Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich

Bidein a’ Choire Sheasgaich stands in the Northwest Highlands, a remote Munro 945 metres high. It sits at the western end of a ridge that includes Meall Mor and Lurg Mhòr, forming a horseshoe around Loch Monar. The mountain overlooks the strath of Bearneas and Attadale Forest to the east, with Glen Carron to the north and Glen Shiel to the south. Its steep crags guard the summit, but a straightforward path leads from Sail Riabach a kilometre to the southwest. The nickname ‘Cheese Grater’ comes from the striated rock of the Glenfinnan Group bedrock. The mountain is one of the loneliest Munros, according to Cameron McNeish, with long and arduous approaches from north, east or west. A two-day expedition allows use of three open bothies instead of wild camping. The eastern route follows Loch Monar from Struy, a private road where cycling and limited vehicle access are permitted. Dan Bailey describes the round-loch traverse as a single epic trip of 43 km on foot or 95 km by bike and foot combined. From Achnashellach in Glen Carron the shortest public-road start crosses the River Carron or uses a two-wire bridge. Bearnais bothy lies conveniently off the northern routes, reachable by a stalkers’ path from Achintee. From Attadale in the west a rough track leads to Ben Dronaig Lodge bothy, maintained to a high standard, then another 7.2 km to the mountain. Maol Bhuidhe bothy can be reached from Attadale or Camus-luinie by tracks at least 16 km long. The ridge between Bidein and Lurg Mhòr and the southern path have no technical difficulties, making the long walk the main challenge.