More Monros

I woke with the realisation that I’d hiked up three hills higher than Scafell Pike yesterday and was about to, hopefully, hike two more.

Was this really sensible I wondered?

But despite the dubious comfort of thermarest and tent nothing appeared to ache so there was no reason to not.

From nearby Bridge of Orchy there are a couple of Monros without a long hike in. Beinn a Dothaidh and Beinn Dorain.

Up to Bridge of Orchy Munros

From the road both are reached from a track west rising to over 700m over a bit more than 2km. The track rather disappointing and at first, rough and skirting a pine plantation, eventually added interest with tumbling water and the corrie between the hills.

Loch Lyon

From the top of the corrie. A wide glacial valley, Loch Lyon and more mountains rolling endlessly away in another perfectly blue day. Totally worth the hike already.

Ben Lui from Dorain

Beinn Dorain is a track right and south. A few ups, but no downs to a wide ridge. Cairns placed to lull the unsuspecting into thinking the summit has been reached. Glad there was not mist to obscure the true top, inevitably down before the final up. But what a place for lunch.  Most satisfying to see south to the lovely Ben Lui conquered the day before!

From Dorain

With hours of daylight left – it was only lunch time, Monro number five had to be done. North. The down was only 300m or so, hum.

Dorain

A bit more of a rolling moor after the initial steep path we skirted round crags over dried sphagnum on the way up to Beinn an Dothaidh.  Some Glasgow walkers telling us again, how the weather was so unusual and that these hills were usually topped by mist and there was a reason for their wearing gaiters. As in Cumbria the sphagnum usually squelched!

Beinn An Dothaidh

There’s another deceptive little peak on a spur just off Dothaidh. On a clear day it’s obviously not the top. Cairn building must just be someone’s pleasant pass time.  The absence of squelch in the sphagnum made for a direct, easy descent. Even that tumbling track down could be avoided.

Mealgarbh

So that was it. Two days. Five Monros. Having bagged Wainwrights I’m not about to start the Monros. I don’t think I have enough years left. Though I have to admit to having a map, with a list. And next time, as there will be a next time, I head further north to climb a hill, I’ll probably look at the list and ‘bag’ a different on.

Just another reason to go north.