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This is part three of a 3-part walk, cycle camp trip making the most of a weather window which MWIS was kind enough to grant us. Good that it also coincided with a week off work!
We had got back to the Glenfinnan car park at 6pm leaving us very little time to find a camping place before dark. We needed some water as well, so it was a quick turnaround, parking in the small layby at the start of the turnoff to Strontian. We set off up the glen by bicycle looking for the first flat place with water. It was a tough climb up the first part of the track and we had to push the bikes a good bit. By the time we came down the other side of the slope, it was almost dark, and we were relieved to find water and a flat bit of bog, pitching our tent by torchlight and eating our tea in the dark.
It was a clear, quiet night with the most amazing stars and some ice on the tent at 2am, but by morning the frost was gone and the tent was just sodden with condensation.
- not a bad camp spot considering it was quite dark
Again we were serenaded by bellowing stags, and as we ate our breakfast, one passed close enough by us to take his picture. Not quite close enough for a good quality picture but beggars can't be choosers! My camera does lovely close up shots but not zoom.
- Hello Mr Stag! I'd shut up if I were you, with that kind of noise you might end up getting shot!
The sodden tent didn't matter as we had no plans to carry it any distance so we stashed the camping gear and set off by bike up the glen. The WH guide suggested that we might need to abandon the bikes at Uachan but actually we managed another couple of km (admittedly with some cursing from me) to about 980835 before stashing the bikes in a stand of bracken.
Glen Fionn Lighe is very beautiful but I didn't get any photos as I was too busy cycling and needed both hands. You'll just have to go yourself!
We set off walking with the intention of filling our water bottles at the burn marked on the os map at a height of about 250m but when we got there the burn was dry and we had to go downhill about 30 metres - this was embarrassing as it was just at this point that the two chaps we had met yesterday caught up and passed us.
- all looking autumnal now
- sun coming out
- straight up. There are some helpful zigzags in the bottom steepest section
From here it is a long, steep climb up the nose to reach the ridge and it felt like it was going to go on for ever.
- view down the glen aka let me catch my breath
- nice bit of sunshine and a lovely view over to where we were yesterday. Streap on the left, Sgurr Thuilm on the right and Sgurr nan Coireachan sticking up between them
But all things come to an end eventually, and after about a year we reached the small top at 855m where there is a good sized cairn. From here the slope flattens out to become a rather lovely ridge.
- ah, we are getting somewhere! The 961m top coming into view
- View down to Loch Shiel
The weather was cold but fine, with little wind, but not the same superb views and clarity that we had had the previous day.
When we reached the summit at last, it was still and quiet and we had an extended stop including freeze dried rice pudding and a lie down.
- Rudolph on the summit at last
- and me with Loch Shiel behind
- having a wee snooze with my peppermint tea ( I ran out of milk)
And then it was a matter of retracing our steps to the bikes and cycling out.
- looking the way we came and the way we go back
- Rudolph thinking by the trig point.
- I stood and watched this wee guy for a while - this is the best bird picture I am ever likely to get. I believe it is a Snow Bunting
- Looking down to Ardgour
- rowan berries
- hairy caterpiller on a heather twig
The cycle out was FUN! even though I did have to push the bike a bit for the final climb after crossing the river.
This was the end of our adventures, and probably our last Munro-bagging trip of 2019. Just nicely timed for the Kingussie Chippie on the way to Rudolph's folks in Deeside.