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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 [url= http://www.celticfringe.org.uk/mountainbiking.htm ]this link[/url] 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 [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15096663 ]now this..[/url]
Uhhh.... key phrase here....
. I think my mind's made up.five mile singletrack descent
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.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33522744@N04/sets/72157613359481727/
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 [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/torridon-help-is-it-me ]HERE[/url]
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.