Monar hills completion!

Date 28 & 29 August 2016

Hills: Lurg Mhor & Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich

No, no, no! Not that kind of completion. Just a completion (or compleation if you prefer) of the Monar Munros plan we'd started out on the previous week - link. Since that trip had been aborted, we'd driven all the way home to Yorkshire, sorted out the bike rack issue, and licked our wounds. Thing is, I still had holiday time up my sleeve. And the forecast up north remained good. All the same, I was surprised when C said she wanted to go right back to Strathcarron. 'Unfinished business', she said. Fine by me!

So there we were leaving Achintee, fuelled by a nice piece of cheesecake and coffee in a very warm and welcoming Strathcarron Hotel. The track up from Achintee is one I love… a firm ribbon of a route through an otherwise boggy mire. Views down the strath towards…

…Lochcarron. And the other way up towards…

…the Coulin Forest hills.

After a few miles, from the Bealach Alltan Ruairidh the route ahead reveals itself. This came as a bit of a shock. Last time I passed by Bendronaig Lodge it was an oasis of calm. Now we were looking down on…

…a scene of major works. The usual hydro stuff. As with Courour, only time will tell how much it will blend into the landscape. Right now, though, it doesn't look good. At least it was a Sunday, so it was quiet. And we were able to walk…

…up the old track by the river.

Having passed on the temptation to try out a digger, we moved on to the Lodge for a bite to eat, out of the midges. From there we headed up the track to Loch Calavie, and started a slanting line…

… up to the Bealach between the two Munros. On, on, on…

…to the top of Lurg Mhor, with Sheasgaich and Beinn Tharsuinn in the background.

From the summit the view opens up eastwards…

…over the Meall Mór top.

The camp spot I had in mind was a little lochan just south-west from the top of Sheasgaich. It didn't disappoint. Here it is…

…with Beinn Dronaig in the background.

So, after tea, it was a short bimble up to the top of Sheasgaich. Nothing beats being on a remote summit at an extremity of the day. Here's the view over to…

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…Lurg Mhor, with An Riabhachan in the cloud behind.

Looking across…

…Sgurr na Conbhaire towards the cloud-topped north Monar hills. On balance, we were in the right place.

Looking down…

…Loch Monar, with the Strathfarrar Munros catching the sun. And up…

…into the Coulin Forest hills.

Tent still there on the return from the top…

…always nice to see. No great sunset, but evidence…

…that it had set somewhere.

Woke to a claggy scene. Half way down to Loch Calavie we emerged…

…to the promise of a decent day. I imagine that this is…

…An Cruachan with An Riabhachan in cloud behind.

I'd like to say that we had a peaceful walk out. But it was Monday morning, and the Bendronaig hydro scheme was being built around us. The massive trucks were flying up and down the new track, kicking up spectacular clouds of dust behind them. Cowards that we are, we crossed the…

…Uisge Dubh and followed the sheep tracks along its bank. We were glad to get back over the Bealach Alltan Ruairidh, and out of the noise. It was a very fulfilled…

…party that walked out in the sun back to Strathcarron and back into the hotel to refuel with another cake* and coffee.

* Walnut cake, in case you were wondering. Not mhor cheescake. What kind of tacky punner do you take me for?

Lurg Mhor and Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich from Strathcarron, via Loch Calvie