The route above describes the ascent via the Long Leachas - the neighbouring Short Leachas gives more sustained scrambling. At Ben Alder Estate caring for our guests and staff is always our priority. Most of Scotland’s bothies could be described as remote, but at 8.5 miles from the nearest public road, you could say Ben Alder Cottage is one of the loneliest you’ll find. Owned by Ben Alder Estate, it is also known as McCook's Bothy. Ben Alder, a 3,766ft munro located 13 miles south of Dalwhinnie, is the highest mountain in the remote south Highlands area between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean. 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. Continue round the plateau edge (careful navigation needed in mist), which bends to the left shortly after passing Lochan a'Garbh Choire; there are great views over the Garbh Choire. There are 2800 Walkhighlanders who have climbed Ben Alder. The magnificent Ben Alder Estate is located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Open start point in Google Maps for directions. The classic route is a circuit from Culra bothy (closed at the time of writing) incorporating the Long Leachas ridge (easy Grade 1 scrambling, or Grade I in winter), Ben Alder, and Beinn Bheoil (1019m). using a map and compass. Enjoy youself... you're tougher than you think! Some articles the site thinks might be related: Police appeal for sightings of missing Ben Alder walker Culra bothy; no vehicular access. In the name of sweet purity! Up ahead, standing in lonely isolation below the Ben Alder massif, was Corrour Bothy. Ben Alder and the Lancet Edge from Culra Bothy, 2 Burds, 3 Days, 9 Munros and 1 burst tyre, Beinn Bheoil and Ben Alder from McCook's cottage. Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing? Ben Alder bothy is also known as McCook’s Cottage, named after a deer stalker who was said to have hung himself there. Ben Alder cottage, the ‘haunted’ bothy. From the bealach it is possible to cut the walk short by heading north and following a stalkers path back to Culra. From the summit there are excellent views both back to Ben Alder and along the length of Loch Ericht, with a glimpse of distant Dalwhinnie. Best route: Ben Alder's remoteness can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on your point of view, but most people take in the summit as part of a two-day trip with a wild camp or bothy stay. It’s also said to be haunted. Dr Donald MacDonald set out for Ben Alder lodge at 7 a.m. From there, he walked the 12 miles on what became a nightmare journey to McCook’s Cottage. The other main approach to Ben Alder - though it lacks the drama of the Leachas ridges - is from the bothy at Benalder Cottage - itself reached by a long walk-in from Loch Rannoch. In stag stalking season, contact the Ben Alder Estate on 01540 672 000 to enquire about bothy … Note the way branches have been sawn off the trees for the bothy fire! One idea is to undertake a traverse from Corrour Station to Dalwhinnie Station - with plenty of options for Munros to include. Ben Alder is one of the most remote Munros. }); After a particularly grueling hike to Ben Alder Cottage, a remote bothy in the Central Highlands, I pushed open a brightly painted blue door to find a … Ben Alder circuit in normal Scottish summer conditions! ben alder bothy question. Covering some 68000 acres stretching from Loch Rannoch to Dalwhinnie. Once on the ridge there is path. These are ordered below with the most popular ones first. Parked near Dalwhinnie station and blitzed along the excellent track up past Ben Alder Lodge, skirted Loch Pattack, finally making it to Culra Bothy three quarters an hour later. Beyond the ridge is narrow and rocky but any real difficulties can be easily avoided before the route emerges suddenly on the stony plateau beyond. Some pathless ground on approach and descent, and simple scrambling on the Long Leachas ridge. It should be noted that the Mountain Bothies Association website says the lovely Culra Bothy is currently closed indefinitely due to asbestos. The Mountain Bothies Association was established in 1965, becoming a Scottish charity in … The Lancet Edge and Ben Alder 6. Continue WNW down the moor, aiming to meet the stalkers path close to where it changes direction. 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. Ben Alder via the Long Leachas, with Beinn Bheoil. They have contributed 67 public walk reports including this summit. The bothy is tucked away beneath the shadow of the Ben Alder massif, above a small bay on the shores of Loch Ericht, in the vast wilderness between Dalwhinnie and Rannoch. Member. People are asked to stay at home except for essential purposes. Ben Alder is one of the remotest of the Munros. return false; With Scotland’s 10th largest loch, Loch Ericht, five Munros and some of Scotland’s most pristine scenery, Ben Alder Estate’s luxury lodges are an ideal setting for truly memorable holidays. I did these two from Moy, walked in over Creag Pitrech and nirghbour, stayed at culra, ben alder and ben bhieol the next day, another bothy stop then a quick dash out again over Beinn a' Clachair- which was surprisly easy, decent path all the way up. Could easily be cut down to … Information is provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check it and navigate Ben Alder is one of the great remote mountains of Scotland, set in the very heart of the Central Highlands. Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands. While we have consistently maintained high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in our properties, we have implemented additional measures in response to Covid-19. Ossian Easter - 9 Snowy Tops: What Larks! 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. “We were called out to assist an ‘injured’ walker on path between Ben Alder Lodge and Ben Alder Cottage around 4pm on Monday. (Above) Looking towards Ben Alder (left) and Lancet Edge up in the mist to the right. Scotland is under national lockdown. Ben Alder Cottage is not just a bothy in the middle of the moors on the shore of a loch. I assume they were walking Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil because they were heading across the bridge and I met them again on the summit of Beinn Bheoil. Culra bothy is closed due to the presence of asbestos so it is necessary to carry a tent and camp nearby. All the burns were in spate after a sudden thaw, necessitating a climb high up on the shoulder of Ben Alder. Continue across the rough moor beyond, aiming to reach the Long Leachas just to the left of a slight hummock on the ridge. Weasel's Appointment with the Lancet's Edge, Winter is back - Ben Alder & Ben Bheoil May 2nd, Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil: Crampons versus Jack, Half dozen round of Ben Alder for first post, Corrour to Rannoch St, via Culra and Ben Alder, Munros One Hundred and Forty to Forty Two, There's snow place like west Drumochter (groan...), Ben Alder, Jetboil, and The Rab Alpine 600 Sleeping Bag, Ben Alder and Being Bheoil from Dalwhinnie (Video), Ben Alder the easy way, by train - non-stop. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check it and navigate We chose to head up from the bothy to the Bealach Dubh as the route up to the Bealach Breabag (Bawbag) between Ben Alder and Beinn bheoil is a crap hike a bike with an equally crap descent until you clear the lochside IMO. Ben Alder (Gaelic: Beinn Eallair) is the highest mountain in the remote area of the Scottish Highlands between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean.The vast summit plateau is home of one of Britain's highest bodies of standing water, Lochan a' Garbh Coire. No road access to Culra. { This building has long been a popular refuge for overnighters exploring the empty lands in this part of Scotland, but in 2013 it was closed on account of asbestos. Ben Alder and Bheoil, the alternative route ! Culra Bothy with Ben Alder in the background in May, 2012 A spacious plateau surrounded by cliffs and steep slopes, this is a mountain of memorable character and an almost palpable personality. Ben Alder Bothy is the nearest one is ever going to get to Cluny’s Cave/Cage, which features in the book. The Culra Bothy Maintenance Organisers are devastated at the inappropriate action that has led to the closure of Culra and hope that those responsible within the MBA take immediate action to have the Bothy replaced and re-opened. On the far side follow the grassy path to meet the superbly maintained stalkers' path, and turn right up this to begin the walk towards Ben Alder. Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. Slight headwind but no biggie. A spacious plateau surrounded by … If rumours are to be believed the place is haunted. Drop slightly to cross the Allt a'Bhealaich Bheithe, which can be done on stones when the water is low but may be difficult in spate. 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