At a Glance...

• Bike into the Ben Alder range from Dalwhinnie and Laggan

• 3 days to allow for any weather issues or to give ourselves a break.

• Some bogs and trackless sections when hiking and a river crossing

• Spectacularly remote location

• Incredible views

• Accessible by mainline train to Dalwhinnie as well as the major A9 trunk road between the Scottish central belt and Inverness

• Central Highlands

Where is the adventure?

The Ben Alder range is remote yet accessible. In recent years, the Alder Estate has massively improved the road along Loch Ericht to the point it's now a joyful ride in. This is the best approach for the Ben Alder pair, and this is accessed from the small village of Dalwhinnie in the eastern Highlands. Dalwhinnie is accessed from the main trunkroad (the A9) which travels north-south between Perth and Inverness, and also on the mainline. Indeed, we even meet at Dalwhinnie station. If you're a Londoner, you can get on the train at Euston and arrive in the highlands on the Caledonian Sleeper!

The other 4 Munros are on an elegant ridge but it's a remote wilderness plod to get there. Carn Dearg at the far eastern ridge can be accessed from Dalwhinnie and done as a different day if needed (which is why we have three days for this event although we've not needed it in recent years). The remaining three make more sense to come in from the Laggan side from the north.

About the Adventure

The Ben Alder group is in the central highlands and there is lots to encounter - high plateaus, lochans, ridges, fantastic views - all while bagging 6 Munros! We'll be cycling in and out each day rather than camping (camping in the central highlands in summer can be a testing experience with the highland midges!). We've set aside three days for this adventure to give ourselves options - we've found that on occasions, bigger days are best broken down into two separate ventures dependiing on weather and the group. It also gives us the possibility to have a rest day (these are big days) or avoid a bad weather day.

We won't know which day we'll tackle any particular Munro on until much nearer the time. You'll need to commit to all three days or at least two if coming for a day.

Munros:

Day 1 from Dalwhinnie

Ben Alder (Beinn Eallair) (1,148m / 3,766ft)"

Beinn Bheoil (1,019m / 3,343ft)"

These fine Munros form a circular walk from the disused Culra Bothy. A long but pleasant cycle in from Dalwhinnie brings us to the heart of this area. If the weather is good, we can scramble the easy ridge up to Ben Alder and then over the rocky but straight forward Beinn Bheoil. We'll then cycle out. The cycle ride takes about 2h each way."

Day 2 from Laggan

Geal-charn (1,132m / 3,714ft)

Aonach Beag (1,116m / 3,661ft)

Beinn Eibhinn (1,102m / 3,615ft)

We'll cycle in from Laggan along good (but slightly rougher) tracks into a truly wild and remote area. Once off the bikes, we've a river crossing then we're off piste on the ascent. A faint track traverses the Munros and we're then back on rough ground back to the river crossing and our bikes. If we're doing well and the weather is on our side, we may combine this day with day 3 though it adds an extra 3h to the day.

Day 3 from Dalwhinnie

Carn Dearg (1,034m / 3,392ft)

We'll cycle in again from Dalwhinnie toward Culra bothy. From here, it's a straight forward (but steep and heathery) ascent to the summit and back to the bikes. If the group wants to and the weather is on our side, we can add this to day 2 above and get a day off!