My missus is buying me a (return!) rail ticket to the place of my choice for my birthday next year. The idea is that I have a couple of days riding somewhere without having to worry about owt else but enjoying myself.

I’m thinking Achnashellach and a route that goes:

Road to Coulags, turn off up alongside Fionn-abhainn before heading off up Bealach a’Choire Ghairon and then basically following that (pretty much all the way) down to Annat. Lunch. Back up but turning left Loch an Eion -> Bealach na Lice -> Bealach Ban -> Coire Lair -> Achnashellach.

Bearing in mind I ‘planned’ that on Memory Map what’s it like ‘on the ground’? What else should I do round there? Is there anything else in Scotchland (cos that’s where i fancy goin) that I really should do instead – given that my preference is for the wilds with easy rail access(!)

Cheers.

So… is that a no?

Not an area I have ridden in. Is it in the Kenny Wilson book? Looks on MM to have a couple of fairly steep climbs on it. Have you ridden in the wilds before? Highland singletrack marked on a map can vary from easy riding to “path? Wot path?”

My guess would be much of the climbs would be a walk / carry but that is only a guess. Bump it again in the evening – there are a few folk around who might know more

Get one of the guidebooks and pick a route from there? Bein a Ghlo circuit from Blair athol? Blair athol to Kingussie? Glen Affric? a couple of suggestions

CHeers. I’m not sure if it is in a book; I’ve ridden in the wilds before but even so I’ve made sure that the route touches civilization at the halfway point.

Yeah, I am a little concerned about the reality of the dotted lines 🙂 But I’m okay about the carries – the pay off seems to be an insanely long descent down into Annat. But as you say, *if* it’s a viable track.

Thanks for the suggestions; I think I might pick up the Kenny Wilson simply as route porn whether I use it or not 🙂

As per TJ’s advice: *bump*

And I’ll try once more…

EDIT: Just found this link which recommends the route but with Torridon/Annat as a starting point; it links to a now defunct slideshow on K.Wilson’s site and seems to imply that it’s a route in his book.

All I’ve got to do is find a copy of the book – hen’s teeth and rocking horse shit spring to mind 🙂

Aha! And now this..

Uhhh…. key phrase here….

five mile singletrack descent

. I think my mind’s made up.

We did the route in Kenny Wilsons book and its one of the best if not the best I've done. Its a long day out but is mostly rideable, although the first climb needs a bit of pushing and or carrying. We stayed at Lochcarron and cycled to Coulags from there which is a nice easy warm up. The descent to Annat and the one to Achnashellach are incredible.

The photos don't do it justice really. There is another loop starting at Torridon which is the most southerly point and goes in a clockwise direction. Its also on the book. Shorter but a lot of carrying.

Thank you. That looks unforgettable, truly superb. Thank you!

Some more from the same trip

HW, did the Kenny Wilson circuit about 2 months ago. Both the Bealach na Lice/Annat and the Coire Lair/Achnashellach descents are just world class. Didn't do the Bealach Ban descent as I came over from Coulin, but looking up the glen it is a very obvious track. The descent into Ach is very steep and rocky. As TJ said each ascent involves about 45 mins to an hour of walking depending on your fitness/technical climbing ability.

Note that its about 1300m climbing. Take one more layer of clothing than you think you need, OS 50k map 25 and a bottle of Avon Skin So Soft (blue) to keep the midges at bay on the climbs

Edit – previous thread on this HERE

and a bottle of Avon Skin So Soft (blue) to keep the midges at bay on the climbs

Aha! I was considering when the best time (Midge vs. weather) would be; I'll let my missus know to get some with her next Avon order 🙂

Thanks for the link too btw

I wouldn't get the train to Achnashellach, its midgie hell there. And all there is there is a platform so no shelter or anything else.

I don't see myself having much choice in terms of time/handiness. Having said that my missus and I should both be driving by then so a road trip might be in order. Plenty of time to plan it 🙂

There is a classic coulags loop. It's fantastic. That's all I know about coulgas.

The Arkle Loop is sufficiently epic in our experience, but can't think of the nearest train station……

Altnebreac near Thurso is the most remote train station that I can think of. There's not even a tarmac road to it.

Have fun. MMMM Scotland. Proper wild. Proper place.

Just found that on a map mugsys_m8 – it is well out of the way! There's a stone circle nearby that piqued my interest but my heart is set on the Annat/Achnashellach route

So remote, it was in the eighties, pre Nirex, the proposed site for deep burial of radioactive waste. BGS did a lot of work there.

There is a Royal Lodge there, as the Queen Mum used to hang out in that area a lot. Fantastic place. Golden Eagles. Lots of Happy Memories as I stayed up there for the epic hot summer of 2002 whilst carrying out research at Dounreay.