I’m heading up north next week for 4-5 days. I’m basing myself in Fort William with a view to riding Torridon, the Cairngorms, Devil’s Staircase & Ciaran Path then the downhill stuff at Nevis on Sunday and Monday. The Devil’s Staircase and downhill stuff are locked in but I’m still undecided over what to ride at Torridon and the Cairngorms. I’ve been scouring the internet and going cross eyed looking at OS maps.

I’ve never ridden in either area so I’m going on the recommendations of others. This site has been a pretty good resource:

Torridon: http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=27

Cairngorm: http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=29

So, if you had to ride one trail in Torridon and one trail in the Cairngorms, what would they be? Ideally I’m looking for a 5-6 hour ride in both locations, or a couple of 2-3 hour rides that can be done in a day. Happy enough to carry/push the bike as long as the riding is worth it. I prefer fast or techy descents rather than nice scenic trundles.

For Torridon search on here for the Loch Clare/Coulags/Annat loop.
Great descent down towards Achnashellach station and again down to Annat.
4-6 hour loop.

That would be this one?

http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue_Map_TrailViewer.aspx?VenueNumber=27&TrailNumber=64&Unique=635119980603366047

Yep that’s the one.
More info and routes here

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/im-up-in-torridon-at-the-mo-and-we-have-done-the-epic-annatachnashel-coulags#post-5058871

That’s a hell of a lot of driving if your basing youself in Fort William every night. Have you considered exploring more stuff around Fort William or doing it as a road trip? I’d happily spend a week in Torridon or the Cairngorms riding, never mind Fort William.

That’s a hell of a lot of driving if your basing youself in Fort William every night

The only really big drive is Torridon which looks to be 2.5 hours each way from Fort William. I’m heading up on Wednesday afternoon and setting up camp, then heading to Torridon early on Thursday.

yeah it’s a good 2.5 hours, and the Cairngorms will be 1 – 2 hours depending on where you go. I’m just trying to maximise your riding to driving ratio,

If you must go to Torridon, this is the best ride I have done in Scotland:

http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=27#TrailNumber202

There is more than a days worth of cracking descents around Kinlochleven, the Devil’s staircase is not one of them.