Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe

Last nights hope of a clear day turned out to be false, set off for the Clach Leathad Traverse from the Bridge of Orchy Bunkhouse about 9:30 along the WHW to Victoria Bridge, there the route goes up over the hills above Black Mount, should have been Stob Gabhar, Clach Leathad and Meall a Bhuiridh, low cloud and switching off my GPS as I left Stob Gabhar meant I took a wrong turn and came out in Glen Etive, very scenic but left with a long road run to get to the Glencoe Ski Centre where my bag was being left.

Turned left along the farm road to the Old Schoolhouse then up the trail beside the Allt Toaig into Coire Toaig. Past Corein Lochain and up into the mist over the Aonach Eagach ridge to Stob Gabhar.

From there managed to come down Sron a Ghearrain instead of Aonach Mor. Met a few deer and a lot of frogs. I realised where I was and decided to continue down to Glen Etive instead of the turning back and up to try and find Aonach Mor.

Following a series of scenic rivers and glens down to Glen Etive, these might not be there much longer, hydro schemes are proposed for this  and another two or three similar glens nearby. Very scenic run back up the glen, an extra hour or so running on tarmac to finish in just over 7 hours wasn't what I needed. More pictures here.

Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy

Started along the West Highland Way supposed to turn off to Auch Glen and go over Ben Dorain, low cloud again and decided to run to Bridge of Orchy then do an out and back to Ben Dorain up the walkers path.

A few walkers on the WHW but not many on the hill. Ben Dorain has two summits and found a new path traversing past the first summit that came up behind the second higher summit.

Ran along the ridge over the lower summit on the way down. Met a group of walkers who had strayed from the path, they were pleased to get back on track. Finished in just over 5 1/2 hours. A few more pictures here.

BOO, Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair

Drove up to Bridge of Orchy, planned to run out and back over Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair and Beinn A'Chreachain, or as far as I could. Thick fog dissolved as I drove up Loch Lomondside.Clear, windless day as I started up the hill to the col between Dothaidh and Dorain, frosty in the shade.

View looking east from col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Dorain

 Found a good route through the bogs under Dothaidh's triple summit, ran over the NE one and down a steep grassy ridge onto the long undulating ridge to Achaladair's summit, three ups later I was there.

Ridge to Achaladair, Chreachain centre back.

Stunning views to the hills beyond Rannoch moor. Decided that was enough, Beinn a'Chreachain, next along the ridge too far for today. Easier run back along the ridge.

The climb back up to an Dothaidh's summit would be slow.

Ran round the summit plateau taking in the views from each of the summits. Bypassed most of the bog to the col, from there a rocky boggy run, tough on tired legs, shoes visited one bog too many, sole coming apart added to the fun.

 View looking west from col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Dorain

Finished in 5 hours, stunning day and views, plenty of pictures here.

BOO

Got up to clear skies, sun and no wind. Drove up to Bridge of Orchy - BOO - and set off for the two Munros that overlook. Beinn Dorain and Beinn An Dothaidh (Pron Dohay). The first mile a rocky boggy path up into the clouds to Coire a Dothaidh. I reach the high Beallach between to the two hillls and I'm through the clouds, a cold breeze here but endless blue skies and sunshine, stop for a few pictures.

Hills overlooking the Black Mount from the beallach.

Dorain first, a 1000' and a mile or so South, steep at first then levels off, more runnable with a few wee steep bits. Double summit, the real summit is the second one, 100' or so down and up. More photos here, views are good today.

Lui and Arrochar hills and Ben Lomond

About turn through the dip and back to the Beallach, catching a Glory on the clouds below. The path up Dothaidh good at first then fades into bog, the path reappears on the short climb to the SE top, run round the other two tops, the middle on is the real summit. More pictures!

Beinn Achaladair's rolling summit ridge and Beinn a Creachain behind

A reluctant run back to the Beallach and the boggy rocky path down to BOO, Just under 3 1/2 hours for the 9 miles and 4300'. Views from Ben's Lomond to Nevis, the CMD clear beside it, Cruachan, Lui, and the Arrochar Alps all poking through the clouds, mountains for miles. More pictures here.