
Sunset over the the south west highlands.
One final treat with a period of pink Alpenglow as the sun finally set for the day.
Map of the route – well, sort of. Just ignore the leg off to the north (from a previous trip), I couldn’t be bothered to do an up to date version.
The walk ended on a bit of a downer. Danish Matt slipped over within sight of the hotel and looked in a good deal of pain, saying he felt something “go”. A visit to hospital the next day confirmed he’s broken a bone in his foot. In one way unlucky that it happened so close to the end of the walk, but look another way and lucky it didn’t happen much higher up where the situation would have been much more serious.
Next day of our Scottish adventure and the usual round of endless discussions around where to go. My mate JC suggested Ben Cruachan which I haven’t done for years. Its a big bugger so we went for the shorter and lower eastern side and the Dalmally horseshoe.
Even though its a shorter day, you start at sea level and its still a substantial undertaking of 8 miles and 3,500 feet of ascent.
Our group 6 set off on the track into the heart of the horseshoe. The Hydro track went much further into Coire Chreachainn than the map showed which was helpful.
After which the real work began. Steep grass and then ever deepening snow. The forecast was for the grey skies to clear and as we climbed things looked promising. However the grey skies soon returned.
It was a very long climb and in deep snow with no new tracks to follow it was tough going.
JC puts a happy perspective on things.
Approaching the first top of Sron an Isean.
The happy gang on the first summit.
The weather was still overcast and we were in and out of the cloud. We still had some decent views and in this grim spell of weather it was at least dry which is always a win in Scotland.
It had been tough going on the ascent but from here things were even tougher. The snow was amazingly deep even on the crest of the ridge. It was incredibly hard work bashing through and breaking trail (we were pretty much the only people we saw up here all day) even though I didn’t actually do any (I slunk to the back of the group using my lack of height as a very weak excuse).
Despite the grey skies the views were still pretty decent and Ben Cruachan is a spectacular mountain. Rocky with narrow ridges, unlike most of the rest of the south east highlands.
We stopped for a break on the final summit of Stob Garbh. Despite the relatively short distance it had taken us 5 hours to reach this point.
As we sat on the top the skies began to clear a little and the sun even came out. We were half in and half out of the cloud, the sunlight reflecting off the Cruachan Power Station reservoir far below.
After a grey day the skies began to clear to dramatic effect. Selfie with the highest summit of Ben Cruachan behind.
Within the space of a few minutes, gloomy grey skies were replaced with blue ones.
We even had a couple of fog-bows!
We went our separate ways from the summit, me and JB heading back to the car, the rest taking on the extra Corbett of Beinn a Bhuiridh.
As we headed down the skies became clearer and the late afternoon views across the southern highlands were magnificent. Another concerned face selfie.
It was a long and tiring descent in deep and slippery snow but with views like this no complaints.
JB takes a pause to survey the grandeur.
By the time we reached the lower slopes the skies had pretty much cleared and the light contrasts were just stunning.
Looking back to Beinn a Bhuiridh. At this point the rest of the party were only just heading away from the summit and likley to completing their descent in the dark.
We eventually reached the track just as the last pink alpenglow faded from Ben Lui.
We had to wait at the car for well over an hour for the rest of party to make it down but the moonlight views over the mountains, this is Beinn Mich Mhonaidh, was more thn enough to keep us happy.
I missed our annual Scotland winter weekend last year so it was great to be heading back up north again at the end of February.
Its a long drive but heading up a day early on the Thursday evening not only makes it worth the effort for 3 days walking but the traffic is good deal easier.
As we were in the van we were able to park up for the night at a really nice quiet little spot just outside Comrie.
Not a part of Scotland I’ve visited before over on the eastern side, very much more pastoral the then highland mountains.
We met up with a couple of the team for a Friday walk. The forecast was very uncertain with mention of heavy and frequent wintry showers out west so we stayed east and low, picking the interesting small mountain of Mor Bheinn just east of Loch Earn.
A nice easy introduction along the old railway line and forestry tracks. The Am Bioran ridge to Beinn Fuath looked very inviting although it looks a challenge to actually get to it.
The weather was much better than expected with plenty of blue sky and patches of sunshine replacing what we thought would be regular and squally showers.
The scenery was very unlike most of the highlands I’m used to walking in. Lots of green fields and lower slopes of bracken and heather.
Having a wide forest track to follow through those lower slopes was a real bonus. Trackless heather is not the easiest of mountain terrain.
Exiting the forest we had a fine view of one of Scotlands many Beinn Deargs – noted for a future day out.
The forestry track took us up to almost 400m leaving us only a couple of hundred meters to the top. Whilst there was some heather bashing, it wasn’t nearly as bad as we thought it might be.
The views really started to open out as we reached the summit, Loch Earn visible in the distance.
The low cloud that had been shrouding the bigger summits was starting to clear. Not sure if this group of hills that overlook Doune and Dunblane have a name but they looked impressive with their cloud cloaks.
We crested the summit with grand views out east over eastern Scotland. I really liked this panorama as its not what you normally associate with Scottish mountain walking.
To the west, the munro summit of Ben Vorlich was clearing.
TBF and UF on the summit of Mor Bhienn.
We found a sheltered spot out of the cold wind for lunch.
We lucked in as while we ate, a large patch of blue sky cleared above us and we were treated to some superb views.
Loch Earn and Beinn Fuath
Panorama of the southern highlands.
Summit selfie.
A good lunch stop is an essential part of any days hiking.
It was such a decent day that we decided to add the small neighbouring hill of Ben Halton to our intinerary.
This photo makes it look bigger than it really is.
A steep descent but we found a small path to follow through the deep heather.
The eastern views improving all the time and proving on days when the showers are battering the west coast, that staying on the east side can sometimes deliver a huge contrast.
Mor Bhienn from the slopes of Ben Halton.
Ben Halton proved to be well worth the extra small effort. A nice little summit ridge, studded with small outcrops and pools.
And a summit with grand views out over the east.
UF descending Ben Halton in a light snow shower. This one, and a light rain shower on the track out were the only showers we had all day.
And in between we had some lovely spells of sunshine.
Those marvellous eastern views again. Sometimes the ranks of mountains can make the view somewhat “samey”. Its nice to be up high and see something altogether different to contrast the mountain views.
We passed Aberuchill Castle on our way down, likely now converted to expensive holiday flats I’d guess.
To complete the day, a long walk along the disused railway track which I really enjoyed. The temperatures seemed to drop quite suddenly as the sky darkened and we drove through a huge snowstorm on our way over to the Bridge of Orchy hotel. It looked like the western highlands had seen a hell of snow dump, something we’d discover the following day.
Back up to our now regular visits to Liverpool to see the Prof.
We have a kind of routine for these trips now. A day in the city and day out and about in the wider area.
We took our usual trip into the Central Library and its splendid Picton Reading Room. A nice view across the city from the top floor.
After a cuppa and lunch in a very fine cafe near Lime Street Station and a walk up to the Philharmonic Rooms for a lunchtime pint we headed for our objective for the day, a tour of the Royal Liver Building on the waterfront.
Its an interesting building and an iconic sight from the outside. Whilst the inside is mostly rented office space they do let you go up to the roof where you get a close up view of the two main towers.
And some great views across the city.
There was also a 10 minute audio visual presentation on the inside of the walls of one of the towers. It was about the history of the city and extremely well done.
You can then climb to the higher point of one of the towers from where the views are even better. Looking out across the Port of Liverpool and Cunard Buildings towards Albert Dock.
Across the Mersey to the Wirral.
Close up of the Tower.
And North out towards Bootle and Crosby where the Prof lives. For the footy fans you can see the new Everton Stadium – who knows what division they will be in when they play their first game.
We lucked out with the weather and it was raining while we were up top. It was also cold as the family are making a good job of looking.
After our visit we just headed home for a chill out and then back out for a fine Greek meal in a local restaurant. This is the very spooky looking church across the road from the Prof’s flat. I expect to see Dracula and vampire bats swooping down to take us to the dark side of the after-life.
Next day, as part of our routine we headed for a breakfast and walk around Sefton Park before heading back to Crosby for a walk on the beach.
The Prof has landed on his feet with a very nice flat just 10 mins walk from the beach. What I’d give to be able to live this close to a fine walk.
We watched sun start to set with the Antony Gormley “Another Place” sculptures and then headed back home after another great city weekend. Several more trips planned hopefully with some better weather as we’ve only ever visited in autumn and winter.
I spend alot of my time surfing the web looking for ideas on places to go, walking routes, travel ideas and tips to plan the perfect holiday or day out. (I'm a project manager I like to plan). I thought it was time to share my own experiences and contribute to the vast amounts in information that's already out there.
I'll also add in some gear and tech reviews and when something irks me I may even use this forum to have a rant - I do that pretty well I'm told.There are a few pages at the top that give a bit of background to what I like to get up to and what you can expect to see in my posts. I'm not exactly a creative writer but I hope some people will find my stuff useful or inpsiring or at least enjoy some of my photos.
surfnslide 