Trails around Gairl...
 

[Closed] Trails around Gairloch Torridon area?

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Touring round Scotland for 2-3 weeks and looking for trail info please.
Riding solo so not looking for super gnarrr.

Ta

Pete


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 3:31 pm
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Tollie (wrong spelling) path is a nice semi gnarr loop from loch maree. Bit of St, bit of tar, big rocky descent (which is fairly techy in bits) Probably fs steed of choice due to techy descent. Cracking scenery. Might have a gps thing of it somewhere.


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 3:43 pm
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Sounds interesting, e mail in profile if you find any gps map stuff.

Ta


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 3:56 pm
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Ygm


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 4:18 pm
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Get a sunny day (*ho ho ho) (*I was there in May)

Drive the Applecross/Torridon road, be impressed, use pub at Applecross (on seafront) for post ride food.

Do this - http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=172750&y=847235&z=120&sv=172750,847235&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=644&ax=172750&ay=847235&lm=0

I did the North route to Kenmore, good and rideable, it 'looked' if you then went S to Inverbain (on the road) you could loop back.


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 4:52 pm
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Cheers chaps, saved on my sat map.
Any more for any more?


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 9:34 pm
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There are some routes described in this thread in torridon
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/north-of-aviemore-scotland-recommendations


 
Posted : 30/07/2011 9:36 pm
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Just got back from spending last week in Scotland biking and walking with son (16) - absolutely stunning weather, best ever. I am a mountain walker first and mountain biker second so trip involed bit s of both and a backpack around Coulins.

Can really recommend the Kenmore - Applecross route did this a week ago today it was excellent. Especially if you want a nice rideable route with not too much hiking and very little tech bits.

Also did the Glen Sligachan as there and back (quick noodle brew in the bothy). Again for a walker like me this was a great day out. But son was not impressed. I had read and seen pics of it before and he was keen to do it, but would appear the younger generation lack stamina/endurance and they don't care too much for the views either. I was on a hard tail and did not have ability to clear numerours drainage ditches at start which was a real drag. Met 4 guys on way back who later over took us!, shows how good we are - not.

Also checked out the routes in South Torridon. Last sat walked from Coulags up Maol Chean Dearg, then round back to Loch an Eion then Bealach no Lice and back down glen to Coulags. At top of glen, near where path splits to head over to Bealach Ban we meet a couple of (Italian ?) MTBers pushing - they looked knackered! I joked "So do you still think its the best single track in UK" at which he just laughed and confirmed what I had realised by now - its a much better walk than a cycle! I know lots of you think otherwise, but sorry to me this is walking country not cycling. A month ago I walked up Sgorr Ruadh and down Coire Lair. The upper section of Coire Lair would be alot of fun on a bike, lower is very tech and again I appreciate that to many of you this is not an issue and great fun, but is it worth the effort required to get to top of glen?

So my advice would be if like me you are not so great a mountain biker when it comes to rocky steep sections or big gaps/drops stay clear of alot of stuff on what we walkers regard as stalker/pony paths. However, if you are able to walk for miles and go properly equiped (we even carried a spare type, chain and gear cables! down sligachan) give Torridon and the like a try it may be your bag.

The other areas I have knowledge of are Geln Affric. As far as YHA very easy on track, after that there are a few opts that should 'go' with little pushing required. Cairngorms also has many huge cyclable glens. Done some of these on bike as 'approach' to Munros. Glen Tilt, Avon, Ey and Freshie come to mind

As an aside - I normaly go up in May/June, so this was my first trip in July in many many years - the midges were terirble. Very memorable moment replacing rear pads on my lads full sus at Laggan - so glad to get back on trail after that.


 
Posted : 05/08/2011 11:06 am
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Just thought of another easy route that would prove memorable and that I did not get round to doing. Knoydart - there's a track from Inverie that leads NW to coast, from here a track (bit boggy) runs south around coast to meet with only road. Not very single tracky , but if you like wild, remote places and a good pub Knoydart is hard to beat, also has its own backpackers campsite (with loo!) on beach. Would require using boat from mallaig and prob staying over night, but would be worth it. Did this route over twenty years ago on Cinder Cone and have been back quite a few times since. You could possbily cycling in over from Glen Barrisdale or be mad like we did and come in from Glen Dessary (spell), stop at Sourlies bothy and continue - NOT recommended on bike!


 
Posted : 05/08/2011 11:22 am
 AntM
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+1 Tollie path

lots to do in and around Torridon too


 
Posted : 05/08/2011 10:02 pm
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Tollie done again today, surprisingly dry conditions


 
Posted : 14/08/2011 9:52 pm