Torridon – overhyped? (long & pic heavy!) – Page 3 – Bike Forum

grum · 2014-09-24T15:34:17Z

Not really no. :P Had a bloody awesome trip up there the weekend before last - making the most of some fantastic September weather. Stopped off at the Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore on the way up on Friday night, then Saturday morning headed off and over the Bealach Na Ba to Applecross. [url(1 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(56 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr We got a ride in on Saturday - round the coast to Kenmore, mostly on road but with a lovely bit of singletrack to Sand and cracking views out to sea all along it. Then back over off-road to Applecross - about 15km of excellent flowy singletrack through beautiful scenery with a great descent to finish. [url(2 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Only slightly marred by Paul's freehub packing in at the top of the last descent, and us being about 2 hours from the nearest bike shop. Saturday night we camped on the beach in Applecross and spent the evening in the pub. Had a few pints and possibly the best fish and chips I've ever had sat on a bench by the beach. Later on we got on the wifi to try and work out a solution to the bike issue - had some very kind offers of help after a post on here but all involved at least a 4 hour round trip in the car. We had met a local earlier that day on the ride who was supporting some friends doing a duathlon (basically doing our route in reverse but running the off road bit). Saw him in the pub and were telling him of our woes with Paul's bike and he offered to lend us his (and sorted us out some beers from his house to take back to our tents!). [url(3 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr With the new bike collected we set off towards Torridon the next day. [url(4 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(5 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(6 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Stopped off for a quick swim in the sea with some seals (!) on the way. Then we had to do an A-Team style transformation on the bike in the Torridon Inn beer garden to get it ready for the ride we had planned for the next day. Before: [url(8 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr After: [url(9 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr On the way round to Diabaig in the car: [url(11 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr We set off from Diabaig to cycle the 5km or so to the bothy at Craig. It turned out to be fairly techy especially carrying sleeping bags/cooking stuff and it soon got pretty dark. We arrived at the bothy to find one other occupant for the night, who had lit the fire and some candles and got the place feeling nice and cosy! [url(12 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(19 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(20 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(21 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Spent a nice evening chatting to her and making/eating some food. The bothy is well equipped and in an amazing spot. Woke up to a beautiful morning the next day... [url(22 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(13 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(15 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(18 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(14 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr The trail back to Diabaig was more fun in the other direction (and with some daylight). [url(25 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(26 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(27 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(28 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Arrived back at Diabaig then on to to Annat in the car for the main goal of the trip - the Torridon 'lollipop'. [url(29 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(30 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(31 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr First climb up from Annat up to Loch an Eoin [url(32 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(33 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(35 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(36 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Heading up from Loch an Eoin towards the Bealach na Lice [url(37 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Near the top of Bealach Ban: [url(39 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(42 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(41 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(43 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Looking back down at the trail after the brutally steep carry up Coire Grannda. [url(44 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr Then the payoff... [url(45 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr [url(46 of 59)[/url] by [urlWynne[/url], on Flickr I didn't get too many pictures after this point as a) we were getting pushed for time b) I was having far too much fun to want to stop! :) Suffice to say that the bottom section of the trail down through Coire Lair to Achnashellach station is probably the finest descent I've ever ridden, anywhere. Fast, flowy, techy - huge rock slabs to 'wall ride' and plenty ...

grum

Posts: 4531

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You folks are lucky to have such amazing riding and scenery nearby.

My local riding is pretty damn good so I can't complain really but there's nothing on the scale of the highlands obviously.

Posted : 17/10/2014 3:46 pm

scotroutes

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Luck has nothing to do with it 😀

Posted : 17/10/2014 3:49 pm

trail_rat

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[img] ?oh=853db2f3bbf13202b586a687ac0c9d9a&oe=54BBC885&__gda__=1424888760_7d2490fa1d8eba8270350d0a8dd43ee4[/img]

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view from breakfast at sheildaig lodge.

[img] ?oh=277252960b09b6a9708f03ebb84ad1b2&oe=54F55876[/img]

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Posted : 20/10/2014 10:32 am

grum

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Nice one trail_rat

Posted : 30/10/2014 2:13 pm

[Closed] Torridon - overhyped? (long & pic heavy!)