Issue 152 UK Adventure: South Glen Shiel Ridge

Singletrack MagazineUK Adventure

by 8

James Vincent rides possibly the best descent of his life in the North West Scottish Highlands. But is it worth the steep price of admission? Words & Photography James Vincent A pleasant surprise greets Luke and I as we crest the first summit and Munro of the day – Creag a’ Mhaim. Ahead of us is your classic Scottish Highland scene with mountains as far as the eye can see, and what looks like gloriously…

There's more to this story

But it's a member-only story

Join us to unlock it and more

Singletrack magazine has been in print and and online since 2001 and every issue we’ve ever published is made available to our members as part of their membership. But there’s so much more on offer – check out these features.

From unlimited access to content to discounts and offers on gear and services. All full membership comes with unlimited digital access & ad free website. But we also need your help to survive and be a sustainable media brand. Advertising just doesn't pay the bills anymore but members contributions do. The more of you join us the better we can be so we hope you'll take a look at the options below and if you can, join us and help sustain the future of Singletrack.

Join us

Full Member Benefits

DIGITAL

Access all our digital benefits

  • Access members’ content, digital back issues & new app issues
  • Ad free website ***
  • Merch discounts.
  • Downloads, GPX, PDFs, iBooks
  • Choose your own price*
  • Choose annual (best value) or bi-monthly (flexible)
£29/year

Or

£7.99 every 2 months

PRINT+

Singletrack in gorgeous print + digital

  • Access members’ content, digital back issues & new app issues
  • Ad free website ***
  • Merch discounts.
  • Downloads, GPX, PDFs, iBooks
  • Choose your own price*
  • Choose annual (best value) or bi-monthly (flexible)
£49/year

Or

£8.99 every 2 months

*You can help support Singletrack by adding a little bit extra on your annual renewal.

Having ridden bikes for as long as he can remember, James takes a certain twisted pleasure in carrying his bike to the most inaccessible locations he can find, before attempting to ride back down again, preferably with both feet on the pedals. After seeing the light on a recent road trip to Austria, James walked away from the stresses of running a design agency, picked up a camera and is several years deep into a mid life crisis that shows no sign of abating. As a photographer, he enjoys nothing more than climbing trees and asking others to follow his sketchy lines while expecting them to make it look as natural and stylish as possible. He has come to realise this is infinitely more fun than being tied to a desk, and is in no hurry to go back.

More posts from James

Home › Forums › Issue 152 UK Adventure: South Glen Shiel Ridge

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women
Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Issue 152 UK Adventure: South Glen Shiel Ridge
  • vlad_the_invader
    Full Member

    Where’s the like button!?
    Sounds like a proper adventure. In retrospect, would the ridge go better the other way? (West to East?)
    Not that I’ve got anywhere near the fitness for such bigs days out anymore…

    Posted 11 months ago
    3
    fasgadh
    Free Member

    Walkhighlands will melt down.

    Posted 11 months ago
    munrobiker
    Free Member

    Sounds like a proper adventure. In retrospect, would the ridge go better the other way? (West to East?)

    I don’t think so. The last descent was pretty good but going the other way you’d end up walking down more descents and the final descent would be largely fireroad, with a load of steps before it. More rideable, certainly, but not better.

    Posted 11 months ago
    Spin
    Free Member

    I ‘rode’ the SSR back in 2013 or thereabouts. I remember that most of the up was carrying but almost all of the descents were rideable and that the final descent at the west end was particularly good.

    Posted 11 months ago
    chickenman
    Full Member

    My memory of walking it was with the Mrs and our eight year old son and what’s stuck in my mind is that I’d forgotten to bring painkillers (I got my ankle fused two years later). Thought the descent off the western end was awful😮

    Posted 11 months ago
    1
    thenorthwind
    Full Member

    Great stuff. I can’t explain it either, but there’s something about big remote riding like that that just can’t be beat. Adding it to my list.

    Posted 11 months ago
    2
    justinbieber
    Full Member

    Don’t add it to your list, unless you can add some excellent company and decent weather to your list at the same time. It’s very remote, and I wouldn’t want to be up there in anything other than perfect conditions!

    If you do foolishly head up there, let me know how it goes – I’m utterly torn between wanting to ride it again without a camera pack, and never wanting to go near the entire Glen ever again 🤣

    Posted 11 months ago
    thenorthwind
    Full Member

    Don’t worry, it’s not something I’d undertake lightly. The company shouldn’t be an issue, but even so aligning weather/time to travel means it’s chances of happening are slim. But still.

    Posted 11 months ago
Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women