Bidean nam Bian, Map 384; 9th January 2005

Route: 1250m = 4100' ascent; 4.6 miles

Route: This short walk is complementary to the one for Stob Coire Sgreamhach but the two mountains are combined in a more satisfying outing here. Nevertheless, each of the northeast facing glens and corries of this range have their own unique characters and are well worth exploring. The slow times listed for this walk are the result of very adverse weather conditions, as noted below.
Park in loop of old road which is at the beginning of the road to Achnambeithach. The well engineered ascent path starts at a gate on the west end of the bridge over R. Coe opposite the Clachaig Inn road. Stay on the west bank. Where the river splits into two main streams, the path goes up between the streams, and then splits, one path to each coire. This route ascends by the lefthand (eastern) one and descends via the righthand (western) one, but the walk could equally well be done in the reverse direction. Indeed, route finding is almost certainly easier in the anti-clockwise direction. Note, for example, that from each of the three tops of Bidean, the path along the ridge leaves close to due West, which is not what one would really expect from the general direction of the ridge.

Weather: Continuous medium rain, medium winds. Wet heavy snow underfoot above 1500'. Thawing with all rivers in very high spate. Cloud level about 850m. No visibility above this.