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Another day that appeared nicer than forecast, where I had no big plans. Malky was working so again, I thought it fair to get out from under his feet and have some fun! I was still limited to small hills with little ascent thanks to Corona (booooo) but I’ve done a lot of cycling which doesn’t seem to be so bad. So a bike hike it was
I had a lazy breakfast of leftover cheesecake from the night before, and then hopped on the bike. It was a nice easy freewheel down the hill (would pay for that later!) to the A82, which was surprisingly quiet.
A82 - mercifully quiet After around 5km into the wind I reached my turn-off
Malky had warned me that this hill was a real b*stard… but it didn’t seem too bad just yet…
So far so good 
As I climbed the views started to open out 
Quick pee stop The hill meandered along; it was steep and there was a lot of it, but nothing too awful. Well, not until I turned a corner and was confronted with….
Ughhh This bit did nearly finish me off
Although bike fitness was doing pretty well, big hills were still a bit of a killer as they sent my already messed up breathing sky-high
Of course a van caught me up on the last bit – no way was I stopping
Pretty trees And then the hill just kept on going
Not again... Fortunately it did even out soon enough and I was out on the top – still undulating, and definitely into the wind, but a whole lot less uphill than before
Out on the top It was really beautiful too – the colours of the heather and the big old trees
Lovely colours As I approached Blackford I could see my hill across the moor (although I’d be cycling around and approaching it from the other side)
Carn a' Bhodaich ahead After a few more twists and turns I arrived at my track – it was fairly obvious fortunately, and locked the bike to the fence.
Leaving the wheels behind for now I changed my hat and got my poles out – the track looked decent but I’d been warned that there would be much worse ground ahead
Track ahoy Although the track was good underfoot it was definitely uphill and I found myself getting really out of breath quickly. I had to slow to a crawl but it gave me time to enjoy the views and the weather as the sun was out and it was lovely!
Ahead to Carn a' Bhodaich The track took a wiggle into the woods here – although sections of the track were good there were some really squishy bits that took a bit of getting around!
nice.... Climbing out of the woods the views started to return
Looking across to Ben Wyvis Now out of the trees I had hoped that the ground would improve (and in short sections it did) but there was a lot of hopping over soggy bits – fortunately there seemed to have been enough footfall along here to have created some bypass tracks around the worst bits
My hill ahead I also managed to pick up a following of flies that were buzzing around my head
Looking back across a nasty bit As I climbed higher the sides of the hill became impressively craggy – although the summit was pretty much directly above here I would follow Malky’s advice and walk around!
Craggy bit 
Looking back As I approached the high point of the track it was time to leave it and head over towards the summit. Although the ground was horrible, full of heather and really scratchy, it was actually very dry. Given the level of bog lower down I was expecting wet feet!
My route ahead 
Looking back down the track as I leave it It was a fairly short section of steep heather before I was on the plateau. Here the ground was tussocky but nothing like as bad as I’d feared.
Summit ahoy! It was a short walk across to the trig point and I even picked up a faint path for some of the way. It was a relief to reach the summit, and the views were spectacular! I was definitely wishing I’d brought a proper camera rather than my crappy phone
Carn a' Bhodaich summit 
Loch Ness and Meall Fuar-Mhonaid 
Strathfarrar hills 
Strathfarrar and Strathconon Hills 
Ben Wyvis Couldn’t manage a photo on the trig as I was on my own!
Carn a' Bhodaich summit It was a cracking summit, and fortunately there was enough breeze to blow away my crown of flies (but not so much that I couldn’t sit and enjoy the views
) It was also most definitely lunch time!
A plane came over as I was relaxing – no idea if it’s a commercial plane or more exciting!
Plane spotting 
Inverness and the Moray Firth After a while it was time to go – it was going to take me a while to get down and then I had a decision to make….
The gradient ahead looked decent, and it would cut off quite a lot of distance, so I decided to give it a go. The walking was actually not too bad, although a bit soggy near the bottom but I managed to keep my feet dry
My descent route - not actually as bad as it looks 
Back on track I made my way carefully along the track (it wouldn’t do to get wet feet now!)
Looking back 
Back to my hill Back in the forest I had to negotiate this again
Ughh 
Beautiful colours I heard some bellowing noises before discovering it was this deer
Oh deer! The woods were really impressive – lots of old trees
Woods Back at the bike I spent about 10 minutes tipping heather out of my shoes
Here I had a decision to make – so far I’d clocked up 15km on the bike – I could take the 20km freewheel or the 30km more interesting route. Once I’d had a short break my breathing seemed to be ok so thought I’d go for the more interesting option – after all, there couldn’t be more up than the way out could there?!
Loch Lait 
Moniack Mor - creative writing centre with views! There was a lot of steep descent through Foxhole and beyond – it did make me think that coming up this way would have been just as bad, but also that I was going to pay for it later
Actually I made the main road (A833) without anything difficult, and from here it was familiar hills
Main road!
Kessock Bridge - nearly home! 
Beauly firth Unfortunately I still had to deal with the hill up to the house, but I’m pretty sure I’ve discovered my new favourite cycling route
Cycling – 52km, 507m ascent, 3 hours
