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We are planning a trip up to do the Morvich / Beinn Fhada loop then on to Torridon, going to do the Lollipop one day but anyone got any GPX routes or ideas for another days riding around this area?
J.
Ben damh loop good. Think more in the scenic/wild category but with a tech DH to finish.
The loop round liathach also got that real remote feel and a nice long tech DH to finish.
Both you’ve prob got an hour of bike a bike in the middle. I thing too steep or onerous just stop start enough that TBH just
Pushing becomes the best option.
Neither quite as good as the lollipop but offer good local alternatives to throw in.
McTrailrider videos on YouTube or Inver Trail Rider both been there and give you good idea what like.
FYI (might not be enough for you, but dozy pensioner enjoyed it) see applecross to kenmore coffin rd , from the map it looks that you can drop s from kenmore and loop back via inverbain ( but I didn’t do that bit)
I personally think the classic Torridon loop via Loch Clair is better. Less push/carry on the climbs and Coire Lair descent looks a bit steep/loose/bouldery to be fun.
It makes it a big scenic ride with two of the best descents in the country.
Kenmore to Applecross and back is another shortish but very pleasant ride, with a good coffee or beer spot at Applecross end.
I can't offer specific route advice but I found Torridon better than round Morvich so might be better to focus there specifically
I'm another one that preferred the classic loop to the lollipop. Having said that, when I did the classic it was my first trip to Torridon and the weather was perfect. When we did the lollipop it was pretty damp and we considered getting a taxi to take us from Lochcarron back to Torridon. The best part of the descent to Achnashellach is the bottom ½ - ⅔ so whichever you do, you'll do that. I enjoyed the Liathach loop but my mate hated it. There's a lot of hike a bike but the surroundings are pretty special and the descent is a belter but with some pretty savage water bars. When we did the Kenmore to Applecross route we just went up the coast road to make a loop of it, bit more mellow but some flowy single-track and we stopped at the walled gardens near Applecross for some fantastic scones.
I personally think the classic Torridon loop via Loch Clair is better. Less push/carry on the climbs and Coire Lair descent looks a bit steep/loose/bouldery to be fun.
It makes it a big scenic ride with two of the best descents in the country.
This. Lollipop is too much pushing for not enough reward. I’m glad that others agree, I felt like a broken record repeating this opinion on various Torridon threads.
Another vote for the classic route.
Rode the Lollipop last week but started from Coulags.
That Coire Lair descent was ok, just really loose with lots of giant ruts strewn with head sized rocks. Was a bit of a slog if I'm honest, probably wouldn't bother again and would do the classic.
We preffered applecross to kenmore ( and return) route compared to Ben Dampf, mainly as it is updowupdownupdownupdown etc rather than just UP then DOWN. ( with kids though, who are just a bit nesh) ( just wondering if I need to check that turn of phrase with @nobeerinthefridge in case it doesn't mean what I think it does😉)
Not done lollipop. Loved the big route, presumably the classic they're talking about above.
Coulags, bothy, Annat, Torridon, road east, track south, amazing singletrack up (to mid Coire Lair I guess) Then Achnascellach descent then road west back to the start.
1. You can do a route just north of Torridon Forrest, I think the middle bit of sanatised now so you don't have to carry over the middle bit - great descent back to the road. Could add a bit of the main Torridon route to this if you want to make it a full day.
2. There is a loop from kinlochewe to loclochan fada which after Big climb has some lovely single track to the loch, but of a traverse push then some techy descending to lock maree and then a ride along the lake back - can be a slog in the wet.
3. Park at slatterdale at the top of lock maree (amazing view) and do a loop around to Gairloch and come back via the tollie farm path back to slatterdale - a tough path with amazing views.
PS the push between the yha to the top of bealach an sgarine is soul destroying but the descent is awesome:)
Bumped into a guy earlier this week who'd done the classic but ridden up Coire Lair, down Coire Grannda and down to Annat; not as daft as it sounds as that's a really long quality descent.
Thanks guys I will have I look at some maps today
Sorry to thread hijack. Out of interest, how much of a step up is the Classic loop over Bienn Damh? We did the latter on Thursday on 29er 120 mm hardtails (we did it a few years ago on full sus and knew what was coming - it happens to be the bikes we’ve got with us) and in a large part due to the fall out of COVID, we were pretty tired yesterday and just pottered about. Assuming the classic is another step up again?
Sorry to thread hijack. Out of interest, how much of a step up is the Classic loop over Bienn Damh?
It's not much harder technically but there's a good bit more technical riding.
As for classic Vs lollipop both are great. I prefer the lollipop because it has less road, more of a feeling of being right up in the mountains and some truly outstanding views. I like riding the top part of Coire Lair but can see why others wouldn't.
It’s not much harder technically but there’s a good bit more technical riding.
Thanks. That’s what I expected. We’ll leave that for another trip then, when we are both fitter (and with the full sus I think!).