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…

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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.

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  • 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 4 months ago
    fasgadh
    Free Member

    Walkhighlands will melt down.

    Posted 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 months ago
    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 4 months ago
    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 4 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 4 months ago
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