Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich
"Cheese Grater"
Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich, north face from Bearnais bothy
Highest point
Elevation	945 m (3,100 ft)
Prominence	209 m (686 ft)
Parent peak	Lurg Mhòr
Listing	Munro, Marilyn
Naming
English translation	peak of the corrie of the barren cattle
Language of name	Gaelic
Geography
Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich Location in Highland
Parent range	Northwest Highlands
OS grid	NH049413
Topo map	OS Landranger 25 Explorer 429

Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich is a tall mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It stands at 945 meters (about 3,100 feet) high. This makes it a Munro, which is a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet. It's part of a group of hills that includes Lurg Mhòr, another high peak.

This mountain is quite remote, meaning it's far from towns and roads. It's a great challenge for experienced hikers. The name "Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich" comes from Gaelic. It means "peak of the corrie of the barren cattle." A "corrie" is a bowl-shaped hollow on a mountainside.

Exploring Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich

Loch Monar and surrounding Munros

Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich is located in a beautiful part of Scotland. It sits west of Loch Monar, a large lake. To its east is the Attadale Forest. This mountain is like the top point of a horseshoe shape made by other Munros around the loch.

To the north of the mountain is Glen Carron. To the south is Glen Shiel. These are valleys that add to the wild beauty of the area.

The "Cheese Grater" Mountain

This mountain has a fun nickname: the "Cheese Grater." This name likely comes from its rocky, rugged appearance. The mountain is part of the Attadale Estate. The rocks that make up the mountain are very old. They are from the Glenfinnan Group of the Moine Supergroup. These rocks were once sandstones that changed a lot over millions of years.

The top of the mountain has steep cliffs on its north and east sides. This makes climbing directly up those sides tricky. However, there is an easier way to reach the summit. You can approach it from the southwest, along a path called Sail Riabach. The path connecting Bidein to Lurg Mhòr is also not difficult.

Planning Your Adventure to the Mountain

North face of the mountain with a small lake at the head of Coire Seasgach

Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich and Lurg Mhòr are known as some of Scotland's most isolated Munros. Getting to them is a real adventure! All the routes are long and can be tough. But if you plan a two-day trip, there are three open bothies where you can stay. A bothy is a simple shelter, like a small cabin, that hikers can use for free. This is a great alternative to camping outdoors.

Routes to the Mountain

You can approach the mountain from the north, east, or west. Each route offers different challenges and views.

• From the East: This route involves walking or cycling along Loch Monar. You reach the loch through Glen Strathfarrar. From a place called Struy, a private road leads to Monar Lodge at the start of the loch. You can cycle on this road. A few cars are also allowed, but it's very limited. This trip can be a huge one-day challenge or a more relaxed overnight adventure. If you try to hike around the loch and climb the Munros, it's about 43 kilometers (27 miles) of walking. Plus, you might cycle 52 kilometers (32 miles)!

• From the North: The shortest way from a public road is from Achnashellach in Glen Carron. This is on the A890 road. To start, you might need to wade across the River Carron. There's also a two-wire bridge you can use. Cycling isn't an option right from Achnashellach. However, from nearby Craig, you can cycle for the first 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles). From there, it's about 12.5 kilometers (7.8 miles) on foot to Bidein. This walk takes about 5 hours.

Staying in Bothies

Bothies are a fantastic part of hiking in Scotland. They offer a simple place to rest and stay warm.

• Bearnais bothy is a bothy maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association. It's conveniently located near the northern routes. You can reach it from Achintee (near Strathcarron station) by a 6-mile (9.7 km) path.

• From the West: From Attadale, there's an 8-mile (12.9 km) track. You can ride a mountain bike on this track, though it can be difficult. This track leads to the Ben Dronaig Lodge bothy. This bothy is maintained by the Attadale Estate and is very well kept. From this bothy, it's another 4.5 miles (7.2 km) on a path to Bidein. A shorter 6-mile (9.7 km) path also connects this bothy to Achintee.

• Maol Bhuidhe bothy is another MBA bothy. You can reach it from Attadale or Killian (Camus-luinie carpark). These routes involve tracks that are at least 10 miles (16.1 km) long, suitable for mountain biking.