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We had been looking at Meall na h-Eilrig for a while, several different routes had been tossed around but having had a look at the Orange map and google streetview I suggested an approach from the top of the Drumbuie road above Drumnadrochit as it would take us most of the way on tracks, leaving only a very short amount of off-piste. We found a parking spot right at the top of the road and headed along the track which got muddy very quickly, but had good views back down the glen to Drumnadrochit and Meall Fuar-mhonaidh.
We gave the cows a wide berth but fortunately they seemed to be more interested in eating tires
Once past the cows the track became a lot less muddy, but the uphill had already completely knackered me and we had to slow down. The views were fantastic though
It was already feeling a bit like a bit of a slog but the wind was on our backs (strongly) and the sun was out
The Affric hills were almost visible - the views could be good later on!
We plodded slowly on, and before long we could see our hill up closer
Loch Glanaidh - still largely frozen!
Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard starting to appear
The track became less clear and after passing through the fence it became very wet too, probably from all the snow melt recently.
Although indistinct in places, the track got us through a lot of heather and other rubbish and as we gained height the views improved
Looking back to Ben Wyvis
There was a fairly nasty looking cloud hovering over Meall Fuar-mhonaidh but it seemed to avoid us other than this rainbow
Here we had to leave the track and do the last section off-piste across the heather and tussocks. It was hard going to begin with
I was struggling so Malky went ahead and made the snowy section a bit easier
As we gained more height the ground got a bit easier and soon the summit came into view
As I stopped for yet another break, the views behind to Ben Wyvis and the big hills were pretty good
The Strathfarrar hills, Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais particularly prominent
Now finally at the summit were able to see down towards Loch Ness - despite the wind it was a spectacular day
Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais even clearer now
South Loch Ness and Meall Fuar-mhonaidh
Despite the wind I managed to Jaxter on the trig
Ben Wyvis again
We found a sheltered spot for a breather - Malky had carried up a flask of tea which was very welcome!! We debated the route back - we could retrace our footsteps or drop onto the Great Glen way and make a circuit of it (with the option of me dropping to the road and sending Malky for the car
)
As we debated, there was some amazing light over Meall Fuar-mhonaidh
Without looking at the map, I reckoned the distance I
had to walk wasn't really any further for the circuit, and the walking would be easier once we reached the GGW...so we headed onwards...
The ground wasn't awful to begin with....
...but it very soon got tussocky and generally nasty
Looking back to the summit and wondering if it's too late to change my mind
A last glimpse of Ben Wyvis
Then it got steeper and I turned into a bit of a zombie as I plodded behind Malky
Looking over to Carn a' Bhodaich, with Corryfoyness in the foreground
Finally we had reached the track and Malky sat me down for some food. I was knackered...turns out we had made a bad decision
But we didn't have much choice now, so we plodded along the Great Glen Way - at least it was easy underfoot now!
I'd only been on small sections of the Great Glen Way, but it was nice walking, with breaks through the trees to see Loch Ness
Where the main route headed down to the A82 we stuck on a higher track to avoid any re-ascent. I was tired but coping...Around the houses at St Ninians it started to get dark, and the path that was marked on the map didn't seem to exist
We skirted round a house and managed to rejoin the path further on - turns out it had been blocked off, probably when the house was built. We were back on track...
Urquhart Castle
The end of the path didn't quite join the road at Balnacraig either, and we had to walk past a couple of horses (which fortunately ignored us) and climb a fence before we were on the road. It was pretty much properly dark now
I was a wreck so Malky ran off for my car and I slowly plodded my way along the road, willing Malky to run faster - fortunately he was also happy to pilot Colonel Mustard home while I zonked out
