Today was meant to be a gentle day following our previous long day, but the forecast changed and promised a good day until evening, so we had a second day with a long cycle up a glen - this time up Glen Cona to the foot of Stob Mhic Bheathain. The track up Cona Glen was delightful, initially through park woodland, then open grassland and oak forest, before opening out into the glen. The track was alright initially but later had rather too many loose medium sized stones for my liking when it started to undulate. I had had quite enough of the track by the time we got to Corriarach, and after another kilometre the track was very close to the river, which looked shallow and full of stones to stand on, either sticking out or just under the water. So we abandoned the bikes, forded the river (I was delighted to find that my boots are still waterproof), and set off towards Cnap a'Choire Leith Bhig. After crossing the boglands and starting to go up, we encountered a very overgrown stalkers path which we followed for a few zigzags - a trace of past human activity. However it was probably going up below the rocky outcrops so we abandoned it and headed onto the ridge. We had lunch at the Cnap, then carried on over point 515. Then it was up the grassy slopes and along the ridge past the E top to the W top. The views were amazing in all directions, and we spent some time gazing around, the pictures don't really do it justice.
We returned the same way,skirting point 515. Back at the river, the Hare tried out an old metal bridge, half-hidden amongst the bushes, just along from our crossing point, and pronounced it sound. It would be an option if you don't mind the absence of handrails. He used his poles, upended for a better grip.The cycle down the track was preferable to the ascent - it gets easier rather than harder - but there was still occasional walking involved on the loose or steeper bits. All in all, though, another grand day out. Here is our approximate route.