For our group, circumstances meant that on the day we divided into two parties, Johnny and I going in mid-afternoon, with Frank, Bill and Donald starting three hours behind. The sign heralds the start of the narrow singletrack. Change ). Location: Central Highlands Many folk mountain bike in which seems a good idea, although when chatting to a man from the estate (more on this later) he said that mountain bikes are causing a lot of erosion problems on the smaller trails higher up. Bill seemed to be OK, he was playing a full part in our discussions and we kept his morale up by promising him a ride on the ‘paraffin budgie’ – so with no option other than to just sit it out, we sent Donald back to the bothy, switched off the head torches and settled back into our bivvy bags. In hill walking circles, this bothy is supposed to be haunted, with… Head north towards Kilmory. I remember the frustration of realising that cars in driveways showed that the inhabitants were reluctant to involve themselves in any late night drama, although the unearthly racket I was making and the fact I resembled the ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ may be mitigating circumstances. The perhaps monotonous island makes for even greater contrast upon reaching the small bothy as this place is a meeting point of completely different views and natural features. Provisions were chucked into a rucksack (1 sleeping bag, 1 bivvy bag and 1 chocolate biscuit), torches were retrieved and maps were examined as we set off up the hill to find a “friend” who had just become a “casualty”. Frank and Trevor, instead of having a great night in the bothy had to bunk down beside me (they did choose the lee of a big boulder and they had nicked my whisky) and of course Johnny, in his 30s, had to take on the dreadful job of walking out in the dark the eight or nine miles we had just walked in. Note the way branches have been sawn off the trees for the bothy fire! I knew I had been lucky the previous day on Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre. On board and away. Approaches are long from any direction; Corrour Station gives the nearest access from the west, whilst it is possible to approach from Loch Rannoch in the south. I was different. For most of its length it’s flanked with thick vegetation in trees and underbrush, and the area is quite lush. So they treated me nicely. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Research the route you’ll hike to know the types of terrain and the conditions of the paths, as well as elevation gain. After a pause, the engine note increased and the machine slowly climbed away, turning on a course back up the loch and on to the Belford Hospital in Fort Gilliam. 9-11 hours (over 2 days) 750m. This was Saturday night Sunday morning in a Scottish town. Member. I don’t usually do much of my hillwalking in summer. Frank and Trevor are very experienced mountain walkers and Trevor has been years in the Killin Mountain Rescue Team. It’s unlikely you’ll see any traffic. Walk in to Ben Alder Cottage (aka McCook’s Bothy, after the last permanent resident), climb Ben Alder and Ben Bheil, do a little trout fishing and generally have a good time. Classic Walks (Diadem, 1982), keep en Alder in hot pursuit of Shenavall [s claim to the number one spot. Location: Western Highlands A hard walk (mountain (above 600m)) in Highland, Scotland, about 44.70km (27.78 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 15:30h (1 overnight stay). Walk Britain Loch Treig to Loch Ericht , hill-walk route & GPS track Ben Alder Sron Bealach Beithe Sron Coire na h-Iolaire Beinn Bheoil, ascent 980m, length 17.5km, creator melohara, Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil from Culra MountainViews It was not to be however. The undulating landscape and little human presence make for an introspective hike. We settled in for the evening, sawing up the roots and wood thoughtfully left by previous visitors (an unforgivable sin is to leave the bothy without fuel for the next visitor) and preparing the evening meal. By unzipping his overtrousers, it was possible to see and feel the location of the fracture – the break was simple (no blood, protruding bones and/or gross misalignment), so we splinted him up by tying his legs together with a combination of broad elastic and triangular bandages. In Gaelic, Aonach Beag means "little ridge" despite it being a Munro. Was this before mobile phones? This one seemed to have more than its share of belligerent, abusive drunks giving the nurses and doctors a hard time. Collecting the medical supplies and all of the spare petzl batteries we could find, we set off back up the hill in the dark and (isn’t Scotland predictable!) Tarf Hotel is awesome, but it's a rough walk-in with winter gear. Many have looked for it and failed – so don’t bother trying! But at midnight, they added: "'Injured' walker remaining at the bothy with his friends. The walk follows the only road on the isle, which eventually splits into north and south directions about halfway through the walk. Ice axe and crampons are required in snowy conditions. Stay in the bothy and climb the remaining Ben Alder 2 the next day, I biked back and drove home! The bothy itself is plush, boasting three rooms and even some bunk beds, but there’s also a resident spook, if the Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal is to be believed. Take the 80-minute ferry ride from Mallaigh to Kinloch on the western coast of the Isle of Rùm, south of the Isle of Skye. Published on Sep 20, 2016. At one point a boat was mentioned, I selfishly perked up at the thought of a lift back in a powerboat to a fire, food, dry clothes and some plasters for my badly bleeding feet. Unknown to many is how common ticks and midges can be. Emergency in Belford Hospital was bedlam. Bike in to Culra bothy nr Culra lodge fm Dalwhinnie it takes about 1.5hrs, climb the hills the same day. Glad you enjoyed the tale Roy. It was 2045 before Bill was settled down, Johnny’s torchlight disappeared into the gloom and Donald went back down to the bothy to finish his meal, promising to bring back some hot soup and coffee. Five minutes after plunging in to the blackness of a fierce highland storm, I was chest deep in the blackness of a fierce highland peat bog, wishing I’d taken the time to don over-trousers and gaiters. This made for very interesting and also informative reading, the people concerned were marvellous and very efficient, I felt for them all but Johnny was incredible and deserves a special mention. It’s a long, narrow, one-story building in two parts. The hue is pervasive also because the island has very little vegetation, just a layer of grass. mobile app. Had I died I would have been famous. They usually have the same common features: a designated sleeping area, either an upstairs space or a raised platform to minimize sleeping in cold spots; no available bedding, beds, or mattresses; a fireplace; and a spade for burying human waste, as few have toilets. And again well done lads to all concerned.. Ben Alder Cottage is not just a bothy in the middle of the moors on the shore of a loch. A single-story stone construction, it comfortably fits six people. It should be noted that the Mountain Bothies Association website says the lovely Culra Bothy is currently closed indefinitely due to asbestos. piece of machinery that we could manage under the libational circumstances. Thirty five minutes and what seemed like a dozen farm houses later, I succeeded in finding a phone and raising the alarm. The older, gray stone structure dating to 1871 is always open to the public while the dark timber addition is reserved. “No, please not Inverness, that’s the wrong direction, I live in Callander!”. I estimated where the path to Loch Rannoch was and headed up into the hills in an ever-densening white bubble that, once again, necessitated switching off the torch and trusting to the feel of the ground on my boots and the frequency with which I was stumbling to show me the path. Bad news: “X-ray shows you’ve got a complicated break, we can’t deal with it here” – “You’ll have to go to a hospital with an orthopaedic department so we’ll take you to Raigmore in the morning”. Loads of fresh veg, real milk, 1lb of lamb, a bottle of red wine and a bottle of real drink. I have been up there twice and it's a long walk, especially with the last part being a bit boggy. The south and west views are treeless but peaceful. The Key-Stone of the Bridge, a novel and audiobook by Craig Meggy, is part homage to Robert Burns, set in Ben Alder Bothy. I knew I was lucky. Tuck your pants in your socks. Ben Alder 6 Munros Bike and hike route up the Munros in Alder Forest including Ben Alder, Geal Charn and Beinn Eibhinn One of the finest ways to reach Ben Alder is a cycle down Loch Ericht followed by a circular route from Culra Bothy. You’re ten miles from anywhere (the nearest road) with two miles of rough ground to the nearest track and it’s a dirty, wet night with low cloud. Search for a topic, destination or article, We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. Most are historic buildings restored to basic windproof and watertight standards, made available for the public. It seemed that Bill had stepped over a boulder and put his foot down a concealed hole in the peat; Frank thought that it was a simple below the knee fracture and he reported that Bill was fully conscious, in a secure position and not in unbearable discomfort. Ben Alder, some 1,147m tall, is one of the most remote peaks in the UK, and Ben Alder Cottage bothy sits in the mountain’s shadow on the shores of Loch Ericht. Too hot, too many biting insects, too humid, too busy, too much like hard work. Donald arrived soon afterwards, with news that Frank and Bill were about 30 minutes behind and moving slowly over the very rough ground. Ben Alder. Still need to go to Ben Alder cottage for a night sometime – one of the bothies I haven’t visited yet…. Ben Alder was a typical example, a huge upland area in the Central Highlands looking invitingly wonderful with it’s sweeping ridges and nearby Culra bothy. In stag stalking season, contact the Ben Alder Estate on 01540 672 … Route notes: Challenging navigation and steep ground on the descent to the bothy make this route a little more serious in winter than you might expect. End of Bill’s story in the Trauma Ward (28) of Stirling Royal. Difficulty: Medium. Ben Alder Cottage is not just a bothy in the middle of the moors on the shore of a loch. An early Monday morning start saw me standing at Fort William railway station waiting for the 7.44am train to Glasgow, my destination was Corrour Station, only 46 minutes away and the highest station in the UK and probably the remotest too. That’s the point. I was so glad to be there. The police were by my bedside at 8am, only to check if I had informed next of kin. You’ll follow the River Pean valley on the north side but from the forestry access track higher up. It's the highest peak in a remote and rugged massif slap bang in the middle of the Scottish Highlands. You could cycle in from North, though. ( Log Out /  Beyond the bothy, the terrain becomes more undulating and barren, rising up to the sandstone mountain towering over the area. It requires an initial walk or bike ride on an off-road track of some nine miles from Dalwhinnie to Culra Bothy. The hike there is only 2.2 miles (3.5 km) but along a steeper trail and among bogs. I left the car at 0550 and returned to the car at 1850 having completed the round. I soon worked out that the earliest help could come would be four hours, but with the low cloud a helicopter probably wouldn’t make it. If the bothy is full then there is good camping ground either outside it or in the wood across the river. Check Matador’s backpacking gear guide for a full list of what to bring. The ambulance men had never been to Stirling (“we only go to Inverness”). In the past locals, primarily farmers or loggers, knew their locations, and in the present, hikers specifically aim for them by following maps. ( Log Out /  Easy walk-in and few Munros around. Here are some suggestions for journeys with varying difficulty, terrains, length, and bothies. My foray on the hills however was restricted to the following day – the walk out! This route begins from Culra bothy; the walk in from Dalwhinnie to Culra is described separately. All thoughts of a relaxing bothy evening evaporated as we swung into rescue mode; a quick review of the available assets showed inadequate material to build a stretcher, but enough first-aid kit to handle a small front line casualty dressing station. The finest approach, however, is from Culra bothy to the northeast (accessed via a long walk-in or cycle from Dalwhinnie). Ben Alder (Gaelic: Beinn Eallair) is the highest mountain in the remote area of the Scottish Highlands between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean. Length (round trip): 10 mi/16 km ben alder bothy question. With poor visibility, mist at treetop level and intermittent heavy rain, helicopter extraction seemed increasingly unlikely and the remoteness of our location meant that land or water based approaches would take a long time to plan and implement. It seemed that the message had been relayed around the force as they decided who’s patch the incident was on. Frank led us back to the accident site without any problems, Bill had been told to blow a whistle when he saw torchlight coming and he was taking this advice very seriously – we could hear the noise from the bothy! Location: Central Highlands Starting point: Rannoch Station Length (round trip): 10 mi/16 km Difficulty: Medium. They vary in size, from small single-rooms to two-story cabins. Frank said, “blow the whistle every 3 minutes”. The pain comes later, but much worse is the feeling of sheer disgust with oneself. Do Not rely on any mobile phone or internet connection. Ben Alder is one of the most remote Munros. As a reminder, once at a bothy, follow the Bothies Code. Predominantly, though, they’re found in the Scottish Highlands and are thus part of the local identity and the flair of the region. I was learning to beat the system. A bothy is featured in the 2012 video game Dear Esther, providing a crucial plot moment in the narration of the unknown main character. Directing them was tricky. You arrive at the southern tip of Loch Ericht where you can fish trout if you have time. Not even I could get lost here without a map. Quite a few rivulets carve the green slopes on both sides. Starting point: Rannoch Station I didn’t know where we were and nor did they. Apparently, folk, probably reporters, listen in on short wave to police messages hoping to pick up exciting news. Bill seemed to be cheerful enough, so after reviewing my mental first aid checklist (casualty conscious, lucid, able to explain what had happened, check for signs of head injury like obvious blood, contusion, pupils different size, etc), I gave a ‘hands-on’ examination. It’s actually the roof of a bothy. The track ends but there is a clear trail to continue ahead, until you turn inland at a rocky knoll, or a small hill standing amidst flatter surroundings, called An Grianan. The view sweeps the length of the quiet Loch, its 14.5 miles (23.3 km) straight as a pin. I wanted to savour this bit. Midge bites are itchy and usually painful. 2.The changeable weather. More bare rocks are seen here among the fields, the grass dark brown or dark green depending on the season. Objective achieved, it was a case of trotting on with the head torch off and the gale spewing froth from the loch in my face for the next two miles of boggy shore line. The isle’s name comes from the ubiquitous hue of dark red color given by the iron ore present in the rocks. Briefly, a break in the clouds revealed a slender, silver sheen that, thankfully, was indeed on my left. Always open, the 1870 bothy is small but well kept, with two rooms downstairs and some additional sleeping space in the attic. My goal for this mini expedition was to walk into Ben Alder Cottage bothy… Eventually I persuaded them to take me to Stirling. Close-in, the sheer size of the thing was impressive, with engine noise and warm exhaust down draught combined with a strong smell of paraffin fumes, inside, blue lights were blinking and the Pilot and Navigator were checking their instruments and preparing for takeoff. Culra bothy is closed due to the presence of asbestos so it is necessary to carry a tent and camp nearby. To travel to a bothy is to journey into some of the most remote spots of the Scottish Highlands. I refused painkillers. Interesting to read the tale from several different viewpoints. For Ben Alder, this gives the opportunity the tackle this … Excitement over. No sooner had I dropped off than I was rudely awakened by the headlights of a police Land Rover, in which I was soon interrogated by an affable policeman. Minimum gear and maximum grub! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. After scoffing a cracking meal, knocking back the plonk and making a fair sized hole in the wood pile (and the whisky) our best laid plans ganged agley at a hell of a rate! Two will ‘o’ the wisps loomed out of the darkness, heading for the bothy, they assured me I was near the path so I ploutered on, knee-deep in muck, hoping I was sober enough to hit an 18 mile loch. The magnificent Ben Alder Estate is located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. 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