We took the bikes in from the Achnasheen road up the long tarmac estate road to Fannich Lodge. In a similar fashion to Strathfarrar this appears to by a hydro road - publicly funding but access denied by the estate. Fannich Lodge proved to be a bleak outpost overlooking the dull waters of the upper loch. Even in the sunshine it seemed drab and grey.
We dropped the bikes behind an outbuilding and struck up through the woods, completely missing the path until we emerged at the small stream half a mile up. A good stalker's path meandered up the broad ridge all the way to the stony summit of Meall Gorm. We sat for a while in a large rock shelter still filled with snow to eat lunch and take in the views. From there we wandered out to An Coileachan where we met an Italian woman who was faced with the walkout from hell north towards the Ullapool road (see Hills from Hell). Our southerly route was far easier even including the 15 mile round trip on the bikes. Our anticipated downhill freewheel to the car is somewhat spoiled by a ripping head wind which makes the ride out more uphill than the ride in. Tough day or maybe I am just getting old.
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