Beinn Donachain

This was originally meant to be the first Corbett of the year with Graeme but the cold blast of air from the Arctic meant that the A9 was impassable for Graeme. I would be on my own. As I had just passed Crianlarich, I quickly calculated what I hadn’t done in and around Tyndrum. Beinn Donachain from Glen Orchy would be the target.

I drove towards Dalmally then up Glen Orchy to the Eas car park. A couple of campers were there and had probably had a very cold night. I pushed off at 0755, hoping for a sunrise over the hills to the South. This bore fruit. It was a very pleasant walk up the through Caledonian forest, and a great place to return in summer for a camp with Martha possibly. The climb up to the edge of the forest was a delight and now Beinn Laoigh came into view, with the sun rising. 

The final part of the climb saw me emerge above the Heart loch, with a calming walk round and over to the summit proper. From here, the views to Cruachan and beyond were fabulous. I sat and took it all in, really at one with the hills. The descent was lovely and I arrived back at the car by noon. A super wee hill.

Badandun Hill

On the 19th Dec, I headed North to the folks for my cousin’s 40th up in Macduff. I checked to see what hadn’t been done and spied Badandun Hill, in Glen Isla. The rain was tipping it down, it had been pretty miserable but I decided to wait it out for 15 mins and then go for it. This was a fairly straightforward yomp up the hill and while I got the occasional view North to the larger Cairngorm hills, it was claggy. Within the hour, I was at the summit just as the snow started. I did not hang about. I had my trail shoes on and just ran back down the hill, at the car 90 minutes after I set off. While the hill wasn’t particularly interesting, I liked the area for its solitude. Must return in summer.