I was determined that this year would be the year I would compleat (sic) the Munros. 15 left, and 3 or 4 per year since 2014. Covid lockdowns had made me more determined to get out and a discussion with Graeme in November highlighted that we were both keen to do more Munro trips. I tend not to venture into the Munros over Winter, as I promised my wife years ago that I wouldn't go. However, the weather window looked good for the start of March. I decided to take the day off work, and get away nice and early. I was going to take the MTB and break the back of the route into Maoile Lunndaidh by biking up past the Pollan Buidhe. I arrived at the car park near Craig at 1100 and estimated a good 6.5 hours of daylight. I should have plenty of time. It felt great to get into the hills on the bike but I was really feeling the heart pumping as I climbed up into Glenuaig. The hills looked fabulous with a coating of snow above 700m.
I began to wend round towards Glenuaig Lodge itself and it was an impressive place to stay - perhaps one day. I took some photos, left the bike behind the 'bothy' and started the tramp over towards the hill proper. Before setting out today, I had calculated that I would head via the broad but steep North ridge - as I was lightly equipped with trail shoes, and no crampons. This was a sound decision as it was good-going to 900m but the last 100m of ascent was on firm snow. It was bitterly cold on the summit and I could see a couple of other folks around the corrie, heading down.
I re-traced my steps as I came, and followed the path back out to 1-km east of the Lodge. I looked back up the glen out towards Strathconon direction, where there was a beautiful stillness to the view. Nothing beyond for a good few miles. Bliss. From there, it was back on the bike and a lovely ride out, eventually passing the couple and their dog. I forgot momentarily about the gate about 3km back along the track out and my brakes were tested! I got back to the car by 1530 - an absolutely cracking hill. All that remained was to get a coffee in Achnasheen and then on to my AirBnB in Drumnadrochit for the evening.
