Dear All,
I'm spending a week on Ardnamurchan on the west coast of Scotland during the first week in April.
I'm trying to plan some rides, I appreciate the Witches trail and Laggan trails are a good car drive away, but can any of you reccomend some good riding to me please.
Which are better? the Witches trail at Ft Bill or the Laggan Wolftrax trails?
Ideas of Natural routes would also be greatfully recieved local to Ardnamurchan.
Cheers
Laggan's probably better than the Witch's Trail, but they can both be fun. There are also a few fun bits on the 10 Under the Ben trail that can be added to the Witch's Trail.
I have a trail guide book that has a route near Mallaig that is pretty good, apparently. I haven't ridden it though. It follows a trail from Tarbet on Loch Nevis to Bracorina on Loch Morar. The trail guide has you getting a boat to Tarbet and riding back to Mallaig but others on this forum have suggested driving to Morar or Bracorina then doing the ride as an out-and-back to Tarbet and back.
Good route on Ardnamurchan from Kentra Bay over to Ockle. Trail on south side of Loch Morar is good too, need to time it for the ferry from Tarbet on Loch Nevis. There are also so route in the Forest on Morven (not singletrack) Can also ride from Glenfinnan to Polloch. The local tourist information leaflet has a number of routes.
You can ride Kentra bay to Ockle? I dont believe it, I was about to ask this question and was just doing a pre-question search ... probably the most remote and (I thought) unusual request for a bike route in the UK, but, well, singletrackworld has it as usual. Thanks guys, love it!
It looks on the map like there's a walk in the middle section for about 1.5km where the path goes over the top of the 'pass'. Is that right or is it all rideable? just wondering over timings i.e. would Kentra to Ockle take a whole day?
Also, just out of interest, the trail S of Lock Morar you mentioned - would that be Borrodale viaduct to Arisaig? Thats the only viable looking one I can see on the map.
Have also already planned-in the Polloch and Morvern forest routes into our trip, looks v wild up in Morvern. Nice. See any pine martens?
Oh, and did you try the path South from Polloch to Loch Sunart? From the map, the climb south looks promising (old lead mine = good access road?) + singletrack descent to loch seems nice. Any on-the-ground experience appreciated, so I dont get us into _too_ much trouble!
Oh, and any thoughts on Cona Glen to Glenfinnan? It looks like a good way to get from Fort Bill to Gelnfinnan via the Camusnagaul ferry.
Oh, and what sort of KM-per-day did you manage. Im being pessimistic and planning for 20-30km, but we will have luggage.
Nice to see Im not the only one with mad ideas!
TIA
Si
Kentra Bay to Ockle, yes there is a section at the top which is a tad damp and best pushed. I did contemplate a return from Glenborrodale via Loch Laga to Kentra. Would be a big push up from Glenborrodale, but last time I was there (just over a year ago) the track from Arivegaig was churned up with civil engineering works and not really rideable.
On Morar - I had brain fade, the trail is on the north shore of the lake, not ridden this but walked it with "bike head on" would be passable(80%+riding) from Bracara to Tarbet on Loch Nevis. (Least it's on my to do list on my next trip.)
Haven't tried the path from Polloch south, going on the steepness of the road I would suspect a bit of pushing is on the agenda - the road is very steep. Look out for Golden Eagles on the top, good place for them.
Cona Glen is out of bounds to cyclists.
Try the book - The Scottish Glens - Book 8 Knoydart & Morvern - Cicerone Press
Have seen Pine Martins near Ben Haint. As for milage, 20 to 30km seem reasonable, but it's so dependent on conditions on the day. Was riding near Glen Sheil one day, going down[u] a 1 in 3 and had the bike in the Granny ring it was so windy 😉
UK-FLATLANDER - MemberCona Glen is out of bounds to cyclists.
In what way, exactly?
According to the Cicerone Press book the Landowner has a sign "No Cycles" - may have changed. Might be worth contacting the land owner. Looking in "Heading For The Scottish Hills" it's managed by the West Highlands Estate 01397 702433 but it might be worth checking with the Tourist Info in Strontian that they are stiil the owner. (01967 402131)
Ah - you mean a sign that can be legally ignored. Might be worth a call to the local council to tell them about it though....
did Kentra bay to Ockle, it was utterly awesome. The views and the scenery I mean! Pit of a push up, and mighty damp on the top. Is that an old volcano crater up there? Anyway great views and properly wild ... nice, thanks guys.
Wot druidh says - No cycling signs have no validity since the access laws change. Cyclists have right to roam subject to being responsible - basically don't scare the wildlife or natives or churn surfaces and you are fine.
More likely to be a kettle lake? However, you were very close to an old volcano crater. Fire up Google Maps and have a look [url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=achnaha&sll=56.738415,-6.145306&sspn=0.064963,0.219727&ie=UTF8&ll=56.737567,-6.145992&spn=0.064965,0.219727&t=h&z=13 ]here[/url]. Best appreciated in Satellite mode.
Yeah, youre right, probably a kettle lake. Sheesh, Im a geologist I should know things like that. Would love to go to that other one though - would expect things like that in NZ not the UK.
Tandemjeremy - hi! (i was xangodango on the old forum, been a while!)
The walking up hill was cos it wasnt rideable on that bit, not cos i thought i wasnt allowed 😉 bob trailer didnt help tho
Si
Bumping this old thread.
What route did you guys do from Kentra Bay to Ockle? The track that goes past the singing sands looks to finish at a small settlement near the top of the map, and the pass looks like there are no tracks, and very rugged.
Done the Kentra to Ockle a few times and can be a bit wet up at the top of the climb but nothing to bad for this part of the world. Singletrack off the top is wee bit technical in bits but stunning views if you get the weather. From Glen Borrodale over to Kentra is a bit more demanding with a bit of a climb up the hill which is mainly rideable till you get nearer the top where it becomes more boggy. Once you reach the top and the Loch it is more or less rideable all the way to Kentra. Think better option than riding back by main road.
[url= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1329/4720382411_62c23c76e8.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10413493@N06/4720382411/ ]044[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/10413493@N06/ ]Bentalla[/url], on Flickr
Hey islander, thanks for the reply, that pic makes me yearn for some West Coast singletrack n sunshine! Wow!
So on the track from Arivegaig past the singing sands I take it the single track comes off where it stops? Just I can't see it on the satellite - looks like a dead end at the building http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=ardnamurchan&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ardnamurchan&ll=56.781311,-5.956655&spn=0.002621,0.005858&t=h&z=18
Don't suppose there is a track from Fascadale to Sanna? That would join up the whole top end of the peninsula, and make a wonderful ride I think!
You will find track is signposted for you. As a rough guide you are heading straight on or left at the few turn offs you will encounter. The link to Google Earth is to far on from the turning you want and is hard to pick up on the satelite image and I dont know how to copy image to you.
Is a track of sorts to Sanna but not done it though believe kind of hard going.
Thanks, I found it... OS map helps with these things, doesn't it!
Turning off is here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=ardnamurchan&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ardnamurchan&t=h&ll=56.756828,-5.939934&spn=0.005246,0.011716&z=17
I see the track Fascadale to Sanna on the map as well. Hmm, rough you say...
http://explore.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/search?routeEditor_search_location=fascadale&x=19&y=12
🙂
You got it there now.
Sure couple of boys who did it said it was a bit of a slog. Depends on you overall route plans whether you can spare the time etc.
When are you going there?
Plan is to do the Ardnamurchan ride July 9th / 10th, hope to overnight at Sanna or Kilchoan, so a day out, and a day back, leaving from Arivegaig. You or anyone else would be welcome to join! Also planning a trip 6th to 8th up Loch Shiel, Loch Morar etc...
Fascadale to Sanna does sound boggy 'in places' going by limited walker reports, but depending on time and weather, may be worth it to feel the full 'round Ardnamurchan' experience.
Sanna well worth a visit as is lighthouse. Thanks for offer, keep it in mind.
Yeh I have done a lot of these places before, been up there on yearly holidays since I was a kid ( a long time ago now) and love the place, always something new to explore!
The beaches, on a nice day, are like nothing in the world. Feels like a desert island 🙂
Of course, the payback is a) midges, and b) less than clement weather, but if it was easy, everyone would do it , and it would be like Costa Del Sol etc etc...