Cycling to Tom Bailgeann

[malky_c]

Sub 2k Marilyns: Tom Bailgeann.
Date: 17/01/2021.
Distance: 3 km.
Ascent: 220m.
Time: 1 hour.
Weather: Breezy, turning to rain.
Part of a 19 mile cycle

We thought we could probably justify a pedal up Glen Strathfarrar today to climb a small hill at the Monar Dam, but the weather was conspiring against us, with rain and murk due to come in around early afternoon. In addition the roads were icier than forecast and Jackie wasn't feeling that great. So in the interest of minimising travel, why drive anywhere at all? We decided to cycle out to Tom Bailgeann from the house instead, with the option of not going up the hill there in case Jackie didn't feel up to it.

It was sunny when we set off, but we were ploughing into a headwind and going uphill from the word go. Most of the road was clear of ice and snow but there were a couple of interesting smears in our path. I was glad we were going uphill over them rather than down, and immediately decided that we'd take a different route home!

Cycle map


Carn a Bodaich


Cycling near Loch Ashie


Glimpse of Beinn a Bhach Ard


Meall Fuar-mhonaidh


Loch Duntelchaig

Jackie was cold and tired by the time we reached the gateway that gave access to Tom Bailgeann, so we had some lunch before deciding whether to go on. The weather was greying over - to get the best of the day, we needed to have been on the go a couple of hours earlier. After lunch she decided to continue up the hill - sometimes I think her stubbornness overrules sensible decisions...

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Loch Duntelchaig from the ascent of Tom Bailgeann

The bottom part of the track up the hill is very steep but well made. About 2/3 of the way up, it degenerates into bog (which was icy today). The wind increased here and the cloud had moved in over the higher summits. Not quite what we were hoping for. We took a shortcut across the heather to avoid some deep snow patches, and made our way over to the western summit.


A sliver of Loch Ruthven and the Monadhliath


NE to Inverness


Monadhliath

There were spits of rain now, and Jackie did not look like she was enjoying herself, so we retreated via the radio mast, getting back down to the bikes in about half of the time it had taken to get up.


Near the top of the steep bit


Looking towards Stratherrick


North end of Loch Ness


Summit mast


Monadhliath and Stac Gorm

Fortunately the wind was behind us on the way home. The route should have been mostly downhill, but given the icy patches we decided to go back via Dores - some annoying bits of up and down later on this route. Still, it didn't take that long to get home, where we were able to warm up and have a cup of tea.


Descent to Dores

While the countryside might be a little more accessible for us than they were in the first lockdown in Glasgow, we really felt like we could do with some of the accompanying warm spring weather!