Hill: Bidean a' Chabair
Date: Friday 10th June 2011
Company: Myself and Beinn
Time: 8 Hours

After work yesterday, I drove to the far end of Loch Arkaig where myself and Beinn slept in the back of the car.

This was my sixth trip along the rollercoaster road to Strathan - every trip into this area has been superb and today was no exception.

The forecast for this morning was good, so an early start was in order. We started walking at 4:45am .

Loch Arkaig at 4.45am:


Sunlight on hill above Kinlocharkaig:


I followed the SMC Corbett book route to the summit of the hill.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

Bidean a' Chabair in distance:


My first worry of the day was finding cattle on the track just beyond Glendessary. Thankfully, the cattle were really docile and didn't bother us despite walking just a few feet away from them.

Cattle on Right of Way track near Glendessarry:


Yellow flag iris:


On reaching Upper Glendessarry, I crossed the fence via the stile and Beinn squeezed through the gap between the wires.

Approaching Upper Glendessarry:


A'Chuil bothy from beyond Upper Glendessarry:


The walk from Upper Glendessarry to the base of Meall na Sroine was the least enjoyable part of the walk. Very wet and muddy.

Bidean a' Chabair:


Meall na Sroine was certainly steep but posed no difficulties.

Ascent of Meall na Sroine:


Meall na Sroine:


The walk from Meall na Sroine to Bidean a' Chabair was "interesting" .
A multitude of twists and turns to avoid lochans and rock.

Bidean a' Chabair summit still a long way off:


Bidean a' Chabair summit from Druim Coire nan Laogh ridge:


Sgurr na Ciche and Garbh Chioch Mhor:


Was nice to look across Loch Nevis to Beinn Bhuidhe; a fine hill that I ascended last September from Inverie.

Beinn Bhuidhe above Loch Nevis:


Stripy rocks:


En-route to Bidean a' Chabair summit:


Lochan on Druim Coire nan Laogh ridge:


Beinn ascending Bidean a' Chabair:


Sgurr na Ciche and Knoydart hills:


As I approached the summit, I wondered how the heck I would get Beinn up it.

Steep ascent to summit:


Looking back towards a distant Loch Arkaig:


View South:


Fortunately, the ascent to the summit was far easier than it looked. A path avoids most of the difficulties with just a short section of easy scrambling required.

Beinn at summit of Bidean a' Chabair:


Beinn at summit of Bidean a' Chabair:


View from summit:


View from summit:


View towards Sgurr na h-Aide top:


From the summit, we returned to the car via the same route.

Deer high-up on Bidean a' Chabair:


Descending Meall na Sroine:


Looking back to Bidean a' Chabair:


Another good day out .