I’ve climbed the Graham, Biod an Fhithich, on three occasions, only once via the north ridge, the other times were from Glen Shiel and onto the south ridge. On the ascent of the north ridge I don’t have a record of going to the actual summit of A’ Mhuing or Biod an Fhithich North Top so this visit was to rectify this.
I headed for Shiel Bridge, on the A87 Bun Loyne to Kyle of Lochalsh Road, and left my car in the campsite car park there, the campsite being closed for the winter. I walked along the track on the east side of the Allt Udalain, taking the higher track when there was a choice, before soon leaving it to gain the west spur of Biod an Fhithich’s Norh Ridge.
Initially the vegetation was short but by the time I reached a stone dyke it was longer then further on I had to contend with dead bracken and bog myrtle. It was raining at this time with some low cloud, so this section of the walk wasn’t pleasant.
Once on the contorted north ridge proper there were intermittent traces of a path with a few undulations. It was quite blustery so tried to keep to the lee side where possible. Higher up the rain ceased and it started to brighten up although the cloud never cleared all of the tops.
I reached the vegetated knoll on the Tump, A’ Mhuing, and was of the opinion that I probably bypassed this top back in 2008.
There was then a steep drop before climbing onto the Sub Dodd, Biod an Fhithich North Top, marked by a vegetated outcrop.
A short descent led to a narrow ridge then through some rocks, easy enough, and onto the summit of the Graham, Biod an Fhithich, marked by a few stones on an outcrop.
I found some shelter from the wind for lunch with some views of the Forcan Ridge and down into Glen Shiel then returned by the upward route although decided to give the west spur a miss and continue down the north ridge. It wasn’t pleasant or easy with lots of dead bracken, boulders and small trees. The west spur was probably slightly easier.
- Time taken – 6 hours.
- Distance – 10.25 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 735 metres.