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Beinn Donachain

Beinn Donachain from Catnish Suspension Bridge in Glen Orchy

Start/Finish

Catnish parking and picnicking area (with tables!) in Glen Orchy. Driving down the B8074 minor road from Bridge of Orchy, it is about 6 miles to Catnish. From the Dalmally end, it is about 3 miles. The suspension bridge is very obvious. Across the road is a large green corrugated iron “shed”. There is usually plenty of parking.

Distance/Time

11 km     About 6 hours.

Peaks

Beinn Donachain, 650 m, NN 198 316. OS sheet 50.

Introduction

This is quite a rough moorland walk which is boggy in places. There are more lochans than are shown on the 1:50 000 OS map. In mist the terrain can be quite confusing. Under snow, even more so. In clear weather, Beinn Donachain is an excellent viewpoint for the Ben Cruachan and Ben Lui ranges not to mention Beinn Udlaidh, Beinn Mhic-Mhonaidh and beinn na Sroine.

Route

(1) Cross the suspension bridge and turn left, SW. Follow the pleasant path along the river bank. When the path/track leaves the river bank, just after a stream, follow a faint path along the river bank as the track becomes very boggy. The faint path leads to a stile. Do not cross the stile but follow the fence up and round to a gate at the edge of the wood. Go through the gate and locate the track which is shown as a path on the map. This is quite rough and boggy. Follow it up W then NE to the first obvious crag of Creag Ghlas. Just past here, there is a gate. Go through it, then head uphill, roughly NNW to gain a ridge. The picturesque Lochan Coire Thoraidh will soon be seen to the E, sitting in plantation. Continue to Cruach nan Nighean. To the SW of here lies Heart Loch (because of its shape). Turn towards W to reach the next top at about NN 206 318 then pass just to the S of the lochan at about NN 203 318. From here, head roughly SW to a flattish area before climbing more steeply to the summit plateau of Beinn Donachain. The second cairn appeared to be the highest and so was the summit of Beinn Donachain, 650 m. There is another top, about 1 km away at NN 190 312, which has a larger cairn than the summit but is given the lower spot height of 644 m on the map. It might be worth a visit just in case it turns out to be the “new” summit in years to come! It is situated very scenically SW of Lochan Uaine.

(2) Retrace the route of ascent. Be careful in mist not to descend to Glen Orchy too soon.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 17th April, 2006, 18th March, 2013 and 27th March, 2013.

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