Friday 15 May 2026 - A Bike Ride to Fort William and back

Today's pictures start with one from last night's sunset from our dining room.

They continue with a picture from August 1995, courtesy of Martin Whittle's wonderful scanner. I wasn't always first to be ready to set off. Dave Scruby beat me to it on this occasion. 

Today's itinerary was more modest. David went to the Lake District; Sue, Roger and Tom went to Glenfinnan to climb some Munros; Julie went to Mallaig to climb a small Marilyn; Paul and Jeanette pedalled off on a repeat of Tuesday's bike ride to Fort Augustus (I think they extended it to 100 km), and I embarked on a modest bike ride to Fort William and back, starting with a 30 mph descent to cross the canal at Gairlochy.

All the way to the series of locks at Neptune's Staircase, my route followed the good surface of the towpath.

The route I took followed Sustrans bike route number 78, missing a right turn after a weight challenging bridge that would have taken me along the Great Glen Way. Anyway, the route through housing was fine, and I passed a sculpture in memory of workers at the nearby aluminium plant.

Continuing to the harbour, I reached the Morrisons supermarket and stopped for a first lunch next to a plaque signifying the start of the Great Glen Way.

On the return journey I did locate the Great Glen Way path that follows the River Lochy, avoiding housing, and wends its way to join the towpath at Neptune's Staircase.

Some of the shipping seems to have foundered to a sad end in the Lochy estuary. 

I continued around the estuary to Corpach, from where it was an easy ride along the towpath, with good views towards the Ben, and the fragrance of coconut, to the café at Neptune's Staircase. Coffee and cake.

After re-crossing the canal at one of the locks it was a straightforward ride back to Gairlochy in continued good weather, stopping near Moy Bridge for a second lunch. Nice boiled egg.

An enjoyable morning's ride, covering 37 km in 3 hours, with just 100 metres of ascent.

There were a good number of folk doing the first section of the Great Glen Way today. Some already looked weighed down and exhausted. I hope they get the pleasure to which they've been looking forward.

Thursday 14 May - Creag Bhan

Julie's continued assault of the 1550 'Marilyn' (relative hills separated by a 150 metre drop) summits proceeded to summit number 1396, where she was joined by me and Tom on the 510 metre monolith known as Creag Bhan.

After parking in a lay-by on the A830 road beyond Glenfinnan, we soon found the path that goes under a small railway bridge near Lochailort.

Looking back, the Corbett summits of Moidart beckoned, but our objective today was in the opposite direction. 

We rose gently to a good viewpoint overlooking the iconic railway line. A horn blared but no train appeared. We continued upwards, failing to capture an image of the DMU as it passed below.

I've been wanting to walk up this path for some years, as it is a TGO Challenge route from the Lochailort starting point, notorious for failed attempts to find Prince Charlie's Cave, and the difficult shore line of Loch Beoraid. In the event our path took us to the left of the cave, becoming an easy grassy slope up the flanks of Creag Bhan.

Here's the view along Loch Beoraid. At least I established that the route so far as I went was on a good path.

Up at the summit, after my hat had blown away and been recovered from a pond, it took several attempts to negotiate the windy, rocky ramparts, but Tom did eventually gain a position from which to record me and Julie on the top.

It was windy.

We enjoyed good views to Moidart, as well as to Eigg and Rhum.

A good spot sheltered from the wind was found for lunch.

A direct descent to the path on which we had started up the hill got us all the way down with no incidents. Here's Julie on the last part of the descent. 

Here's our route, just 7 km with 500 metres ascent. It took Julie and me a good 4 hours. Tom ran down a little quicker and had gone to his next appointment by the time we reached the lay-by. 

Thanks go to Julie for suggesting this jolly excursion. 

Wednesday 13 May 2026 - Beinn a'Bhacaidh

A drive to beyond Fort Augustus had me realising how far we had cycled yesterday.

Anyway, after just a 45 minute journey, Julie and I set off in fine weather up this small hill that qualifies as a 'Marilyn' (a relative hill). There were soon good views down to nearby Loch nan Lann.

Julie got way ahead as I faffed with clothing adjustments on the showery morning. 

But the summit never seemed far away. 

Here's the view from a promontory on the way up.

And we soon made it to the summit. 

We didn't stay long, but a break in the weather did allow a coffee interlude on the way down.

Further down, here's the ford by a small cairn from where steep grassy slopes had earlier led easily to the summit. 

Continuing on our 5 km walk, we saw an impressive building in the distance.

We were soon back at the car for lunch in comfort. Others - Sue, Roger, Tom and Paul - lunched elsewhere in a bothy after climbing Stob Ban in the Grey Corries area.

Here's our route - 5 km with 350 metres ascent to the 555 metre summit. It took us little more than 2 hours.

A good choice for a rainy day. 

Tuesday 12 May 2026 - A Bike Ride to Fort Augustus and back

On a showery day I joined Paul and Jeanette for a leisurely bike ride. We are pictured above at the start.

The view across Loch Lochy displayed a cloud covered Ben Nevis.

We soon got good views along the loch.

After four miles of newly surfaced road we took a right turn along a forest track. Soon we came across Paddington, near a new looking bothy.

By the time we reached Laggan Locks, it was time for elevenses. 

Once we got going again we found ourselves in lovely woodland next to the Caledonian Canal. 

There is evidence of a railway line that never reached its planned destination due to competition for different routes.

The waterway was quite busy today.

We arrived in Fort Augustus in time for lunch.

Returning the same way, we crossed the canal at Culochy Lock.

The showers had certainly dampened the old railway track.

We paused for a while to admire the 14:30 from Fort William.

Oops - it ran out of track...

Before leaving the canal in favour of woodland paths, we appreciated the coconut aroma from the densely packed Gorse bushes.

Today's route followed the Great Glen Way and Sustrans cycle route number 78. There was a well signposted diversion around a new hydro project.

Soon after this, we reached the road and an easy ride back to Taigh Mor. We had cycled 76 km with nearly 700 metres ascent. It took us a leisurely 7 hours.

There were some interesting features on this route that will be revealed in a couple of weeks  time in an edit.