Pestilence permitting, it looks like we may be doing the family holiday in Laggan again this year, hooray. Last year was mainly riding the Anthem, so focussed on long easy rides. This year I got my newish Occam so keen to so some proper bumpy biking again....go up and down the mountains rather than round them.
Could you give your views on the following route:
https://my.viewranger.com/route/details/Mzc3OTc2MQ==
No idea if that link will work.
Loch Morlich up the road to ski centre
Up the track, Ptarmigan, Marquis Well to CG summit
1141, Lochan Buidhe, plateau to Ben Macdui. (so far so good, done this before, pretty much all rideable)
East from Macddui summit then south down Sron Riach, Luibeg Burn etc until I can cut west to skirt round the hill to Corrour Bothy (I'm assuming the Sron Riach descent should be good and rideable and infinitely more pleasant than just falling off the west side of Macdui into the Lairig Ghru - tell me if I'm wrong)
Hideous slog up west from Corrour into Coire Odhair, then up to Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine, round to Braeriach. ( My distant memories of slogging up from Einich 25 years ago with a bike suggest that the whole western plateau bit will suck fairly comprehensively, but then I didn't get much higher than 3,600ft that time so never found a path)
then eastish & northish to Sron na Lairige.
North down that to site of Sinclair Hut
then the good bit of the Ghru etc, back to Morlich.
50km
~2700 hm ?
That seems like a reasonable option, the route as far as Macdui is logical and rideable. The second major ascent from the Lairig Ghru will be a nightmare, but I imagine it's a nightmare whichever route I take, and I'll be off and pushing/carrying anyway, so might as well make it steep and nasty.
I guess the key questions are:
How much of the western plateau portion is rideable in that northerly (uphill?) direction and would it be sufficiently better in the other direction to warrant reversing the route?
Is the Sron na Lairige descent good/fun?
Is the Sron Riach Descent good/fun?
Is the contour round to Corrour rideable?
I don't know about the Sron Riach route, but the Etchachan / Hutchison descent into Derry and on round to the same point at Luibeg is utterly fantastic.
Riach looks like it might be steep enough to be on the brakes all the way down.
The plateau is much better in general with a fatbike. Easier on the ground too, as it is apparently a bit precious.
Again, I've never ridden Sron na Lairig, but know a good option.
SW off Braeriach and down Coire Dhondail is great fun.
The Glen Einich descent is an easy track but I always
enjoy it as it is really fast in bits.
Paging @sanny
Is the Sron na Lairige descent good/fun?
I've only walked it, though with a view to ridability (I can see it from my window). I doubt it would be worthwhile and, indeed, I'd say that about everything West of the Lairig Ghru.
Pretty sure sanny did it all in the opposite direction. I'll let him take it from here...
Overall it looks pretty similar to the route I walked many years ago one August day, except I started and finished at the Sugar Bowl carpark a little way below the ski car parking area. I fell more or less SW off the side of Macduibh into the Lairig down the Tailors Burn because that was shorter, obviously. The flog up from the Corrour bothy was tough. And also returned from the Sinclair Hut (still there at the time) via the Chalamain Gap. It was a bloody long day out even for a reasonably fit 20-something lad. No idea about riding it, I'd just love to be fit enough to repeat walking it these days.
Not much joy on that route in either direction I reckon. By joy I mean good riding to make up for all the hike-a-bike. From Corrour you'd be pushing and carrying most of the way to the col after Sgor an Lochain Uaine. The descent off Sron na Lairig is rideable for a fair amount of the way but a lot of it is not nice riding, it's a straight, loose, eroded path followed by pitchrock steps. Coire Dhondail is probably more fun but only a couple of K.
The Sron Riach descent has potential but it's a long time since I was there.
In reverse you're not gaining much. The descent to Corrour could be good in parts but it's then a mighty humph up onto Macdui and all the descents of CG are a bit meh really, nice enough but not magic.
It can of course be done (and has been) but given the popularity of those hills and the obviousness of the 4000ers challenge if it was good riding you'd have heard about it! A quick scan of the map suggests maybe of 15k of decent riding on the route by which I mean not stop start and not landy track.
I've not looked properly at the route your looking to do, but I've ran it a few times and biked it once.
It's a bloody long long day with very miniscule good riding. An awful lot of walking will be needed. But it's an adventure all the same!
Start early and bring lots of food!
I've run the 4000s both clockwise and anticlockwise and have never thought of riding the route.
You'd have a good couple of hours of deeply unpleasant hike a bike from Corrour until after Sgor an Lochain Uaine. Lots of boulder hopping.
I'd second bedmaker's Coire Dhondail suggestion if you must take a bike up there.
SW off Braeriach and down Coire Dhondail is great fun.
The Glen Einich descent is an easy track but I always
I’d second bedmaker’s Coire Dhondail suggestion if you must take a bike up there.
Ah right. Only just realised that Coire Dhondail is the descent into Einich. I had assumed that was unrideable down.... stupidly based that assumption on my memory of carrying UP it and Sanny's description of a NDE there trying to cross a patch of snow.
So, you're saying it's a good worthwhile descent down Dhondail and Glen Einich. Cool.
Regarding Sron Riach then.... Only looks about 7km longer to do the much lauded Etchachan descent to Glen Derry and then round Glen Luibeg to Corrour...
But add that detour onto the Glen Einich option and the ride would probably be 70km + 3,200 HM ?
Which sounds a bit scary, especially with that remote tricky Dhondail descent at the end. Might well be too much
Hmmm. Less difference than I thought. Viewranger reckons 62km and 2660hm with those two changes.
Views ?
Plenty on a good day... 😉
Bedmaker's suggestions sound like an improvemnt, two better descents.
Hideous slog up west from Corrour into Coire Odhair, then up to Cairn Toul,
I've done this on foot. This will be a carry all the way and the Cairn Toul summit is very bouldery. I can't recommend this and there isn't a better alternative 🙁
Currently trying to find out if the Cairngorm shuttle bus takes bikes.... If it did then that should shave off 400m.
I don't think it does.
Let me know nearer the time and I might drive you up there myself.
I have ridden the Macdhui - Hutchison section a few times, but only ever been west of the LG on ski. We skied down the Taillear's Burn then took a direct route straight up Cairn Toul (zig ziging, obvs), removing skis higher up and scrambling up one of the rocky ridges. This saved the tedium of the Corie Odhar slog, and quite a bit of time.
I don't know how easy it would be to ride around to the bottom of Cairn Toul and do the same with a bike. The bike would need to be strapped to your back. You'd need your hands free.
Sron na Lairige was lovely ski, and might be rideable, but I don't know.
Sanny’s description of a NDE there trying to cross a patch of snow.
Don't know when you're hoping to go but there is potential for snow to linger late this year due to the current accumulations.
Although Sanny is a total drama queen... 🙂
For added sting in the tail, consider heading back to the Sugarbowl via the Chalamain Gap. This is best done in a group as it gives you other people to curse rather than just cursing yourself.
Taking a bike through the chalamain is just self abuse of the extremely non pleasurable kind (type 3 fun at best)
It is a pain in the arse on foot without carrying a bike
I avoid the gap by going a bit higher on the North side. The OP has been through here and knows what's in store.
For added sting in the tail, consider heading back to the Sugarbowl via the Chalamain Gap
Eek. Choice of up the Chalamain Gap or down the amazing LG descent... No contest
Besides, the kids aren't coming on this particular ride, and they'd sulk if they knew I'd gone off and had all the fun without them.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/chalamain-gap-family-cycle-good-or-bad/#post-10157520
Let me know nearer the time and I might drive you up there myself.
Damn, I was rather hoping you might want to accompany me on the ride. 😁🤣
Don’t know when you’re hoping to go but there is potential for snow to linger late this year due to the current accumulations.
It's not far away from Garb Coire Mhor is it. Home of the eternal snows. I absolutely loved Martin Moran's description of the last glacier in his Scotland's Winter Mountains book. Utterly inspirational book. RIP
Cheers for the heads up on this, Scotroutes!
Drama Queen? Moi? Cheeky ****er, Spin! To be fair, I did have a moment on there when I got caught between the slope and a big bank of snow and had to post hole the bars of my bike into the snow to get through it. That was in April so there is still potential for snow to be there well into May. It was the big clod of turf coming away in my hand above my head that made me reflect on the wisdom of taking a bike up.
When I did the 4000ers, I headed across from Rothiemurchus Lodge then carried up Sron Na Larige (also rode it as a descent - not bad but as Spin says, not a classic either) and headed across the plateau. Cairn Toul is an exercise in carrying both up and down a boulder field so I would take the bypass path next time and save myself the bother. I really liked the section down and over to the Devil's Point and the descent to Corrour is pretty darn good, albeit with a couple of short sections I walked down, being on my own and not wanting to **** myself a long way from home.
The traverse round to Luibeg Bridge will take you longer than you expect. It is remarkably on-offy and more awkward than you would hope.
Sron Riach is initially jolly rideable then is a decent carry with the path disappearing near the top. I liked going up it in the early evening sunshine.
At the summit of MacDui, I knocked Cairngorm on the head and headed down beneath the Northern Corries as it is a far superior descent. I had planned to head down Cnap Coire na Spreidh which is half decent but a bit of a schlep near the bottom across to the Coire Na Ciste car park. Cairngorm could be done as an out and back. Spin and I rode it together a few years ago and it was nice scenic riding going across to MacDui. The issue with Cairngorm in this direction is that your descent options are less than stellar. I could easily have gone across to it but I would have been doing it for the sake of completing the round and forsaking a great descent.
I would say anti-clockwise, if only to have a lovely descent at the end under the corries and easier going down from Braeriach to Corrour.
Next time, I would bypass Cairn Toul and head up Carn a Mhaim. The ridge line is a fantastic ride down. After that, it is a stiff carry up Taillear's Burn which is steep but direct.
Sron Riach would definitely go as a descent but it would be a long old haul up to Braeriach.
Oh and Coire Dondhail is just a long push to near the summit of Braeriach. I enjoyed it but haven't rushed back.
I would definitely do it again although I can also recommend up Cairngorm, across to macDui, down via Loch Etchachan to the memorial hut then up Lairig an Laogh and back via Bynack More. That is a class day out. I strangely enjoyed the schlep up onto the shoulder of Bynack - many folk hate it!
If you want an infinitely more rideable adventure, may I suggest this?
Brilliant ride and not as committing but in terms of bang for your buck, I reckon it is a total winner!
Feel free to PM me and I can send you pics from the 4000ers to help you see what the terrain is like?
Cheers
Sanny
I can also recommend up Cairngorm, across to macDui, down via Loch Etchachan to the memorial hut then up Lairig an Laogh and back via Bynack More
I meant to do this last year but never got around to it as every bit of spare time was spent converting my van. I'll deffo be down there as soon as restrictions and conditions allow 🙂
Damn, I was rather hoping you might want to accompany me on the ride
Sorry. There's a degree of pushing/carrying beyond which I'd rather leave the bike behind.
It’s not far away from Garb Coire Mhor is it. Home of the eternal snows.
Very different aspect but depending on how the wind has blown it can still hold now well into spring. I was up there a few weeks ago and it was blootered.
At the summit of MacDui, I knocked Cairngorm on the head and headed down beneath the Northern Corries as it is a far superior descent
2nd that. You could put together a worthwile loop or series of rides based on the 4000ers that had much better riding than actually doing the 4000ers. If that makes sense.
At the summit of MacDui, I knocked Cairngorm on the head and headed down beneath the Northern Corries as it is a far superior descent
For some reason I read that as "between" the Norries the first time. Was thinking bloody hell, cycling down Fiacail Ridge !
Anyway, do you mean the path down the ridge between Lurchers Gully and Coire an Loachain back towards the ski centre?
Came back that way when I did MacDui, it was great.
I can also recommend up Cairngorm, across to macDui, down via Loch Etchachan to the memorial hut then up Lairig an Laogh and back via Bynack More
Exactly what I set out to do one day last July, but the weather came right in as I was crossing the boulder field to the summit of Macdui. Visibility was zero with the weather turning to hail so I thought better of it and turned and headed back the northern corries. Will try again this summer!
Hi Generalist
Indeed I do mean that descent. Fiacall Ridge would be an exercise in daftness!
Can I just say that even if you are tempted, never do Strath Nethy. It is chronic. A very long walk with your bike!
Ben Mheadoain is worth a detour on the MacDui route if you have a long day. I love the summit tors up there. It is a carry up and down as the path up is very loose but worth the effort for the scenery in my book.
Oh and if like me you have a belly buster full Scottish at Glenmore Lodge before your ride, the climb up Braeriach carrying your fat bike for a couple of hours gives you plenty of time to reflect upon the wisdom of it as your stomach fights with your legs for blood supply!
Ben Mheadoain is worth a detour on the MacDui route if you have a long day. I love the summit tors up there. It is a carry up and down as the path up is very loose but worth the effort for the scenery in my book.
What way did you go? I thought the descent to Loch Etchachan would be fairly rideable.
I've ridden the Ben Mheadhoin descent. Probably managed 95% of it, they were doing path work which made that bit unrideable. The biggest challenge is not just skidding all the way down it (no skids in the hills!) as it's so loose.
I went up and down the main path from the loch. GrumP of this parish and I did it and decided against riding down it as we reckoned we would just wreck the loose path. It was really a case of not wanting to leave obvious tracks behind us. Not criticising anyone for riding it though. It was just the choice we made on the day. It's been a few years so I may have to revisit it!
Fair enough.
Interesting on the Carn a Mhaim ridge @Sanny, I wasn't aware of that.
Another one for the list this summer.
Ski carpark, Cairngorm, Macdui, Etchachan, Luibeg, up onto CaM and ride that ridge, back up onto the Macdui path and descent back under the corries.
I'd also recommend that descent as a beaut.
Carn a Mhaim is a veritable delight to ride along. You won't regret doing it!
