Kinlochleven? Ciran path?

Heading up to Torridon in a few months.
In the past we have stopped at Aviemore on route, staying overnight and doing a ride before the last little bit to Torridon. This year I am thinking we could stop at Kinlochleven and do the Ciaran path route, noting this adds time onto the drive to Torridon. Is it a good route (I have seen that MBR rated it as best in 2011 but am always wary of trail sanitation)? Are there other suggestions?

It’s good but it’s not the best trail at kinlochleven, not by a very long way. That’s not a criticism, really- the trails that come down off the mamore lodge road are utterly superb. **** it, why not- the best trails I’ve ever ridden in the UK.

Though, I’ve heard that they had a rough time in the 14/15 winter, I didn’t ride them last year, so might be worth checking if they’ve suffered.

They’re ridable and fun. Just more tricky.

Agree on Ciaran Path, very meh in comparison, but if you onyl ever do XC rides and avoid the steepest stuff it would seem alright.

The Binnein Mhor route I’ve done a couple of times beats the Mamore Lodge trails though.

Will have to have a look at those. That’s some high praise!

The first 400m of the CP is wicked, then it becomes a bit of a snore fest IMO. I have no idea why it was trail of the year, I can think of many better trails than that.

Aye – but who would be stupid enough to tell MBR about them?

How easy are they to find? Techy and steep sounds good to me.
Is binnein mohr an up and back?

The Devil’s Staircase Ciaran path combo is a great day out.

glasgowdan – Member

The Binnein Mhor route I’ve done a couple of times beats the Mamore Lodge trails though.

If it’s better than those then I need to get up and ride it, please do tell?

Ciaran path is like an uphill downhill, but is worth doing once at least.

we did up devils stair case over black water dam down (a bit of) ciran path back up the other side of the burn then back over and down devils.
Was a good ride.

I’ve done it.

Except I was 19 & the year was 1977.
( & I was on a Bultaco 250 trials bike) It’s probably changed since then. 8)

Photos look good, hopefully for conditions like that!
Looks like it’s definitely worth exploring round Kinlochleven anyway.

Stupot, those pics ^^^ in his post are Devil’s Staircase, not Ciaran Path.
CP is pretty good but not fantastic. I’d agree with Northwind that the Mamore Lodge trails are better. Search them out on Strava.

glasgowdan – Member
The Binnein Mhor route I’ve done a couple of times beats the Mamore Lodge trails though

I’ve hike-a-biked up around the back of Sgurr Eilde Mor (not worth it) and then descended from Coire an Lochain (that’s a very good section). What’s the extra bit from Binnein Mhor like?

Binnein has a different climb for a section from the forest road to the lochan, then the top part is up and back down, but well worth it if the weather’s good. Best thing is on the way down you can then go and do Grey Mare’s/Kennels afterwards.

Dan, is the route up/down the shoulder + zigzags in the pic or down the coire to the north?

Bookmarking this.

Im up in the glencoe region for 10 nights in early June 😀

Im also in Glencoe for 7 night in early June, taking the bike too.

I’d happily head up with a few peeps, if the weather’s good