Beinn Dorain

Beinn Dorain (Hill of the small Stream).
Munro: 1076m

Beinn Dorain from south last winter

This iconic hill stands tall and proud, a magnificent volcanic structure, as seen from the south, as you drive from Tyndrum towards Glencoe. I have driven past this hill many times on my way north but not had the opportunity to climb it until today. 

Both Munros posted

Most people will do this as a double act with Beinn an Dothaidh but today it is an outing with the KRG and the leader felt that the double might be beyond some of the group, fair enough, it leaves me Dothaidh for another day.
A 6am alarm and an early start saw us parked up at the Bridge Of Orchy hotel and walking for 10am. With the turbulent weather the forecast has been regularly changing as to how much rain and wind we were to be inflicted with but not expecting a dry day.
The route is straightforward in clear conditions, some care required up top if low cloud, (as per OS Explorer 377 for the non GPS crew). Head to the railway station car park then through the underpass and now follow the clear but very rough and eroded path up the south flank of the Allt Coire an Dothaidh. 

The hills are up there

Our first view upwards was of very low cloud, please lift. On the lower slopes the path is often deep bog and the number of walkers going to the sides to avoid the muck has created serious erosion.  Keep on this track, which on the steeper pitch is now a surface large scree and wet grass/ boulders/rocky slabs, so take care. Some optimism, is that light breaking through the cloud?

First tea break, midges are out and behind and well below us a steam engine with only one carriage pulls into the station, grey smoke belching. Then the clouds have lifted enough that we can see the bealach.

Hemmed in it feels like a proper mountain walk. Two ravens leave the cliffs above and glide over us, are we lunch? After this it is pleasing to reach the cairn at the top of Coire an Dothaidh where the views ahead are opening up across Loch Lyon.

The crossroads

Crossroads time for walkers, on the left is a clear track going up the flanks of Beinn an Dothaidh but for our walk we turned to go on the right path (south). A couple of guys arrive coming down from Dorain, no views to be had they tell us. The going is again fairly clear and on a steady gradient but the clouds have descended giving few views of the route ahead. Just as the forecast predicted gusting high winds picked up followed by belting rain. The rain sadly was now on and off for the rest of the day.

Walker heading for Dorain, Dothaidh behind

We were now in full cloud as we followed the track to the Carn Sasunnaich (the Englishman's cairn). Fairly slow going as the group had to remain in full sight from front to back and in the mist that was not far a distance. 

Another 5 minutes and we were at the summit cairn and as you can see from the snap not a lot to see. I admit I felt slightly deflated, I had been looking forward to the views from this hill for so long, the joys of hill walking. We had a quick lunch as it was too cold and damp to hang about.

Just like Arran the other week as we descended the clouds flirted with us giving us brief tantalising views of what we had hoped to see. The flank of the summit of Dorain can be seen for a few seconds.

Beinn Dorain summit

Still, there was still much to enjoy on the descent. With the weather we just opted to return by the same route and avoided the lower path. At times we had excellent views on our right of Loch Lyon and the surrounding hills.

On our left I can make out the Dalmally horseshoe in the distance, Cruachan behind. It is too windy to get the map out to check and too many hills to identify. Well below us Loch Tulla is a fabulous striking blue colour. Some ants move along the West Highland Way.

The steep flanks of Dothaidh and the view north the waterfall cracks can be seen

There is so much to admire in this landscape and the Bridge of Orchy hotel is now also in view, looking forward to my pint later.
The steep scree section demanded full concentration where we had a few slips but thankfully nothing serious. Admire the waterfall on the right, twin flows cascading down before joining together and thumping into the burn.

The track back to the finish

Finally back at the car. Again longer than if I was walking solo but another enjoyable day. Another hill added to the list that I have to revisit and get that view!!
Time: 6.38
Distance: 7.19m (11.57km)
Ascent: 3061ft (933m)