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It was time for another escape into the hills in preference to a game of golf. (not the season yet) I checked the forecast on the Friday and decided to go for the two remote munros known as the cheese cake (Bidean a Choire Seasgaich) and Lurg Mhor. I set off at 7am to drive down to Achnashellach. The weather was wet, windy, and overcast. I pushed on with renewed hope as the cloud level seemed higher at Achnascheen. At the last minute I decided to continue another 10 miles to Attadale house car park and cycle up the glen to the bothy in preference to the route from Craig. Having already experienced that route for the other three munros in the glen I thought it would be a nice change of scenery. The free car park was empty and the estate provision for visitors was superb.
![CheesecakeMarch2013 001 (800x337).jpg]()
Onto the newly acquired 2nd hand Felt Q220 I set off in earnest at 8.30. Not a good start, the wind was strong and into the face from the East. Pants, the bike seat was too low and I could not adopt a good posture. Making steady progress about 1mph passed the house, the holiday cottages, the bridge then off the bike to push…push, push. There was some occasional respite on some level and downward sections. Then after a really big rise the pass was reached. The views ahead were not great and the wind was as sharp and cutting as a cheesewire.
On the approach to the wee bridge before the Bendronaig Lodge and bothy the wind took hold of me and I ended up ditching the bike.
I got back up and reached the lodge and bothy at 1020. I visited the accommodation to shelter from the wind and let the knees recover. It was a very nice bothy, four rooms, a kitchen, a toilet with a flusher (water from stream) and quality fireplaces. Particularly liked the notice on the wall…This accommodation is provided for use by walkers and climbers free of charge, this is not intended to be a base for self-catering holidays. Please restrict stay for two nights.. Nice one, can just imagine some free loaders carrying in enough gear to stay for a week.
I proceeded along the track over the bouncy bridge then up the glen toward Loch Calavie. Thought about bearing up to Sail Riabhach but decided to continue on to the loch and climb up Allt coire Calavie to the main ridge in the hope that the strong easterlies would assist later.
The going was relatively easy up into the snow line. At the ridge the wind speed had increased considerably and was driving up from Loch Monar and down into loch calavie.
The ice underfoot was also tricky and required the use of the grippers on the boots. Another shot of the repaired yaktrax pro ice grippers before continuing up the rocky and tapering ridge to the large summit cairn at 1320.
After eventually relocating my rucksack at the handpicked conspicuous rock on the broad ridge I had some lunch and took some more panoramic images. Superb views up to cheesecake, back to Lurg Mhor, across loch Monar, down to Glen Affric , and into Glen Strathfarrar. It is great to see another perspective on hills that we have been lucky enough to climb.
I tip toed up the ridge towards cheesecake over the ice and snow covered terrain. I noticed a crack in a large section of snow hanging over a crag, blunt reminder to keep well back from the edges.
The wind was ferocious and could easily blow you over if you did not exercise due care. The ridge narrowed nearer the summit and the ice on the boulders was very thick. The small summit cairn perched on the steep crag offered commanding views. (1420) Looking toward the other ascent route I was glad I had chosen this one as the cheesecake was steep on that side and well and truly covered with white icing.
I was also glad that this wind was not present last week on the Cuillin ridge as it would have been too far too dangerous to negotiate.
On the way back down along the ridge to sail Riabhach the going was good on top of the ice and hard packed snow, but I suspect this would be boggy without the winter conditions. Walking this route of descent provided great views over to Skye and Torridon and back down into Loch Calavie.
I returned to the bothy at 1630 and picked up the bike. Of course the wind had dropped by this time so did not get the full eco benefit of the wind power. Still the return leg was considerably easier and when I reached the pass it was mostly coasting back to the car at 1730.
I loaded up and drove back home for a well-earned Chinese take away and dessert. I will definitely look at a cheesecake differently from now on.
