Beinn Dhorain Five - in two hours!

Date 10 August 2017

Hills: Cnoc Craggie Beag, The Craggan, Choire Mhor, Beinn Dhorain & Beinn Uarie

No, no, not the iconic Beinn Dorain and its neighbours! That lot in two hours… what kind of rocket-fuelled runner do you think I am? No, I mean Beinn Dhorain. And where exactly is that, I hear some of you ask. Above Glen Loth, off the Brora to Helmsdale road. The edge of MAMBA land. Yes, it's summer hols, and again our first destination in the campervan is the far north-east. We were up there because… sigh… deep breath…

Shortly after we had come back from Foolin' in the Cuilin, C was referred to an NHS physio to aid mobility in her ailing hip. (I always seem to start my reports these days with something of a medical bulletin, and I'm afraid this one is no different.) Anyway, C came out of the appointment in agony - with a slipped disc. So no expeditions for us this summer. At least up in Brora we wouldn't be mocked by the sight of the high hills.

And there is always Brora Loch - one of my favourite spots in the Highlands. The path between the outflow of the loch and Doll Bridge is particularly special. I'm aware, from the fan mail she occasionally receives, that the chief draw of my reports is our dog, Sadie, and here she is on the path down by the loch…

Half way to Doll Bridge, in amongst the scots pines, is a glade of beech trees. I've always thought that this was a magical spot, and from the way a number of the trees here have been decorated, someone else obviously agrees…

So where were we? Ah yes, a hill report. Not a great one, I'm afraid. I was on my own, and the light was dull. Anyway, here we are, parked up where the Glen Loth road heads down towards Strath Ullie. That's the hills around Scaraben, I think, in the background…

This area is one of the most cleared in all the Highlands. Just above where we parked, on the spur leading up to the first top, is a gorgeous alpine meadow. Gorgeous, that is, apart from the shielings and field furrows which tell of the life that was once here. This photo comes from a visit here last summer, when the sun was coming out. Oh, and on that occasion we were walking down the slope, not up it.

Another sign of the life that has gone from this area is the top of Cnoc Craggie Beag, where there is a curious little shelter. Doesn't look as if this…

…was made by hillwalkers.

Here Sadie is, last summer, beneath…

…The Craggan. My route today (sadly without ailing wife or ageing dog) went up the hill to the right, then across the skyline to the left.

From the top of The Craggan there is a view out to…

…the west. Fannaichs all the way round to Assynt, Hope and Klibreck.

If you're wondering how 'The Craggan' got its name, here is the reason…

…with Morvern in the background.

Let's be honest, it's not exactly…

…Sron na Ciche, is it?

The going underfoot up on these Sutherland hills is scrubbed and blasted by the weather. So, easy walking up the gentle slope to…

…Choire Mhor.

Never let it be said that any hillside is entirely featureless. Here's a nice splash…

…of colour near the top of Beinn Dhorain.

On to the last top…

…Beinn Uarie.

Back at the Glen Loth 'road҅

…looking back to the second part of the round. Inside the campervan, resting up for the time we get back to the bigger hills…

…is Sadie.