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As the title suggests. I've been there 5 times in the last 10 years and this year the trails were in the worst condition ever. I was there in September and had great weather for the week, but realise that they had a very wet summer. The track up from Annat used to be mostly rideable for me, and I'm certainly no riding god. But there was way more pushing involved. The coffin road from Kenmore to Applecross was more eroded. I usually expect to get down the last descent but had to get off on 1section, and going up was more difficult . Likewise the Achnashellach descent was more eroded. It felt like a long ferry and drive for not enough reward. Also prices have gone through the roof. It might be considered heresy to suggest that these days there are much better places to ride a MTB with much less travel involved and better riding. I still love the place though, and if I go back it will probably be walking not cycling
Yes.
Upper Coire Lair was horrendous in places. It was always going to happen TBH with the internet and ( to a degree) eebs.
I noticed a huge difference between both the Annat and Achnashellach descents in the space of 12 months or so a couple of years ago.
First time was glorious on both, the next were borderline unridable - literal boulder-fields (one of which obliterated my rear mech).
I've only been once, in '24. Boulder fields for the majority of it. The bits where the ground didn't move in all directions were amazing though.
Weather rather than too many bikes, I assume?
I expect so. Have no idea though. A bit of both?
I've never been up that way but its been on my list for years. I've always wanted to do the "Torridon Classic Loop" and the the slabs, is that the stuff you are talking about? Is it now best avoided? Hopefully this komoot link will work so you know what i'm on about...
They're changing but until they reach the earth's mantle they're not worn out. When I was there this spring the trails heading back to Torridon felt much like they did in 2012 to me (bloody brilliant). Possibly on the Annat side they were a bit more rutted.
Bikes won't make much difference in Torridon anyway - the ground is mostly rock and chunks of it that are too big to get shifted just by bikes. Much of it will be caused by the thing that causes most trail erosion - water.
Since all the internet sensation round it and the massive increase in riders then it was always going to get worse. Other thing is that most of these paths are old stalker paths which aren’t getting much maintenance or attention as Argos have helped with access and the days of ponies carrying out deer is sadly declining.
Ebikes have certainly lowered the bar on effort so there are more bikes around on lots of mountain trails that would otherwise be quieter.
As a relative local.... There is some damage caused by (people on) bikes. On some sections, irresponsible riders take to the soft ground beside the track. This collapses the side of the tack, blocks drains, destroyed vegetation. The resulting mess deteriorates really quickly. So, if you can't ride the track, please get off and walk. Ebikes make this worse, as some riders use them to power over stuff that are beyond their physical ability.
The other issue is the amount of rain up here, particularly the intensity of it in recent years. A particularly intense storm around ten years ago did a lot of damage to some of the trails up here. Having said that, some of the resulting boulder fields seem to be gradually recovering naturally, particularly the descent behind Ben Damph. The upper Coire Lair descent is not recovering though.
So, to answer the OP's question, yes and no!
Bikes won’t make much difference in Torridon anyway – the ground is mostly rock and chunks of it that are too big to get shifted just by bikes. Much of it will be caused by the thing that causes most trail erosion – water.
You're deluding yourself. Much as I hate to admit it, bikes are a huge factor for erosion. MTB in torridon has been a big thing for 20 years at most. Rain has been a big thing in torridon for a tad longer. I agree that the slabs pretty much shrug off bikers, but the gravel/ morraine sections are clearly getting gubbed over the last few years.
Upper Coire Lair was horrendous in places
I'm not sure bikes have made that much worse. It was always bad in places because some sections ran straight down over moraine that washed out quickly as they turned into water courses and the material was loose.
One of the named storms about a decade ago did a fair bit of damage (Storm Frank?).
The only bit that seems not to have really have recovered from that is the bottom of the climb up to the pass before you descend to Annat.
The top section of Coire Lair has been a washed out mess for ages.
For reference, I rode there last May and was only a few seconds off my fastest time for the descent to Achnaschellach, so I'm not sure they are that much rougher than they were.
Who maintains said trails?
Who maintains said trails?
Their lies the problem. No-one maintains the trails. It's very easy to blast down them, and complain about the state of them. How about stopping a few times, clearing out some drains, shifting random rocks? And being careful how you ride, trying not to damage the trails?
Their lies the problem. No-one maintains the trails
I saw two guys out with shovels back in November. Possibly walkers rather than bikers. Didn't look like they were in paid employment.
A few yesrs ago there where some paid folk repairing paths in the area. SNH iirc
I've bumped into folk working on the trails there too - I think they were SNH.
I was thinking up plans for this year, and I'm considering this one, but with a younger crew. The top section of Coire Lair was always rubbish - great view, rubbish riding. I was wondering if the inevitable influx through Covid years (and e-bikes) mght have accelerated the increase in erosion there, as it was pretty much just riding down morraine.
There is (or was) a volunteer trail crew in the NW Highlands as well, I remember seeing a pic of them at Torridon.
The top section of Coire Lair was always rubbish – great view, rubbish riding. .......... it was pretty much just riding down morraine.
That's beautifully stated what was in my mind when I did it in September. The Achnashellach descent is one of the best around, and I had assumed that doing the full thing from UCL would just make it an awesome huge descent...
But it didn't. It was very meh, but my brain refused to accept that. Additional height + awesome descent <> awesome huge descent
I
Whilst walking the hills there a couple of years ago I saw a rider heading north from the bealach at the head of Coire Lair. At first I thought that was a bit daft carrying your bike down the 50m into Coire Grannda but then it dawned on me what a great addition to the descent to Annat that would make (I think he had started at via the Coulin Lodge route).
View's not three bad either...