I scrolled down to ask and comment on the pictures.. I was going to ask if you took your 'big' camera, only to find that you took a GF1 (something I've just bought) but I can't see me getting pics like those out of it. Amazing pics.
At last, pics of Torridon showing it probably better than it looks in real life! I'm twice as stoked as I'm amazed at the pics coming from a GF1. So.. how much is LR? :O)
Aye, I've been up and down it a few times with the bike. Probably best climbed on a xc bike if I had the choice. Last time I was there I parked along from the Ling hut and rode in, bivi'd off the track up in the mountain side looking over the coire and out to upper loch torridon. Amazing night with a few meteors,views for miles and what seemed to be three satellites all at the same time, same brightness, until they vanished. I filmed one and it seemed to speed up and slow down (who knows what it was). Super clear skies up there with no street lighting so choose a nice night and enjoy.Has anyone tried the path that shows on the map running from Coire Ghrannda down to Glen Torridon?
Wow, quite a response! Cheers everyone. I can only reiterate - get yourselves up there, it's lovely. All those who are already going, you will love it (although the weather probably won't be as good 😛 ).
There were hardly any midges when we were there as well. 😀
Yup the GF1 is a great little camera, especially shooting in RAW then tweaking in LR. My first 'proper' camera and I still love it, especially with the 20mm pancake.
you bastard grum, that looks ace, broken hand means no enjoying this inidan summer for me
Sorry kimbers. 🙁
::perks up at midgeless torridon:: I thought it would still be a bit crap.
I've taken next week off so hopefully it'll stay nice and I might take the GF1 over for another bivi!
I've bought it from someone on here with a 14-42 but recently bought an adaptor to fit my old Canon FD lenses to it having watched a few clips filmed with FD lenses. Took me a while to find out how to set it up to shoot without lens but looking forward to messing around with it this winter.
Pah!
You should try 'the chase on a busy Sunday'.............. *rolling crying eyes icon here*
Beautiful, you have just inspired me to take my lads there and do similar next year.
THanks, + love the photo content...awesome.
Amazing pictures Grum.
Shared with my MTB mates. Great stuff!
What a sh**hole that place is.
Couldn't agree more. Looks awful.
Why anyone would venture north of Glentress is beyond me.
Looks amazing Grum!
waaaah. 2015 things to do box tick.
Fabulous pictures.
I have been wanting to get up to Torridon for a few years now and this thread has made up my mind that next year is the year for it.
I shall start another thread with some questions rather than hijack this one.
Thanks Grum.... inspiring.
Great pictures, thanks for sharing! I was there that weekend too to run the duathlon - I think the lack of midges was probably due to most of them being attached to my legs...
'kin 'ell
I was going to saw Wow but that's been done. Fantastic pictures, what a stunning advertisement for the place. Thanks for sharing it.
Can I ask what your approx ride times/stats where, time, climbing, distances ?
Definitely need to work out how to do such a trip, sadly from London it's 12 hours which is as long (if not a bit longer) as it takes to get to the Alps
Well done mate... great post.
Next time try and take in the climb up and around Bealach a choire Ghairbh. Beast of a climb but the decent is ace.
Love the photos - you've done a great job there!
We were up there a couple of weeks ago - amazing place although I wish we had the same weather as you.
Already planning a return visit ... maybe up onto the Islands?
Looks like there is going to be an influx of STWers descending on Torridon - god help them!
Glad you've all enjoyed the pics/writeup. Might do one on our Four Passes trip in the Lakes earlier in the summer seeing as this one went down so well.
Superb mate. Brilliant images. Any number of them would look brilliant in the printed magazine.
I only live down the road from STW towers too - whaddaya reckon STW? 😀
Can I ask what your approx ride times/stats where, time, climbing, distances ?
Applecross ride I think was about 40km/730m of climbing and I think took about 4-5 hours. We're far from super fit and stopped for pics/mechanicals etc.
Torridon ride was probably about 40km/1250m of climbing and took about 7 hours in total somehow.
Next time try and take in the climb up and around Bealach a choire Ghairbh. Beast of a climb but the decent is ace.
Yeah we didn't end up setting off early enough really with the trip back from the bothy first thing. Would stay in Torridon itself the night before next time.
Might do one on our Four Passes trip in the Lakes earlier in the summer seeing as this one went down so well.
Yes please.
[i]Why anyone would venture north of Glentress is beyond me.[/i]
Trail centres are miles better than places like Torridon. Trails centres are where it's at man! Plus weather's more predictable at trail centres.
Great thread, and great pics as ever; though particularly as we're off to Gairloch in October - with the GF1 and the bikes 🙂
Might just throw this in here:
www.grahamwynnephoto.com
😀
There's a few more pics from the trip on my flickr too:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/grum_wynne/
I'll be in Torridon 13-18 October, with bikes and on a family holiday, hoping to get a couple of proper rides in at least. Anyone want to hook up? I'm pretty familiar with the trails.
Hope you have better weather than we did a couple of years ago then! We were in Ardaneaskan round that time & the weather was absolutely shoite all week!
The advantage of an (extended) family holiday- we've got a decent house for the whole week, so I should be able to choose which days are worth going out! Trail and weather conditions can be excellent in October.
Is it just me that thinks that the effort involved in getting up to Coire Grannda (lollipop route) is not worth the reward of the first part of the descent of Coire Lair? It really seems like an effort in gaining height at all costs.
The Classic loop that takes in the lower half of the Coire Lair descent gains its height gradually and offers lovely views on the way.
Oh......amazing pics. I'll be using these to show my biking mates in the south where I go riding *smug*
Is it just me that thinks that the effort involved in getting up to Coire Grannda (lollipop route) is not worth the reward of the first part of the descent of Coire Lair? It really seems like an effort in gaining height at all costs.
The Classic loop that takes in the lower half of the Coire Lair descent gains its height gradually and offers lovely views on the way.
I was wondering about this. I think next time I would probably do that but add on the climb/descent that lowey mentioned.
Nice one, looks you had a cracking week too.
We were up there 2 weeks ago in unbelievable 'once in a lifetime weather'. hot all week, so perfect conditions.
You'll recognize where these shots are, we did a morning riding up through Coulin estate than down the brilliant Acnashellach descent, then pushed back up to enjoy the great singletrack back to Coulin.
Will be back, but doubt I'll ever enjoy conditions like that again!
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Wow I thought we had good weather! I hope there was plenty of midges. 😛
My mum showed me pics of walking up there and they had great weather too so maybe it's not as rare as we think.
So what is the consensus for the best route: Annat, coire lair, achnashellach station, around the west of Maol Chean dearg, back to Annat?
Why would you do the alternative along the A896 road/Glen Torridon, then through Coulin forest?
It's a 13 km warm up road ride up Glen Torridon if you do that one STS, which is what we did last time. Gonna do the 'Lollipop' next time & suffer the slog up the Coire Grannda.
Thanks egf, thats what I wondered, just an easier/road option because the climb then descent of Coire Grannda isn't particularly worth it.
[quote=grum ]Wow I thought we had good weather! I hope there was plenty of midges.
My mum showed me pics of walking up there and they had great weather too so maybe it's not as rare as we think.
It's very rare. Only 5 sunny days per year 😆
Still, as a result of the No vote in the referendum at least the workers in the secret underground midge breeding factories are assured of continued employment.
I think it often looks even more dramatic when the weather isn't as clear and sunny.
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/14124896308_4dc408721e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/14124896308_4dc408721e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/nwaMyY ]P1010266[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
I think it often looks even more dramatic when the weather isn't as clear and sunny.
Yeah completely blue skies is actually pretty dull for photos.
So what is the consensus for the best route: Annat, coire lair, achnashellach station, around the west of Maol Chean dearg, back to Annat?
Think we will try the road up to Coulin forest next time and add on the climb to go around Maol chearn dearg.
Grum, when you reach that saddle just west of MCD, start your descent off low to your left as the trail down into the coire is not the one that you would be standing on as you arrived..! It's odd, but the trail that becomes the main descent is lower on your left, not the obvious line that starts right in front of you. As this descent gathers itself together, the first few hundred metres are particularly bouldery yet it soon mellows out. This bit is just like being on the Bealach na Lice route to Annat, just longer... I think it's worth the extra climbing but know that not everyone agrees.
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/15196300466_e5bdbef5cb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/15196300466_e5bdbef5cb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/p9R1Gs ]IMAG4398[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/53513185@N07/ ]Shinythings2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/15032513329_69d70b4b9c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/15032513329_69d70b4b9c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oUnyui ]IMAG4460[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/53513185@N07/ ]Shinythings2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
The climb out of Coulin....
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/15236023762_2c224e33a2_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/15236023762_2c224e33a2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pdmB3S ]DSCN1206[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/53513185@N07/ ]Shinythings2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
..and that corner on the descent... you know the one!
I would definitely recommend the Coulin to Achnashellach return route, it's a must do half-day out.
Check out this entry at the Coulin bothy the wknd before...No word of a lie, we had to cool off in the river in 25deg +
[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/15049775298_481cba0705_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/15049775298_481cba0705_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oVU2Ss ]DSCN1194[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/53513185@N07/ ]Shinythings2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
So what is the consensus for the best route: Annat, coire lair, achnashellach station, around the west of Maol Chean dearg, back to Annat?
Personally I don't think it's worth going round to the west of Maol Chean Dearg. It's a bigger carry than anything else on the route and the descent is not of the same quality as the others.
Gonna do the 'Lollipop' next time & suffer the slog up the Coire Grannda.
For my money this is the way to do it. Going up Coire Grannda is mostly rideable with just a little bit of carrying to the Bealach Ban and the last few hundred metres to the bealach at the head of the corrie. The scenery and descent from here are both excellent - about 650m of vert to the station.
Plenty of other, excellent routes to do as well as the Bealach na Lice/ Annat classic, in all of its variations- Beinn Damph circuit, Lochan Fadda, Tolley Path, Applecrossing. And then there's Fisherfield- Quite a committed day out!
Cracking photos of a stunning place
I was fortunate to ride in the area back in June and was amazed with the trails and scenery - the Annat pass trail is probably the best i've ridden in the UK 🙂
Grum, when you reach that saddle just west of MCD, start your descent off low to your left as the trail down into the coire is not the one that you would be standing on as you arrived..
Thanks highlandman
I would definitely recommend the Coulin to Achnashellach return route, it's a must do half-day out.
Bit confused by this - are you not talking about doing it as part of the main Torridon loop?
Personally I don't think it's worth going round to the west of Maol Chean Dearg. It's a bigger carry than anything else on the route and the descent is not of the same quality as the others.
Think we'll give it a pop next time. I know lowey rated it as worthwhile.
The carry up Coire Grannda isn't too bad as it's quite short - it's just pretty steep. I wasn't blown away by the top part of the descent from there though - admittedly the scenery is great.
Cracking photos of a stunning place
Cheers! It is indeed a stunning place.
I think the carry up to Maol Chean Dearg is worth it if only for the amazing views of Liathach as you come round the shoulder. Descent is great too!
Coire Grannda is ace - so different. Loose and sketchy. There is now a "Clare's Corner" which I have come off on twice he he!!
Thanks Grum. Brought back some ace memories for me too. Well done and thanks for sharing!
Cheers scruzer - glad you enjoyed. Was a great trip from start to finish. Beautiful part of the world.
I think the carry up to Maol Chean Dearg is worth it if only for the amazing views of Liathach as you come round the shoulder. Descent is great too!
Yeah reckon we'll definitely give it a go next time.
Rode ben damph yesterday, still quite wet along the loch side but a wonderful three hour thrash nonetheless. Happy days... Maybe Applecrossing tomorrow as the forecast looks similarly good and I fancy a mellow ride and a good lunch.
Sitting in shieldaig lodge by the open fire after todays 50k loop incorporating a trip to inverewe gardens and the bridge cafe . Wish id brought the fat bike though. Didnt on acount of mrs tr picking loops with longish road sections today and tomorrow 🙁 never mind beinn damh on thursday on the way back to civalisation again 🙂
[quote=trail_rat ]Sitting in shieldaig lodge by the open fire after todays 50k loop incorporating a trip to inverewe gardens and [b]the bridge cafe[/b] . * I approve of this post *
Fair to say ill be revisiting beinn damh on a different bike - one with gears as thats a pretty grim climb in todays wind.
Was great fun hooning down it on my 29er how ever in the carpark i knocked a brake pad ( ebc no less) off fitting my front wheel 🙁 so hastilly i fitted those to the back , put good ones on the front and carried on.
Metal on metal doesnt slow so well.
Walked up beinm eighe, flowerdale glen and red point for sunset yesterday
Dont you think the owner of the bridge cafe looks a bit like a esser spotted tandam riding jeremy ?
In aviemore at the ardlogie guesthouse on our way home.
Did learn that gino is retiring and has all but sold on sheildaig lodge and in 6 days its end of the season and its closing up for the new owners to make major renovations - i hope they dont take away the "old" thats what made it special 🙁
