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Day 2 of the WH Summer Meet and we decided the previous night in the Aultguish Bunkhouse on the Corbett Beinn a’ Chaisteil.
It’s less than a 5 minute drive south from the Aultguish Inn. Parked up at a parking bar at the Black Bridge on the A835.
We set off and began by cycling along the private road up Strath Vaich. Alan, Jim and Charlie the 3 purists were just in front of us and walking the route. Rod initially asks if i want a shot of the noddy bike. Emmm no was the quick answer
- Rod your Noddy seats back to front !!
- The Purists
- Yeah ye need to turn the seat round!
The track is great for 2 and a half km on a tarmac road and pretty level with no major inclinces.
- The beginning of the track
- Noddy approaching and starting to sweat
- passing a wee hoose
The track continues towards Lubriach where it crosses the weir. Once over the weir the good track continues towards Strathvaich Lodge. Rather than heading towards the lodge a rough track heads to the right. This is the track we took at the right.
- The weir
- Weir
- Over to Strathvaich Lodge
We headed through a gate and along the rough track and continued crossing over a bridge.
- Noddy getting a rest through the gate
- Noddy heads over a bridge
Once on the rough track lots of oooooooooos and aaaaaaaaaaahhhs and screams were heard from the Noddy bike as he pedalled over boulders with no suspension on his bike.
I can still hear him
- Towards Loch Vaich
We continued along the track until reaching a wooden gate where we bumped into Dave (Kaiserstein) who had been camping out for 2 nights and bagging 3 hills. Well done
- Meeting a tad smelly david :)
Once through the gate it was a short cycle along the rough track towards Lubachlaggan. We reached the end of the cycle in 1 hour 15 minutes.
- End of Noddy for the time being
Here we chained the bikes (incase Alan, Jim or Charlie nicked them).
- Start of the walk. By the monkey !
We initially started on the south side of the stream at Lubachlaggan but then spied a path on the opposite side and headed across.
- Following the burn for a short spell
The path was faint and disappeared on numerous occasions.
We left the side of the burn and headed northeast and found a marker cairn at approx 470 metres.
- Marker cairn
Once at the marker cairn the ascent is gradual and levels off as we then try and skirt around some peat bogs. We continue north and come across a small cairn.
- Cairn
Once passed the cairn the Rodmiester tries to gather speed and I can see him glimpsing right and left over his shoulder incase I overtake him.
As I get closer to him he grabs my left wrist to restrain me incase I reach the summit ahead of him. Competitive or what We reach the summit and im forced to touch the trig point at the same point. Reached the summit in roughly 1 hour 20 minutes from the track.
- Summit pic
We sit and take in some views and refuel. Im sure we can see the 3 amigos at the top of Meall a Ghrianain.
- Towards Seana Bhraigh
From here we retrace our steps, but head through the peat bogs as we try and meet up with the walking purists. But no sign of them. We reach the marker cairn again and head back down the burn back to the road.
- Heading back down
Back on the bikes and along the track. Once we reach the tarmac road Rod asks if I want a shot of the Noddy Bike. So to drown out the oooooooo and aaaaaaaas I jumped on. Easy going on it and nothing to it.
I continue on the Noddy away ahead of Rod until we reach a gate. I stop at the gate and considering leaving it for Rod to lock. But do the decent thing and hold it for him. Expecting him to pass through and wait for me, he cycles past quickly and waves.
I let him reach the car first as it this point was feeling sorry for the auld man being last all day
Back to car in 50 minutes after coming off the hill. In total 4 and a half hours.
Great wee day out with some good banter.
Back to the aultguish and showered and onto the 2nd nights refreshments before the munro baggers appeared