Lentran to Drumnadrochit: walk there – bus back

Extending my walking range from the house. Mission objectives included walking the highest hills on the way and so three trig points, as well as minimal time on the ~~NC500 /~~ Great Glen Way. No known or prepared path – just aim for the tops! Plenty of time in the heather.

The first trig point (pics from a previous trip: Lentran to Dochgarroch and back).

An Leacainn – Beauly Firth and Ben Wyvis in the distance

Looking west-ish or south west from An Leacainn

The second trig point

South from An Leacainn (mainly heather), over the Blackfold road and up to Doire Mhor (all heather). South west to the second trig point, Carn a Bhodaich (all heather).

Carn a Bhodaich to Inverness and Ardesier

Resting at Carn a Bhodaich looking towards Abriachan and my route up the other side (shown in black)

I continued walking south west and hit the now felled wood so was able to take a track down to where it crossed the burn. I turned off the boring track and took a chance that there would be a path alongside the burn.

There just about was and so I came out at the tar at Abriachan. Couple of hundred metres westerly along the side of the B road before I found where the fence was down and headed across what might well be a bit of a marshy field towards the stream and birchwoods for a rest stop. Hellacious walk up out of there in 2m bracken swarming with the midge. No path.

So this is climbing up out of Abreachan looking back. The midges had mainly gone by the this time!

Followed by hot and bothered tramp over heather to the top, Carn na Leitire. This part of the route is not to be repeated. Instead go left when you hit the tarred road and there looks to be a forestry track up a good part of the hill – total distance may well be further.

Back down to Loch Laide (Loch ‘Latch’ in ye olden days)

From the top: approx route down into Abriachan and up the other side to current position

The third trig point

Carn na Leitire is on a spur off the Great Glen Way and so this was were I met various Macleods on a tour of the old country. I followed their track back down, branching left, to the forestry and turned left onto the main track before crossing through the woods at their narrowest point.

There followed a boggy tramp (heather) onwards towards the final trig point, Meall na h-Eilrig and a food stop.

By this time there was no way I was going to bother with Cnoc Fhearchair and so I spied a track above Loch Glanaith which took me to the tar at Drumbuie and on down to the main road.