Climbing Beinn Odhar: map & heights
Total climbing: 541 m
Total time: 07:10:28
Some interesting data
4.5 mile cycle in, 1h15 from 09.30 to 10.45
1.7 mile (230m ascent) climb in snowshoes, 3h25 from 11.20 to 14.45 – average 0.5 mph (including lunch).
4.5 mile cycle out, 1h00 from 15.40 to 16.40
Off to Beinn Odhar
We left the cottage on the bikes just after nine.
Sister was carrying two panniers with all the essentials, which appeared to be plenty.
She was also carrying the three pairs of snowshoes which we had hired for this occasion. I couldn’t wait to put them on.
We headed for the Bridge of Orchy train station and used the underpass to get on the West Highland Way.
Because of the underpass steps, we had to unload all the bags, take them to the other side, carry the bikes up the steps, and load everything again.
It’s a hard life when you want to have fun in the snow.
9.24 – Is that a bike or a mule?
The plan for the day was to climb Beinn Odhar, a Corbett (901m), in the snowshoes. It was a highly ambitious adventure, as we soon discovered.
9.55 – View of #
The weather forecast was for rain from lunchtime. The early morning was lovely, and there was little wind.
10.06 – Riding past #
We saw the familiar farm cattle, including some Highland cattle, by the Allt Kinglass (a stream).
Still on the West Highland Way
We followed the West Highland Way, which goes over the Allt Kinglass bridge. It’s a pretty stone bridge with a picturesque house near it.
10.08 – The Allt Kinglass bridge & # in the background
This part of the West Highland Way is an easy cycle ride.
If it’s rained plenty, there will be puddles, but the surface is good both for walking and cycling.
10.10 – Simon walking to the West Highland Way fence
Along this stretch of the West Highland Way we made fast progress.
10.26 – Riding along the Allt Kinglass (stream)
Waterfalls are plentiful, not just along this path, but all around Bridge of Orchy.
10.30 – One of many waterfalls in the area
Riding on snow
We soon started to get quite a bit of snow on the path.
10.32 – Looking back at majestic Beinn Dòrain
And then more.
10.40 – Sister not giving up
Around here we decided to leave the bikes and continue on foot. But not before hiding our precious possessions.
10.48 – A wet & white West Highland Way
Leaving the bikes
We carried the bikes and panniers up to the cattle creep.
I say we, but it was Simon who took the three bikes up and over. I don’t think Liath would have wanted me to balance it up in the air.
10.55 – Hiding the panniers from unlikely bandits
This is the cattle creep (at NN328335, grid reference).
It’s there to allow farm animals to get to the other side of the field avoiding the railway tracks.
10.56 – Through the cattle creep
Old habits die hard.
First, we rode for an hour through mud and snow to a godforsaken place with no one in sight. Plus, we carried a heavy lock as if we were going to park in the high street.
Then, to feel super safe, we looked for a spot to hide our valuables, and locked them tight.
Are there really that many bandits lurking in the snow, ready to steal our Jamaica ginger cake?
11.33 – Bikes & panniers securely locked to a flimsy fence
Snowshoes on
We put on the snowshoes, and started climbing Beinn Odhar.
11.40 – Sister & Simon testing their snowshoes
Beinn Odhar means “Dun Coloured Hill” in Gaelic.
This is how you pronounce it: /pjeɲ ˈɔɣarˠ/, if you can work out how.
11.42 – Beinn Dòrain from the slopes of Beinn Odhar
We soon discovered that getting to the top of Beinn Odhar wasn’t a realistic prospect.
11.49 – Those snowshoes are hard work!
I slid on the snow a couple of times.
11.53 – Maria making it look more difficult than it is *
We saw a helicopter flying over a couple of times, but we didn’t think it was a rescue mission. They were probably just practising.
12.02 – The gate before the big climb
Climbing with snowshoes was exhausting, but the views through the cloud were well worth it.
12.20 – The cloud coming in
Making a big effort, at times going nearly vertically (or so it felt), we managed to climb about one third of Beinn Odhar.
12.24 – Sister climbing almost vertically
While tramping on the snow, I saw a wee mouse running around. It was going a lot faster than I.
At 1pm we had a well deserved lunch.
Those ham and cheese sandwiches tasted great. Alas, I don’t think they’ve been that impressive if we hadn’t been so hungry.
Then the weather turned and the low cloud came in.
A bit later, wisely, we turned back.
Descending Beinn Odhar
13.29 – Simon making it look easier than it is
The descent was quite a job too.
It’s hard work walking on a steep hill with gigantic flat shoes on. But it’s also a lot of fun.
The West Highland Way runs parallel to the A82, a busy road. From Beinn Odhar you can hear the traffic, when you’re not too busy concentrating on your snowshoes.
You can also see some sheep here and there.
14.02 – Sister descending
We rejoined the West highland Way less than a mile further south from where we had left it.
We walked back to the bikes still wearing snowshoes.
Here we saw a guy who was walking the West Highland Way from Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy.
He was taking the Caledonian Sleeper that evening. It was the first person we saw all day.
14.25 – Walking back to the bikes
The route we chose to climb Beinn Odhar was seriously steep.
A less vertical drop would have taken us further, and faster, but it’d have been less memorable.
14.29 – Back at the fence
While we were taking our snowshoes off, two runners came in our direction. They seemed to be managing to run on the icy snow, just.
I guess there’s always someone nuttier than oneself.
Before we got back on the bikes, we had Jamaica ginger cake and chai. As I suspected, Sister found the cake irresistible.
15.10 – Carrying the bikes & panniers to the West Highland Way
On the way back, the cattle we had seeing on the way out were now dawdling in the middle of the path.
We got off our bikes, as one should do, but they didn’t seem to be in any kind of hurry to let us go past. I guess it’s their home.
Back at the cottage
We got back to the cottage just before five.
For dinner, we ate the pasta bake we had cooked on Friday. Unlike the lunch sandwiches, it was a king’s treat.
I took all the photos with the Panasonic.
* Simon took this photo.