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[Closed] Fisherfield route

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Last Post by Oblongbob 5 years ago

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kitebikeski

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Planning the Dundonnel to Poolewe via Fisherfield this weekend so looking for some advice please.
Is Dundonnel to Poolewe the best way to do it?
In the last section before Kernsary, what's the best route? Looks like a couple of options - either NW to the forest at Kernisary, or drop down W to the loch & track to Ardlair (adds some climbing, but is the singletrack worth it?)
Cheers!

Posted : 27/05/2021 11:01 am

kitebikeski

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On closer inspection, the LR track is down hill from Ardlair to Kernsary!

Posted : 27/05/2021 12:25 pm

chakaping

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I did it the other way and I didn't think we'd got it wrong.

There will be duff and good bits in both directions though, I'm sure. It's a big day out.

Sorry I don't remember enough to give more detail.

Posted : 27/05/2021 1:15 pm

13thfloormonk

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Again - going from distant memory, I thought Poolewe - Dundonnel would be the better direction, a more gradual 'reveal' of the scenery and I think the descents are more interesting that way (very sketchy recollection there).

Posted : 27/05/2021 2:19 pm

scotroutes

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Four words.

The descent to Carnmore

Posted : 27/05/2021 3:35 pm

danti

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Did Poolewe to Dundonnel due to prevailing wind and part of an organised trip but would prefer to do it the other way for "that" descent which looks awesome. Will do it one day fingers crossed!
Check out McTrail riders youtube video as he did Dundonnel - Poolewe.

Posted : 27/05/2021 3:36 pm

scotroutes

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Duplicate

Posted : 27/05/2021 3:48 pm

kitebikeski

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Great, cheers, looks like the weather gods may be kind to us!

Posted : 27/05/2021 7:26 pm

whitestone

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Only done it Dundonnell to Poolewe (well Kinlochewe actually, get to that in a mo ...). I've walked into Carnmore from Poolewe and then gone on to the Munros at the head of the glen.

There's really only one descent whichever way you do it but the plateau between them drops from north to south so would be better ridden that way.

When I did it, it was on the HT550 and after Carnmore it cut down Strathan Buidhe to Letterewe House then took the Postman's path alongside Loch Maree to Kinlochewe. The Postman's Path is a bit marmite - you either get it and love it or loathe it. This year's route went out to Poolewe via Kernsary (NW via the forest), it entered Fisherfield via Loch an Nid below the Sgurr Ban slabs as well.

Not sure about the track leading SW to the loch, not heard of anyone doing it. It does lead to the road leading to the main house so might not be advised, I seem to remember signs at the end of that road saying it was private. The Fisherfield estate still use ponies for bringing the deer carcases off the hill so the stalking paths are still just that, they haven't been "upgraded" to landrover tracks. The paths are in reasonable condition - subject to landslides/floods/etc. - four years ago the descent down to Carnmore had a couple of burns crossing that were covered in fridge sized blocks.

Whichever way you do it, to cross the Abhainn na Sealga, go right out to where it joins the loch. As in right out to the loch, in low water you can ride across. Here's the HT550 route - http://trackleaders.com/highland21 , zoom in to that bit and you can see just how far out into the loch you go. The river carries debris down the glen and when it hits the loch it slows and drops it forming a bar - you can see the shallows on google maps - @57.7814347,-5.2780156,584m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x488e444c2921ad6b:0xfc7121051e2ec39c!8m2!3d57.7768079!4d-5.2541808"> https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Shenavall+Bothy/ @57.7814347,-5.2780156,584m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x488e444c2921ad6b:0xfc7121051e2ec39c!8m2!3d57.7768079!4d-5.2541808

Enjoy!

Edit: just looked at that track leading to Rhuidh Dorcha and it's very faint, only just visible in places. Might be good, might be an adventure!

Posted : 27/05/2021 7:49 pm

felltop

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Definitely Dundonnell to Poolewe - you really don't want to miss the Carnmore descent. Singletrack towards Ardlair is largely unrideable, whereas the track through to Kernsary is nice. It used to get very wet and muddy in the trees, but the drainage has been improved recently.

Posted : 27/05/2021 8:16 pm

kitebikeski

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Cheers for that too!

Posted : 27/05/2021 8:24 pm

ianpv

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I’ve done it both ways. The car more descent is fun but in the other direction the descent is way more technical and I enjoyed it more.

Posted : 27/05/2021 8:28 pm

kitebikeski

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Well, it certainly didn't disappoint!!
Amazing route, stunning weather & scenery. I was starting to grumble a bit near the end of the push up to Clach na Frithealaidh, but then THAT descent to Carnmore - wow!!