Nearly crossing Scotland part two:

Day three 21 miles 1476 ft accent:

As I sat in the DuoMid cooking the rain was falling. I looked at the map and decided the plan to go up by the forest edge and Beinn a Bhrie was not needed. I had seen deer using the large clearing through the forest as a route through following the river. I decided to follow the river up to a small unnamed loch on its edge and then across country to strike the path to Loch Mhic Idmhair. I set off early and soon made the track. It was open terrain and had a sense of wild about it.

The path to Loch Mhic Idmhair again broke up the tussock and heather bashing sections.

From the loch I followed the track till it ran out and then went across country with the views looking good despite cloud clinging to the tops and the very strong wind.

It was a vast landscape to view. I had walked some of the Fannichs a few years back and hoped to get some tops in today. The evident lack of views due to the cloud on the summit and knowing the wind would be strong led to me keeping to the valley.

I made my way along to the track by the water pipe flowing from the loch and then to the track leading along its edge. I was shocked to find that track was now a  tarmac road all the way to the lodge. The views were mixed - still it was good walking.

Where the track ends there were reminders of lives once lived in the glen. It must have been a hard life trying to make a living here in the winter.

I had to cross the river flowing from the Nest of Fannich. The river was easy. Getting over the mud flats and bog to it was more problematic. Once done I went into the glen to follow the Abhainn a Chadh Bhuidhe. Here again was a fine track not on the 1:50 000 map which eventually ended but basic vehicle tracks carried on.



I used these and it clung to the high ground. The bog and terrain below was harsh. I had not decided where to camp and decided to push on to pitch in Gleann Tanagaidh where I have camped before and knew had some superb spots.

The best part of the day was the dominating view of Slioch. The best mountain I have done to date. I waded thought the tussock and bog to the camp.

I pitched up and made a meal. I started to feel under the weather. I had had a infection leading up to the walk and hoped the antibiotics had cleared it up. I feared it had not - or I was coming down with something else. I enjoyed the views and turned in for the night. I awoke in the early hours as it was turning cold. I zipped up the sleeping bag and bivy. I still felt rubbish and went back to sleep. The wind was getting up and rain lashed the DuoMid waking me up again.

Day four 6.5 miles 620 ft accent:

I awoke to see snow had fallen on the tops. It was cold and rain showers rolled in and out. I felt rough and needed to think my route over. My plan was to walk along Loch Fada and then take in Beinn Tarsuinn and A Mhaighdean. A mountain I had done years ago. The snow showers and weather ruled the tops out. My illness ruled  them out as well. I was concerned that I could get worse and be stuck in a remote area. I decided that bailing out to Kinlochewe was the best course of action. I had no days to spare and knew my walk was not going to finish as planned but went out to Kinlochewe. I met one backpacker following a low level route on the way out. He told me I had done the right thing by walking out. "Best to be careful" he said. It did not make me feel any better.

I cursed the rain for making it hard to photograph the views of Loch Fada - still Beinn Eighe made a great view to see walking out and the weather was better in the glen. I recalled the view from it many years ago. I was gutted and my pace was slow. I made the village and found a room for the night. There is a limited bus service out of town this time of year until June. The bus for my connection had gone that day and I needed to find transport to get me out of there. That was another problem to solve while dosing up on medication and trying to shrug off my illness. After that the walking was over and my thoughts turned to getting home.