Bike Hike and Summit Camp - Laggan - Scotland

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• ROUTE GUIDE
I wanted to climb the three munros south of Loch Laggan in Ardverikie for some time. When I heard the area was potentially going to be forever scarred by new dams and 4WD tracks as part of a major hydro-electric scheme I knew I had to get there quickly before it all changed.

It was a warm spring day in early May but the wind was blowing 40mph so it was quite a challenge at times, especially on the summits. I cycled in from Luiblea to Lochan na h-Earba, hid the bike by an a tumbledown ruin and hiked up the first munro Creag Pitridh (924m). It was blowin' a hoolie but I managed to find a bit of shelter for a wild camp just below the summit.

Next morning it was still very windy. I headed off to the second munro Geal Charn (1049m), a huge lump of a mountain with a massive cairn on top. Again the wind nearly knocked me off my feet.

From Geal Charn it's a very long hike to the third and final munro (and the highest) Beinn a' Chlachair (1087m). At the saddle between the two mountains there's a fine view over Loch a' Bhealaich Leamhain, a remote and wild loch that is the target for the new hydro-electric scheme (the second largest in Scotland apparently).

There's a short sharp pull up from the bealach to the plateau and then it's a straightforward yomp for about 3km to the summit. The plateau is intermittently grassy and rocky. It would be easy to get disorientated in low cloud but I had clear blue skies and wonderful views of the remote munros of the Ben Alder Forest. Ben Alder itself still had plenty of snow. This is a truly wild area. I heard golden plovers, was buzzed by a golden eagle and saw blaeberry bumblebees (Bombus monticola) in the heather. Who knows what will become of the place if the hydro scheme gets approved. More about that here...

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/whats-new/news/1413-new-hydro-scheme-proposal-on-wild-land-boundary

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• MOUNTAIN SAFETY
Remember that hiking and mountain climbing can be dangerous. The videos on my channel are for entertainment only (other than where specified). Always prepare well and be willing to abandon a trip if it becomes dangerous due to weather or unexpected trail conditions. If you are new to hiking and the great outdoors it's always a good idea to go with a guide or a more experienced companion. And remember - give the wildlife some space, leave no trace, go quietly and enjoy it out there!

• A word on DRONES
I know how annoying it can be to hear a drone whizzing about when you are trying to enjoy the peace and solitude of wild places. I'm also aware of the potential to disturb wildlife with them. I always avoid flying the drone when there are other hikers around. It's one of the reasons I tend to hike at less popular times of day and in mid-week and I avoid using the drone if I do see others nearby. I never fly a drone towards wildlife or where birds are likely to be nesting.

• CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:20 Biking in
02:23 Creag Pitridh (munro 1)
04:15 Summit camp
07:29 Geal Charn (munro 2)
10:26 Beinn a' Chlachair (munro 3)