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OS Grid ref: NN 43294 83044
Lat/Long: 56.912325, -4.574166
Being much further north it was very light early. I was on
my way by 6 a.m. but just before I started a car arrived and
parked up. I set off and crossed the river Sean and stopped to
take a photo. The driver of the car I saw was a walker and
overtook me on the trail towards the lock. It was fine weather
as I continued along the track. I soon caught him up and we
chatted as we walked. I told him of the bridge closure and
diversion but he was turning right at the reservoir so wasn't
affected. |
Some morning sunshine |
Steel for the new bridge |
The old bridge. |
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I continued on to the bridge works I saw two weeks ago. At the
bridge where the river enters the Loch the superstructure had
been removed but the two RSJs were still in place. Down to the
right was another girder carrying the power cable. The machine
and equipment was still on site but I didn't need to cross as
the next part of my route is the west side of the Loch. There is
a small path heading up the east side of Binnein Shuas towards
the Ardvreckie wall climbing area. |
Loch Earba |
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I followed the path which is initially shown on the online map.
It seemed reasonably well used and took me steadily up the
mountain. Eventually I reached the rock climbing area and
followed the path a little further & higher up above was a bird
of prey making a lot of squawking sounds presumably protecting
its nest.
I was a bit concerned about being attacked by it so
turned around and reversed the path to where I'd seen a cave
higher up. The cave interior was quite open and could have been
used for a camp but there is no water nearby. |
Looking out from the cave. |
Summit view |
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There was another path heading west steeply up the gully and
looked like it was heading for the summit. I continued up and
found it quite easy though steep. Eventually it turned right and
crossed the summit plateau area where I had a good view of the
summit peak. The wind was getting up but the weather was still
mostly clear. On the summit I stopped briefly by the Cairn and
checked the mortar I'd left two weeks ago to mark the point
where John's ashes are. I took a few photos of the view but as
the wind was very strong I decided to head straight down. |
Concreting. |
Concreting. |
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With good views The Descent was relatively easy & I continued
down to revisit the bridge area where the men were at work. They
had cleared out the west abutment and we're in the process of
putting concrete in. I spoke to the same yorkshireman I saw two
weeks ago. The river under the bridge ran into the loch and
widened considerably and not far away it was very shallow and I
was able to step across without problems. Some cyclists turned
up but they'd missed the diversion and I told them that was a
good thing as they were at the best place to cross the river. .
I then began my return walk down the track back to the car. |
Cyclists crossing the Loch inlet. |
River Spean. |
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