M64 | 1076 m. | 3530 ft.
Translation: Gaelic dobhran, hill of the streamlet
Pronuncation: byn doo-ran

Frank and me had said Goodbye to our cottage on Skye early in the morning in order to drive south and catch our planes back home the next day. Our initial plan had been to climb two hills on the South Glen Shiel ridge but when we got to the glen we found out that the weather had not improved one bit from what Skye had had on offer that morning: rain, sleet, snow. We soon decided that the West Highlands offered no positive prospects for us that day. So we headed on to do another hill on the way to Glasgow.

Arriving in Bridge of Orchy a look at the sky told us that it was either now or never. We parked the car at the bridge of Orchy train station, threw the necessary gear into our rucksacks and hiked up the broad path leading into Corrie an Dothaidh. I had been up this path up to the beallach between Beinn an Dothaid and Beinn Dorain in 2001. Being alone, then, I turned back at the beallach because of the strong wind and drifting snow I had encountered there. We made good progress, but the path was rather boggy in some places and spongy in others. Alas, finally the upper part of the corrie and the beallach were finally gained. There a pause and a look a the Glen Lyon hills helped us regain our strength.

Then, we headed due south following the very obvious path up the broad shoulder of Beinn Dorain. Some clouds descended upon us when we got to the final steepening before the summit ridge flattens out. At some point Frank, being behind me a few steps, opted for the path which outflanks the first, lower summit of the hill, while I chose the path along that ridge. We lost contact for a few moments wondering who had made a bad choice. But then we both realized that there were to paths to the summit proper of Beinn Dorain. There we met again and touched the cairn of our final 2007 Munro. Mission (almost) completed.

Exhausted we rested in the lee of the big cairn, ate some of our provisions, drank some tea and took photographs for flocks of English hill-walkers who were also having a break at the summit. The view was quite nice, although the wind was strongish. Then, reluctantly, we said Farewell to this last Munro of 2007 and walked back along the ridge to the beallach at the head of Coire an Dothaidh. Form the beallach onwards the sun was shining nicely, the wind relented and we enjoyed the stroll down the hill along the Allt Corrie an Dothaidh all the way to Bridge of Orchy.

Again it had been the right decision to drive away from the bad weather in the west and try our luck further to the east. With Beinn Dorain we added a very well-known hill to our list of Munros done and enjoyed. At the car we chatted with a gentleman living in one of the houses close by, stashed everything no longer needed into our bags and suitcases and then said Goodbye to the Highlands for another year. Fare ye weel and haste ye back!

 


Description These two mountains form the southern half of the range that overlooks Loch Tulla and the headwaters of the River Orchy. Beinn Dorain is one of the most familiar of Scottish mountains, recognisable by its conical shape and great upsweep above the West Highland Railway. Beinn an Dothaidh, although not of such striking appearance, presents an uninterrupted bastion above Loch Tulla and has a fine corrie hidden on its north-east face. Both mountains are easily accessible from Bridge of Orchy.Start from Bridge of Orchy station and follow a path up the south side of the Allt Coire an Dothaidh to the col between the two mountains. Going to Beinn Dorain first, climb due south up a broad grassy ridge to reach a large cairn, which is not the top. Descend a short distance and climb again to the true summit. Having returned to the col, climb north-north-east up the grassy flank of Beinn an Dothaidh direct to its highest point, which is the central of three not very well defined tops and stands at the edge of the north-east corrie.