Maoile Lunndaidh........Well I liked it very much

[Julie]

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I haven'y posted on here for a while but I have been lurking and doing lots of hills this year and I thought I would write a report in praise of Maoile Lunndaidh as He seems quite unloved and I liked him
We arrived at craig car park to be met by gangs of hungry midgies, the worst this year, we've never got the bikes off the car, boots on and got moving so quickly, however I was still getting midged on the long ascent up the track, I was pushing my bike very very slowly, I have to say, no photo's of this bit. things improved and we speeded up for the rest of the cycle on a fairly good track to Glenuaig lodge, where there is a cute wee walkers hut with bunk beds, a heater and light!
Locked the bikes up here.
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The wee walkers shed
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
looking east along the river Meig

So we went down the landie track and after a short time headed SW to find a small plank bridge over the river
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The wee bridge, would be useful in spate

There are various routes and ways to ascend this hill but looking at it from the shed we thought that we would head up and cross the an crom-alt then pick up the ridge to Fuar-toll Beag.
that's what we did and it was steep in parts but no bother and views into the waterfalls on the alt were good

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The ridge we went up heading right on the photo

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Looking back to Glenuaig lodge

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Nice wee pools in the river

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The corrie of Fuar toll beag

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Looking down the ridge, can still see Glenuaig lodge

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
still a bit to go

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Sudden view of Loch mhuilich leading to Loch Monar

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The demoted (wrongly in my opinion ) munro of Bidein an Eoin Deirg

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Further up and a wee glimpse of cheesecake. easy going now underfoot and cloud threatening but never came to anything.

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Looking ahead towards Carn Nan fiaclan

Then as the top is reached the very broad ridge narrows and there is a view down to the stunning Fuar Tholl Mor, amazing, looks prehistoric
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Fuar Tholl Mor

and a massive corrie on the south east side too heading towards Loch monar
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr

From here it was a very easy stroll over the plateau to the summit, David's 200th Munro and my 199th. i'n not to put any pictures of himself up though ... you;ll have to imagine. We celebrated with a cheese piece and a rocky caramel bar... we are so good to ourselves
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The summit plateau towards the Strathfarrar hills

Time to begin the long way down, we went north off the plateau to the bealach
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Can still see glenuaig lodge, a long way away with Moruisg and sgurr nan Ceannaichean behind

When we reached the bealach we turned west and followed the stream down to the entrance of the corrie of Fuar Tholl mor
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
looking up towards Fuar Tholl Mor

We then went towards this wee gorge and picked up a path on the North side which followed this stream all the way back to the river Meig at the old ruins shown on the map, It was fairly easy going now but still seemed to take forever to get down, like it always does after a long day on the hill
Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Wee gorge and path on the right of it

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
waterfall out of Fuar Tholl Mor

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The wee gorge

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
looking back up at the hill, finally nearing the river

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
The way we went up the ridge with Bidean An Eoin Deirg behind, looking pointy

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
We came down next to the stream from the corrie

Maoile lunnaidh by julie.spittle, on Flickr
Tired but still smiling

So back down to the river by the Ruins, picked up a squechly ATV track and forded the river just before the lodge, had a bit of chocolate and a wee sit down in the walkers shed the got on our bikes and enjoyed a lovely cycle back, especially the last 2 miles which were downhill. Fewer midgies waiting for us at the car and off we went home.
so we did
18.5 miles in total, 12 bike and 6.5 walk
with 4300ft ascent ish
in 9hrs.
I enjoyed it!

[dogplodder]

Enjoyed that very much. It's good to read a more positive report on this hill!

[basscadet]

Aye, I don't think that folk dont like this hill, I just think it is a long way without a bike!

Looked like you got a braw day for it, and whats this I hear about a path? all we got was rough ground

[jmarkb]

Nice report, many thanks!

It's maybe worth reminding folk that it is wise to visit Creag Toll a' Choin (as you did) since a resurvey showed it to be
50cm higher!

The demoted (wrongly in my opinion ) munro of Bidein an Eoin Deirg

Well, you can likely blame Sir Hugh himself for that - it was only ever a Munro in the 1891 Tables!

Think I might try the Strathfarrar approach for a change next time.

[Mal Grey]

Nice report.

I too liked Mel Lumpy, despite it being a pretty windy, wet and drizzly February day we did it. The cycle in was tough, first gear on an MTB on the flat into the wind at one point! Ascending, we went up Fuar Tholl Mor corrie, and it is indeed an amazing place with a special feel unique amongst the corries I've been in, with its "triple layers".

[Julie]

Thanks for al your comments

Aye, I don't think that folk dont like this hill, I just think it is a long way without a bike!

Looked like you got a braw day for it, and whats this I hear about a path? all we got was rough ground

There was A bit of a path.... only on the way down and only from the wee gorge to the river. It was a lovely day out,

Nice report.

I too liked Mel Lumpy, despite it being a pretty windy, wet and drizzly February day we did it. The cycle in was tough, first gear on an MTB on the flat into the wind at one point! ".

That sounds like fun! not really

Nice report.

Ascending, we went up Fuar Tholl Mor corrie, and it is indeed an amazing place with a special feel unique amongst the corries I've been in, with its "triple layers".

I loved the sudden view we got down into that, looked like it would be quite hard going to walk up through it

[Petr Dakota]

Wow ! great day out ! Good effort...even divided by bike rewarded by the views Glad you had good weather
Nice photos

[ancancha]

Enjoyed reading that and Fuar Tholl Mor does look cool

[Silverhill]

I haven’t walked in that area yet, but I’m looking forward to it now! Those corries look great!