Photographs, route description and map of the Munro Ben Dorain above The West Highland Way

Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh are Munros which are hard to miss for those travelling the A82 between Tyndrum and Glencoe.
The ascent provides a ﬁne. easily accessible and relatively straight forward outing.
Start from the station car park at Bridge of Orchy and take the underpass beneath the railway. Go through a gate and fellow a well- trodden path past a telecommtmications aerial on to the open hillside. This path leads into the narrow corrie formed between the two hills and heads towards the obvious col on the skyline. Beyond large boulders. the ground steepens and the path leads through the gap between rock faces to reach the col ( 744m / 2441ft ). From here it is perhaps best to climb Beinn Dorain ﬁrst and this lies to the right, due south. Although its summit is set back a mile or so, the terrain. views and walk out are immensely enjoyable. lnitially the path runs along the edge above some minor rock bluffs then swings up right. passing a tiny lochan before climbing the shoulder up and over a false top to gain the summit ( l076m / 3530ft ). Betrace your steps to the col then follow the path up right and across the slope aiming for the central and highest of three bumps on the skyline ridge of Beinn an Dothaidh. Unlike the previous hill. the ground is not so pleasant. and although the path becomes boggy and more difﬁcult to follow it is never too steep and the top is much closer. it's worth making the slight detour out to the pointed right-hand top ( 993m / 3258ft ) before taking in the main summit (1004m / 3294ft ) then continuing across to the ﬂat western top ( 1000m / 3281ft ). The ground drops steeply to the north here and the airy feel and spacious views more than make up for the terrain on the ascent. The best return is to descend the broad rocky crest southwards before dropping down left at the end to join the ascent path just above the col. The route of ascent now leads back to Bridge of Orchy with ﬁne views ahead to Stob Ghabhar and the Ben Starav hills.

The West Highland Way

Beinn Dorain ( 3530ft, 1076m )

from West Highland Way

on approach to Auch Glen

Beinn Dorain

from West Highland Way

beneath Beinn Odhar

Ben Dorain

above the West Highland Way

crossing Auch Gleann

Stob Ghabhar in the Black Mount

from West Highland Way

across Auch Gleann

West Highland Way

crossing Auch Gleann

beneath Ben Dorain

Ben Cruachan

from Ben Dorain

Beinn Odhar

from summit of Beinn Dorain

Tulla Loch and Black Mount

from Ben Dorain

Ben Dorain above Tulla Loch

from Stob a'Choire Odhair

Beinn Dorain, Beinn a'Chaisteil and Beinn Odhar

Beinn Dorain summit

Glencoe Photo Gallery

<< Back : West Highland Way : Next >>

Scotland Index :: Scottish Peaks :: Scotland Walks

Adventure Travel : Worldwide Mountaineering : Site Index

Travel & Guide Books & Maps:-

Guide Books & Maps - Scotland

Climbing, Ski-ing & Mountaineering Books