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Sub 2k Marilyns: Tom Bailgeann.
Date: 10/02/2021.
Distance: 3 km.
Ascent: 220m.
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Weather: Still, sunny and very cooooold!
Part of a 19 mile cycle
Another unimaginative report of a route we had only last done 2 or 3 weeks previously. However, like Carn na h-Easgainn yesterday, the weather and scenery were so good it is worth another report!
We've been pretty lucky with winter weather in the Highlands this year -not only has there been snow on the ground in Inverness almost continuously for the last 6 weeks, but the winds have generally been light and there has been quite a lot of sunshine. Still, the temperatures had been pretty extreme - I'd got far too used to the last couple of mild winters. While we had strong sunshine today, the temperature barely crept above freezing and was due to drop to about minus 16 later in the night
Cycling in these conditions - probably stupid! Despite my road being under a covering of snow, the minor road up past Loch Ashie was beautifully clear of snow and ice, and despite the tedious hill, we made reasonable time cycling out to Tom Bailgeann. At this point we weren't even sure we would walk up the hill - a continuation of our regular cycling loop round past Loch Ruthven was also an option. But it was far too good not to at least try.
Across Drumashie Moor to Carn a' Bodaich 
Ben Wyvis 
Frozen Loch Ashie 
Near Loch Ashie 
Loch Duntelchaig 
Creag nan Clag on the right 
Looking NE up Loch Duntelchaig I had cycled up in wellies - becoming my usual attire just now, and intended to walk in them as well. I had carried Jackie's winter boots up as she doesn't like cycling in them, so I waited while she changed into them. We thought that deep snow might turn us back, but there had been enough quad bike traffic on the track that watching out for the underlying ice was more of a concern.
Loch Duntelchaig 
Creag nan Clag with the Monadhliath behind 
End of Loch Duntelchaig Higher up the track was drifted in so we took a steep shortcut. This seemed quite epic in wellies! Unlike our last visit, the views from the summit this time were wide ranging and spectacular.
Steep bit 
Monadhliath through a gap 
Winter wonderland 
Inverness After a quick break at the radio mast and trig point, we waded through ankle deep snow to the western summit as it had better views up and down Loch Ness. Then it was back down the way we had come.
SW across Drumnadrochit to the Affric hills 
Strathfarrar hills 
Meall Fuar Mhonaidh 
Edge of the Monadhliath 
North end of Loch Ness 
Drumnadrochit with Affric and Cannich hills behind 
On the western summit 
Carn na h-Easgainn 
Loch Duntelchaig 
Zoom to Meall Mor 
Brilliant late afternoon light The light on the way back down was spectacular, but even with the sun dipping slightly, the temperature had dropped dramatically! We were chilly at the bikes so opted to just cycle back the same way as it was quickest. Jackie's back brake had frozen up and my hands and toes had never been so cold on the final descent into Inverness.
Sunset to the SW 
Meall Fuar-mhonaidh from Drumashie Moor Once home, it took us about an hour to warm up, and true to form the temperature dropped way down overnight. A thaw was on the way at the weekend but the winter had saved the coldest bit for last!
