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- The route
Parked up in lay-by overnight and started cycling in just after 9am. Treated to a wee northern lights display too.
- Aurora
There’s a bit of uphill and had a stiff head wind so it took just under an hour to travel 7.5 miles to the locked gate just before the lodge on the hydro road.
For the most part the road is tarmac except this bit.
- The road in
Dumped bike at gate and set off up the road until an obvious path off the road takes you up onto the shoulder.
- Views opening up
It’s an easy plod taking 2 hours to get to summit.
It was chilly in the wind so kept going until I reached this Bield and stopped for a bit of shelter and a bite.
- Howf or bield
Still didn’t hang about and plodded on enjoying the views.
- Mair views
Took an hour to the top of An Coileachan. From here I chose to head straight back down hoping it wouldn’t be too arduous. The initial boulder section leaves no margin for error with every second rock being like a see saw.
But once over that, I headed straight for the north end of the deer fence and the trees behind the lodge. It was easy going bouncing along and I reached the road and back to the bike in an hour from the summit. The right call.
- Heading for there
A great day. Kudos to anyone who walks in and out from this side. The bike back took only 25 minutes going downhill with a tail wind. I’d hate to be walking it, especially when the road is in such good nick!