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We had been thinking about another trip down Strathfarrar, and when a beautiful sunny Saturday with lowish winds coincided with a day where I was feeling semi-reasonable (as days go with Long Covid) we thought we’d give it a shot
It was a short drive down the road and before long we were cycling past the rather ominous warning on the gate…
Beinn a’ Bha’ach Ard was looking lovely
Once we were through the initial trees we were out into the glen and able to see ahead
We turned the corner and could see Sgurr na Lapaich across Loch Beannacharan
Sgurr na Lapaich zoomed
Sgurr na Diollaid
I was very tired – although the wind wasn’t hugely strong, it was against us and I was finding it tough. So we had a wee break in the sun for some tea and snacks. The views across Loch a’ Mhuillidh were awesome
I got the zoom lens out to see what was scrambling around on the rocks – goats and sheep as it turned out – and also got some shots of the Strathfarrar pigeon (or whatever bird this is!)
After a while we got going again – although it was beautiful in the sun and so much warmer than recently – it was still chilly! As the road turned yet again, we could see back across the loch and down the glen
Soon we could see the end of the glen – the bulk of Beinn na Muice on the right, with our possible hill pointy yet just visible of the left
Sgurr na Lapaich and Meall Innis an Loichel
Sgurr na Lapaich
Getting to the business end of the glen and the steep climb up to the dam. I was flagging pretty hard here…
Finally we were there – the Monar Dam
Looking down Loch Monar to Maoile Lunndaidh
Looking back down the glen from the dam
Almost there….
We pedalled a few more metres up the road before I got off my bike and lay down. I’d had enough! We definitely needed a break, and what better place to be?
Monar Dam and Beinn na Muice
Monar Lodge and Carn Eiteige (an impressive peak that apparently had a trig point on it!)
Once I’d regained some of my breath and felt less like death was on the cards (just yet!) we finished off the flask of tea and decided to have a try at the hill – it was only very little and the ground didn’t look too bad.
As it turned out, my waterproof trail shoes were exactly the thing for today – Malky had gone commando (in terms of waterproofing his feet
and was regretting it. I was really struggling to begin with and wasn’t sure I was going to manage it, but slowly we made it the few metres to the summit…
The views were fabulous – I absolutely love this area and the feeling of remoteness was quite special. Although I was finding it really tough work (the return was to be even worse!) it felt wonderful to be somewhere like this
Glen Strathfarrar – our return journey
Now I know how Frodo felt when he got to Mordor
Summit of Meall Innis an Locheil
Sgurr na Lapaich had clouded over but the light was kind of cool
We had yet another long break here, finding some shelter behind a rock, before retracing our steps downwards and trying to avoid sliding (a couple of near misses but nothing too spectacular
) and we spotted the next dam around which we’d missed on the way up
Back at the bikes we had another breather – the way back would have two advantages to the outward trip – it would be downhill on average and we would have the wind behind us. Even so, I wasn’t looking forward to it
A last look down Loch Monar
Monar Dam and Beinn na Muice
Last time we were here (January 2020, BC – Before Covid!) the road was icing up on the way back so at least we didn’t have that to worry about. Looking back to the dam, the light was coming through the trees
Our route ahead
Looking back to Sgurr na Lapaich
“It’s so still, is it actually real?” – yes it was real, although what neither of us noticed at the time was there was a fake deer target behind
I was having a really rough time of it by the last 10km. I was shattered, my breathing was difficult and no amount of breaks or food or even my inhaler would help.
But at last we made it. I was completely out of it so fortunately Malky was driving. The moon was incredible (but didn’t really photograph well without a tripod) and I just wanted to go home and collapse in peace. Worth it – yes, but not really able to appreciate it until a couple of days later when I was a bit more alive
Cycling: 45.14km, 435m ascent, 3 hours 55 mins
