Bioda Bhuide & Meall na Suiramach - Quiraing sub-2000s

[Milo12]

Being right in the Quiraing, these two sub-2000s are probably some of the sub-2000s with the prettiest views. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most overrun ones, definitely during the season. So now, nicely out of the season and parking not being an issue anymore, I thought I use the sunny Sunday afternoon for a quick bagging walk.

Parking at the Quiraing parking lot, one is already 300m up which makes both tops very easy. As it was past lunch time and there were still a good number of people, I started with Bioda Bhuide. Not a single person heading this direction! I followed the edge of the cliff up on a grassy path that has no bog at all. What a treat! The blue sky and the gentle climb made this a walk in the park with stunning views over the Quiraing and the coast. About half way up the views into the corries ahead open up which make for stunning views not just back, but now also ahead. There is no cairn at the top and I walked a bit further and slightly down to an edge from which one can get a fantastic view all the way back towards the highlights of the Quiraing.

While the official Walkhighlands route suggests to cross back over to the cliff edge on the way back, I followed a trail straight down towards the road as I wanted to see whether there was an option to reach the top of Meall na Suiramach from the western side. I followed a well-trodden sheep trail down to the road which is easy enough to find and makes for good walking across the slightly more heathery area down to the road.

As much as I was on the lookout for a good option to cross the very boggy heather upon reaching the road, the rains over the 2 two weeks had left the water standing in the bogs. I therefore decided to follow the upper route from the parking. The trail was expectedly boggy and very washed out from the amount of usage by tourists. As soon as the trail leveled out, I therefore headed straight up towards Meall na Suiramach. I had done the Quiraing circuite previously, but missed out on the sub-2000 at the time. As it was late in the day and not enough daylight left, I decided to only go to the top and not connect the two tops with the very scenic circular walk this this time.

The walk through the heather was boggy in places and the soft ground made the going a bit harder at times. But overall this is easy walking. I noticed some well trodden paths (not boggy at all!) that are leading down from Meall na Suiramach that are harder to find on the way up, but very easy to spot if you first follow the official trail and the cliffs on the way up and then take this to take you back down towards the higher trail from the parking. There is one very obvious and very boggy trail that leads up to the top after the stile. It should make for nicer walking to reach the top first and take the grassy trails that are leading southwest.

The top of Meall na Suiramach comes with a cairn and some nice views. But, having been spoilt with the sharp cliffs of the Quiraing, Bioda Buidhe definite comes with the better views. From the cairn I crossed over towards the big cairn indicating the cliff edge and followed the edge to pick up the higher trail again back to the parking. The trail first contours the hillside and is extremely worn out and damaged, often spreading into 5 to 10 trail versions where people tried to avoid the boggyness of the official trail. Therefore, lots of care is needed so as not to slip along what is a rather steep hillside. The same applies to the steep section down to the parking that in spite of repair work having been done, still has seen the trail spread out over more than 10m in places.

Safely back at the parking and with the sun setting, it was a nice and quick outing. Definitely one for a good weather day to fully appreciate the stunning scenery.