| Friday June 18th. After a long drive up to Killilan
(about ten miles from Kyle of Lochalsh) we only had a 7 mile bike ride ahead
of us before bed. Why?
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| For the scenery I think, and that getting away from it all feeling.
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Got the tent up around 12.30am, just left enough time for a Friday drinkie before bed. |
| Saturday June 19th dawned late and wet. Do you think I should be
getting out of bed now then?
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The campsite. * Lovely, isn't it? Seven miles up Glen Elchaig. |
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Another mile up the road we got to Iron Lodge, and got to dump the bikes. View back down the glen to some hills. More to come later. |
At Iron Lodge you can go left to Maol-bhuidhe bothy, straight ahead up to Loch Mhoicean and the ascent for An Socach that we had hoped to do too later, or right to the pass to Loch Mullardoch, our route for the day. Snowy equivalent here |
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Looking back down Glen Elchaig from above Iron Lodge. * We camped at those trees down there on the right. |
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And there is our first target, Mullach na Dheiragain, up there under the cloud. As steep as it looks too. At this point we jettisoned the heavy gear, thankfully! |
The weather certainly didn't improve much as we headed up Gleann Sithidh |
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Ever onward and upward. |
Looking back down Gleann Sithidh to where we left the heavy stuff. Iron Lodge is just a couple of miles to the left, five hunderd and seventy meters below |
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The day just got better and better. And it was steeper than this looks, trust me. |
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However we made it to the top. What a view. Decision made to abandon the second munro and head for home, bath and beer. |
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The mist clears and we see Loch Mullardoch again. |
Still a long way to go, and that bike ride down the valley. |
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Gleann Sithidh, still surrounded by mist, and still a long way down. |
We kept to the ridge on the way back, as it put off the steep descent. |
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Loch Mullardoch again. Behind you!
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| And a big one. * This made it worthwhile. Gleann Sithidh on the left, sweeping round over Druim Bheag with Greag Ghlas behind. Then the bealach above Iron Lodge. An Socach should be in the cloud towards the right, and An Riabhachan is above the Loch on the right, I guess. | ||
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The best glimpse of the hill. * Must be brilliant on a good day, 'cos it was pretty good even in the rain etc. |
Going down slow. * The valley floor gets closer. |
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Look it's Iron Lodge again, so just an eight mile bike ride before we get a comfy seat, |
Probably not the famous Falls of Flornach, but impressive just the same, and a good excuse to get off the bike for a break. |
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Moutain biking man. |
Relief at finding the missing flask of whisky. Thought it was still ten miles up the valley |
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Site last updated : 22 June 2004.