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I have looked at this for the last 7 years debating weather the 900 miles round trip would be worth it . Obviosuly as part of a longer few days riding . But realisticlly is it worth the effort ? Id be staying in Inverness the night before and making my way over (1.5 hours drive) most tubers say around 6-8 hours out and back, would you say thats a fair estimation ? And have i missed the start of midgy season yet >?
Me and the good lady did it 3 years ago in May. Assuming you mean the classic lollipop, it's a fantastic day out in a truly stunning bit of the world. The descent down to Achnashellach, once it gets going properly, is one of the best I've done anywhere.
It took us 7hr20, on my own I think if have done it at least an hour quicker. And the midges weren't too bad.
Classic lollipop is absolutely brilliant.
You mention there and back, so wanted to double check it's the classic loop and not the Torripop? ( Classic loop is loads better imho)
And obviously don't do the shit version that takes the fireroad to Achnashellach.
Can't recall how long it takes but 5-6 hours moving time sounds about right.
Bear in mind driving to Achnashellach is a chunk easier than driving to torridon village. Also gets the slightly nasty HaB done earlier on.
When I first did the classic loop it was about 18 years ago, it was the one out of the Kenny F****** Wilson book. It was one of my best days out on a bike, big blue skies, two amazing descents and breathtaking scenery. I then did the lollipop loop a few years later, weather was less good and there was it felt like a lot more hike a bike for just a slightly longer descent. If I was going back I'm not sure which version I'd do, I'd like to give the longer descent another go to see if I was wrong about the top section, which from memory was just a straight trail covered in rubble. Either way if you get decent weather you should have a challenging but great day. When we did it the first time we started in Lochcarron which had better food and drink options but it looks like there might be more at Torridon these days. Midgies shouldn't be a problem this early.
You mention there and back, so wanted to double check it's the classic loop and not the Torripop? ( Classic loop is loads better imho)
And obviously don't do the shit version that takes the fireroad to Achnashellach.
Can't recall how long it takes but 5-6 hours moving time sounds about right.
Bear in mind driving to Achnashellach is a chunk easier than driving to torridon village. Also gets the slightly nasty HaB done earlier on.
This. Start at Achnaschellach, half time pint at the Torridon and finish on an awesome descent.
The Lollipop route is just and exercise in gaining altitude for no reason.
https://www.trailforks.com/route/torridon-loop/?activitytype=1&z=10.8&lat=57.56767&lon=-5.37717&content=trails,labels,poi,directory,polygon,waypoint,nst,routes_featured This looks like the classic route.
Definitely not. Misses the best descent.
After the 2 lochs on the east side of the route you need to head up the red climb and down the black descent to Achnaschellach.
That's the shit version that takes the fire road. You want to turn right and follow the Loch Coire Lair path.
What hairyscary said.
Thnak you Hairy thats the same one ive loaded in the garmin 🙂 and under 4 hours ..impessive
I've just looked and that route is slightly out of date. The path that runs beside the second of the lochs on the East of the loop was closed the last few times I've been.
You can divert to the west side of the loch or just follow the fire road above the east of the loch.
I must have been feeling good that day 😀
Kenny F****** Wilson 🤣🤣🤣 Did a few of the routes from that book. Some gems, some less so!
Aye, the Coire Mhic Nobuil 'ride' from his book is etched into my memory 😀.
I did repeat it a few years ago and the 'path' has improved a bit. Still a horrible on and off type of ride for a big chunk though.
We did that the same weekend we did the classic. He doesn't even mention the hike a bike on the classic. I didn't mind the Coire Mhic Nobuil hike a bike but my mate hated it. Luckily we had another friend with us and she is permanently cheerful, she'd also done a days skills course which came in handy for the descent.
Gah I was trying to organise a ride up there this Spring, which was pencilled in for next week. Sadly I couldn't find anyone to go with me who was available / fit / up for it. For me coming from Bristol it's 10hrs+ drive each way. maybe next year...
I must get back up there now that my son has started biking again. Quite a few rides I've done in the past that I'd like to revisit with him. If I can drag him away from the Enduro scene.
for such a short thread there is an incredible amount of wrong info....
Assuming you mean the classic lollipop
WFAF? There's no such thing. There's The Lollipop and there's The Classic Loop
The Classic Loop, as the name suggests, is a loop. Whereas the Lollipop is shaped like, you've guessed it, a lollipop.
The Classic can be further divided into two sub options. There's the shit Classic, as described here :
This looks like the classic route.
And the one with the proper Achnashellach descent,:
Not sure if this works.
Check out my ride on Strava:
STRAVA.APP.LINK "https://strava.app.link/VdE9VR1so2b"
<Imho>
Regarding Lollipop versus Classic, I agree with the other poster that the Classic is better. The Achnashellach descent is so good that the initial expectation is that extending it up into Coire Lair must surely be worth it, but in reality it is a bit of a rubble field and not worth the carry. And given how brilliantly rideable the single-track up to the Ach descent is on the Classic, it's defo the best option
<IMHO>
which from memory was just a straight trail covered in rubble
Agreed. Great views though...
must get back up there now that my son has started biking again. Quite a few rides I've done in the past that I'd like to revisit with him.
I did just that last year ( mine, not yours)
Ive nabbed Andys Gpx .. just when to go now .
WFAF? There's no such thing. There's The Lollipop and there's The Classic Loop
Wow, there's no need to be such a dick about it FFS!
The Classic Loop, as the name suggests, is a loop. Whereas the Lollipop is shaped like, you've guessed it, a lollipop.
No shit sherlock, I'm sorry I upset your naming convention. I'm fairly sure Steve and anyone else knew what I meant!
Wow, there's no need to be such a dick about it FFS!
Valid point well made 🙂
TBH I was annoyed with myself partly for just reading the word Classic and not the word lollipop the first time I read it.
I'm fairly sure Steve and anyone else knew what I meant!
They might have done, but I'm still no clearer which route you meant... Was it the classic or the lollipop?
Steves more that happy to agree to disagree with everyone , All I want to do is driver 435 miles to ride my bike for 6-8 hours in the SUN !!! and return back to the car in once piece and find something cooked well and a warm bed for the night before making my way back to Aviemore for a play before the 350 miles back home.
Just to further muddy the waters, my preferred option is the Ling hut loop.
This gives the two full descents of the lollipop, but the climb feels more efficient than going up Annat.
I think the extra effort to get to the top of Coire Lair is worth it, although I can see why others wouldn't bother.
As part of a longer trip, the Classic Loop is definitely worth the diversion - even the drive over from Inversneckie is pleasant; gets increasingly dramatic, the farther West you go.
6 to 8 hours should be plenty. I did it solo a couple of years ago; going back in May with a mate who missed out on that trip due to injury.
Weather was a mixed bag last time out, but not nightmarish.
Just to further muddy the waters, my preferred option is the Ling hut loop.
Ooh, tell us more. Is this the vague track on the map that comes into Coire Grannda from the north (from Ling hut no less)
I was wondering about that option
Aye, the Coire Mhic Nobuil 'ride' from his book is etched into my memory 😀.
I did repeat it a few years ago and the 'path' has improved a bit. Still a horrible on and off type of ride for a big chunk though.
That's exactly the route I always think of too when recalling his hike-a-bike too! Worst bit for me was that I split a front tyre shortly after finally reaching the descent, and had to walk down 3/4s of it anyway!
Having seen a few mate's Strava rides (I'm no longer on Strava so can't access any of that now - so hopefully I'm not going to be getting asked for further examples) in the area where they have called it lollipop and it isn't the lollipop, I called my reference Classic lollipop as I assumed there were now multiples and I was referring to the one that was called it first.
Agreed it isn't called that, but rather than post all the above I went with something that sounded quite obvious. Hadn't considered anyone would get so upset about it, but there we go...
Exactly that.
It's a good path most of the way, it gets indistinct for a few hundred metres just as you approach Coire Granda.
Some of it is rideable, then easy HAB.
Bickering aside 🙂 iF any like minded rider fancies doing the original loop I think I should be in Torridon around 830am-9am Monday . If not I will let you know if I survive .