At One with the Mountains - An interview with Nick Gardner
Issue 6: Nick Gardner and his wife Janet were living an idyllic life on a croft…
Bridge of Orchy
Beinn an Dothaidh
A Munro of 1,004 metres, number 130 of the 282.
Photograph by mattbuck (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The hill
Beinn an Dothaidh rises to the east of Bridge of Orchy.
Beinn Dorain stands about three kilometres to the south, and Forestry and Land Scotland calls the pair "two fine Munros".
It belongs to a close group of hills above Bridge of Orchy and Loch Tulla. Beinn Achaladair is about three kilometres to the north-east and Beinn Mhanach about four kilometres to the east, with Beinn a' Chreachain further off to the north-east.
Down below, the West Highland Way comes through Bridge of Orchy on its stretch from Tyndrum.
- Starts from
- Bridge of Orchy. Forestry and Land Scotland calls its car park there the best place to park for the hill path to Beinn Dòrain and Beinn an Dòthaidh.
- Who it is for
- A challenging walk, which Forestry and Land Scotland says should be attempted by experienced hill walkers only.
- Summit
- Grid reference NN 331 408
- Car park
- Forestry and Land Scotland's car park at Bridge of Orchy: turn off the A82 at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel and cross the bridge. Nearest postcode PA36 4AB. In 2026 it cost £3 for all day or £1 for up to an hour, by card or RingGo, and was free with a Blue Badge. A notice in October 2026 shut the forest road from here to the Eas Urchaidh car park for tree felling, due to end by November 2026.
- Train and bus
- Trains and buses between Glasgow and Fort William stop at Bridge of Orchy: plan the journey at Traveline Scotland.
- Toilets and food
- The nearest public toilets are in Tyndrum. The hotel in Bridge of Orchy serves food and drink.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 1,004 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.
West wind to 13 mph, gusting 24
Rain, about 2 mm
Light from 7.52am to 6.16pm, ten hours
Sat 17Mostly clear−1° to 4° on top · 8 mph, gusts 17
Sun 18Clear−3° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 13
Mon 19Cloudy−6° to 5° on top · 5 mph, gusts 12
A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: West Highlands forecast, Beinn an Dothaidh, Argyll and Bute, Southwest Highlands mountain forecast, Scottish Avalanche Information Service.
October2026
MTWTFSS
Going another day?
Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.
Photographs by mattbuck (CC BY-SA 2.0) and Alan Weir (CC BY 2.0)
This is a challenging walk which should be attempted by experienced hill walkers only.Forestry and Land Scotland, which runs the car park at the start
Before you go
Carry
- A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
- Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
- Food and drink
- A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
- A survival bag
- Boots with a good grip
Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.
If something goes wrong
- Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
- Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NN 331 408
- Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
- Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999
The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.
How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER
From our readers
Nobody has written from Beinn an Dothaidh yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.
Tell the next person
Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.
Read more elsewhere
For the route itself, take the map and read these.
- Beinn an Dothaidh on WalkhighlandsRoute descriptions with mapswalkhighlands.co.ukThe route↗
- Bridge of Orchy, by Forestry and Land ScotlandForestry and Land Scotland on the car park, its charges and the hill pathforestryandland.gov.scotThe car park↗
- Bridge of Orchy station, at National RailWhat the station has: ten parking spaces and no step-free way to the platforms. Times are in its journey plannernationalrail.co.ukThe station↗
- Deer stalking, by Mountaineering ScotlandWhen stalking happens and how to plan round itmountaineering.scotStalking↗
- West Highlands forecastThe Mountain Weather Information Service's forecast for the West Highlands, three days ahead, written by forecasters. Its description of the area takes in this hillmwis.org.ukMountain weather↗
- Beinn an Dothaidh, Argyll and ButeThe Met Office's forecast for the summit itself: a model for one point, not a report from the hillweather.metoffice.gov.ukSummit forecast↗
- Southwest Highlands mountain forecastThe Met Office's mountain forecast for the areaweather.metoffice.gov.ukMountain weather↗
- Scottish Avalanche Information ServiceThere is no avalanche forecast for this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The service's full forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026sais.gov.ukAvalanche↗
- Bridge of Orchy alertsForestry and Land Scotland's closures and notices at the car park and in the forestforestryandland.gov.scotNotices↗
Next along: Beinn Achaladair, Beinn Dorain, Beinn Mhanach, Beinn a' Chreachain. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Forestry and Land Scotland's and National Rail's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.