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Date: Friday 18 and Saturday 19 April 2014
Time taken: 18.5hrs (including stops 5hrs) approx
Distance: 60km (approx) – walking, cycling and pushing bike
Ascent: 3,100m (approx)
Attendees: me
Friday: Lurg Mhor and Bidein a' Choire SheasgaichLeft Glasgow sharpish on the Friday morning – uneventful drive up the A82 with some nice views in the early morning sunlight.
Arrived at the Attadale car park to find a camper van already parked. Turned out to be a walker from Glasgow I’d met on a previous set of hills - we remembered meeting on the hills (going in opposite directions) and that there was a large car park but neither of us could remember which hills or which car park. Another walker (from Nottingham) turned up not long afterwards. I set off first on the bike closely followed by the Nottingham walker – didn’t take long before he caught up though explaining that he cycles to work each day (that was my excuse anyway).
There’s quite a lot of ascent on the bike – coupled with a fairly loose surface necessitated getting off and pushing on a number of occasions.
Early view of the day’s hills
Bridge
Bendronaig
Met the guy from Nottingham not long after the bothy as he was securing his bike – he was planning to ascend the shoulder of Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich. I cycled on, crossed the wee bridge and up to Loch Calavie. More uphill with some pushing again, not sure it was the best idea to cycle this bit.
Arrived at the edge of Loch Calavie, secured the bike, changed out of cycling shoes into boots and headed up to the bealach at the side of the Allt Coire Calavie.
Once at the bealach, opted to head for Lurg Mhor first
Up past a wee lochan
Some good views at the top
Still a lot of snow on the north face
Towards Sheasgaich
After a short break, headed off back down to the bealach before the ascent to Sheasgaich with view towards Loch Monar. Met the other walker from Glasgow at this point – he was about to ascend Lurg Mhor before going to Sheasgaich.
Back to Lurg Mhor
Dropped down a wee bit from the summit to get out of the wind. Another walker appeared and stopped for a chat. Had a good long stop to take in the views and have lunch before heading back down to the bealach then down to the bike at the loch side.
Back over the wee bridge
Then the long cycle back to the car. More ascent on the return leg – met two men walking in to the bothy followed by two lady corbetteers also heading to the bothy.
Saturday: Maol Chean-Dearg and An Ruadh-stacParked at the wee car park just over the bridge from Coulags. Was just about to set off when I heard a rustling noise in the undergrowth then two small animals bolted past me and across the road. Not long after another two did the same. Don’t know what they were – maybe stoats but seemed bigger than that ?
Set off early up the track from Coulags
Past a memorial which seemed to be discolouring the rock into which it was set
The bothy came into view
Peered in the window and saw someone fast asleep in a sleeping bag so decided not to go in in case I disturbed them.
Headed onwards up the track before the point when it splits and I went west. Maol Chean-Dearg comes into view
Followed the track up past Meall nan Ceapairean
Better view of Maol Chean-Dearg
Kept going until arriving at the bealach. View to An Ruadh-stac
Turned right and headed up Maol Chean-Dearg
And kept going
Rockier near the top before getting to the cairn. Some good views if a bit hazy
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Waited a while but the haze wasn’t going to clear. Headed back down to the bealach with view towards An Ruadh-stac
Walked round to the base looking over the lochans
Back to Maol Chean-dearg
An Ruadh-stac did look a bit daunting but managed to find a way up – hands needed for some bits
Views on the way
A little snow near the top
Over some more snow patches to the summit cairn
Took some shelter from the wind beside the cairn and stopped for lunch. Sun was very warm and have to admit to dozing off. Must have spent nearly an hour there before eventually leaving somewhat reluctantly.
On the descent, I tried to find an alternative way down slightly to the south of the ascent route. Several times got to points where I couldn’t go on safely so eventually had to give in and go back up and over to find where I’d ascended.
Back down to the lochans
Instead of going up and over Meall nan Ceapairean I skirted round the base of it after finding a wee track from the bealach.
Back to An Ruadh-stac
The track disappeared after a while but it wasn’t difficult to contour round then head east down to the bothy. Popped in and added a note in the book. Then walked back to the car. Met another walker and quite a few mountain bikers.
Got changed before the drive back to Glasgow. Stopped for some photos on the way home.
