Couple of lads from work who aren't heavily into mtb'ing but are outdoorsy are fancying a couple of days in the wilds of Scotland with their bikes & it's my job to devise a ride where we can do a few miles without killing them, camp overnight then ride back/complete the loop. Now I've always wanted to go to Inverie myself but was wondering if it's viable to bike from Kinloch Hourn or from the head of Loch Arkaig? i've been to both K/H & Arkaig & from a transport point of view Arkaig is more accssessible as far as a starting point is concerned.
Anyone got any ideas? Thanks.
When you say
aren't heavily into mtb'ing but are outdoorsy are fancying a couple of days in the wilds of Scotland with their bikesdos that mean - have never ridden offroad, rarely ride offroad, ride trail centres a few times a year, ride offroad once or twice a month but don't have MTB OCD?I would be questioning carrying tents and sleeping bags if they are not regular riders.
I would also be asking about their bikes (and recent maintainence) as well as trying to understand fitness levels (I think of myself as very outdoorsy - but I'm not outstandingly fit)
On my "to do" list too. The route in from Kinlochourn should be (mostly) fine on a bike. The Loch Arkaig route looks "challenging". As a loop, it's also a bit of a logistical nightmare.
There's a an option of going from Glenfinnan, north over the col to Gleann Cuirnean to Strathan and then out to Inverie, then getting the ferry to Mallaig and train to Glenfinnan.
As a starter, why not try something around Glen Affric? Fairly easy riding, wonderful scenery, lots of nice camp spots (should I post my favourite campsite photo now?)
I've hiked from Kinlochhourn to Inverie, it was a few years back so I can't remember fully but I think you'd be doing quite a lot of pushing for the first few miles. However after that I think the track wasn't bad and would be bikeable, if memory serves I think it was ~10 miles of landrover track from Barisdale to Inverie.
There is a bothy at Barisdale if you wanted to avoid carrying tents - it certainly feels remote in that neck of the woods.
I think they've got proper electricity in Inverie now; when I was there one of my mates wanted to pay for a round with his card and they had to go and switch on the generator down the street so they could get power!
I have to say I agree with fraseruk. Inverie and the Knoydart is one of the remote parts of the UK and not easy MTB terrain.
I might go back to plan A which was go from Glencoe, down Glen Etive & back via Glen Kinglass & the WHW. Except I've already done it. The lads are pretty fit & half my age but haven't done a lot of offroading, but if it's 17 miles from K/H to Inverie & it's pretty pushy/landy track then offroad skills shouldn't be a MAJOR issue. They've both just done the Dales 3 peaks (23 miles) in 10 hours & didn't die, & they've got till the end of August to practice!
It's probably the state of their bikes I'm worrying about most!
There would be lots and lots of pushing from kinlochhourn to inverie. I wouldn't do it.
Lovely walks both routes just leave the bikes at home.
What Smee and Fizzer say. I've thought about similar routes but reckon the amount of pushing doesn't justify the bikes. We're thinking about going in from Kinlochhourn to Barrisdale this September, but by canoe.
Why not bike up Glen Tilt from Blair Atholl, camp somewhere, then bike back the next day? Mostly easy biking for folk who haven't done too much.
Bloody hell kennyp, done that as well but without the camping!
Ah well, thinking cap back on. Maybe from Fort Bill, Mamore Road, Loch Eilde, bothy at Lubeilt, head for Spean Bridge & return via Leanachen Forest?
That is a great route.
Esselgruntfuttock,
You'll find some photos [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartie_c/sets/72157616975641528/ ]here[/url] of the route you're suggesting. I'd say it'd depend on how fit and tough your mates are and if they are willing to do a bit of carrying from Luibeilt over the top towards Lairig Leacach. You can stay at Meanach or Lairig Leacach bothies (Luibeilt itself is a ruin) and it would make a cracking 2 day trip BUT be prepared to take a bit of a hammering from the miles of very rough surfaces all along the WHW and most of the way to Luibeilt.
My advice would be to do it the other way round: FW > Leanachan > Lairig Leacach > Meanach day 1. Luibeilt > Loch Eilde Mor > Mamore Lodge > WHW day 2. That way you get the best of the descents.
Thats the one then Stu. I've done the loop from Glen Nevis/Mamore Road/Loch Eilde/Luibeilt & back to Glen Nevis via Steall waterfall (Following the Scottish Six Days Trial & it was snowing!) I can't remember the WHW/Mamore Rd being that bad & the track from the hotel to Luibeilt was ok too.
I think you've made my mind up!
Nice photo's by the way.