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Thinking forward to when we can travel . Myself and a mate are thinking about routes we can start from train stations as we are both drivers. I was thinking about the Glen Affric way from Inverness , Im planning riding my trek gravel bike and taking either a tent or Bivvy bag and sleeping bag. It looks like its entirely doable on 43mm tyres . Also is the Camban bothy enroute as could be another option for getting your head down. Any help is appreciated.
Bothies are shut to everybody except emergencies and estates have locked a couple because people used them anyway so pack the tent, not being the fun police here but we don't want to give any estates excuses. Depends how wet it is/has been with regards to the bike, I would probably take a hardtail. Fantastic campsite at Cannich near a decent pub is one overnighting option.
The descent to Glen Licht might be fun on a gravel/cx bike 😀
Does anyone know if you're supposed to get permission to camp in the remote valleys (I'm thinking next glen up from Affric at the far west end of loch Mullardoch)? June BTW so outside stalking season
I started a thread on this a wee while ago
Cameron Mason (up and coming Scottish CX racer) also did a video called 'Riding the Unknown' when he rides from Linlithgow to Applecross in 2 days, he rides the Affric Way from Tomich to Morvich along your route.
Basically it looks like Altbeithe Hostel to Morvich, a distance of 15km and mostly downhill, took a professional CX racer on a gravel bike 2 hours! (I stalked his ride on Strava).
I still plan to do it anyway, I know it's an OK hike (e.g. it's a good path, not a boggy hillside) and it's a stunning location, just add extra time on for it.
It looks like its entirely doable on 43mm tyres
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
I'll post this again as there are some relevant comments.
https://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2016/06/act-2-ride.html
Where was this image taken Colin? On the Way somewhere after Dog Falls?
Any photos of the bad stuff after Strawberry Cottage? Cameron Mason's video made it look OK, and Geograph doesn't throw up anything too terrible.
It's a moot point for me, I'm doing it regardless, it's the key to an otherwise brilliant (looking) loop that I just can't resist trying...
Where was this image taken Colin? On the Way somewhere after Dog Falls?
Aye - there's a wee viewpoint just off-route after the climb up from Dog Falls.
I don't think I've any photos of the track from Strawberry Cottage. It's big gravel - like, really, really big gravel. I'm sure you'll be fine 😉
It's an awkward one; if you don't mind carrying your loaded gravel bike down a wonderfully techy descent into the lower glen on the way to Morvich, wishing you'd not brought a peashooter to a gunfight.. then you'll be grand. As Colin says, the gravel after Strawberry cottage in upper Affric varies from golf ball to basketball in size, so this section up to the SYHA site at Alltbeith may also be a drag. There are significant bits even here that you will ride. And others that you won't. You won't die and you'll have a tale to tell, for sure. Enjoy.
I've done 2 trips to Camban on the AKW. One from Cannich & return (south track going out, north one coming back) & from Ratagan/Camban & back via Bealach an Sgairne. The climb up from Glen Lichd was tough & I'd imagine going down would be 'fun' to say the least.
On the 2nd trip we made the big mistake of trying to get to The Falls of Glomach before coming back to Camban.
Fantastic area!
On the 2nd trip we made the big mistake of trying to get to The Falls of Glomach before coming back to Camban.
Ug. Glen Gaorsaic?
I hiked that to cut a major corner of a trip (original plan was to descend Bealach and Sgairne then reclimb the other path up and over to the Falls. Instead I just hoofed through Glen Gaorsaic...
Thats a great write up Colin , would it be worth just going as far as the strawberry cottage camping then retracing my steps to Drumnadrochit the GGW back to sneckie. ?
Aye, that would work too. You could return via the north side of Loch Affric. It's a good bit rougher than the south side and has one ford but it's a pleasant option. Alternatively, head over to Tomich on the track used by the HT550,
It would certainly save on the logistics of getting back from Morvich to Inverness.
Ug. Glen Gaorsaic?
No, Strath Croe & Bealach na Sroine. The nightmare was exacerbated by my mates XTR pedal exploding, the ball bearings are still up there, rusting away.
we never did see the falls.
Ah OK, that was the climb back up from Morvich that I wanted to avoid by slogging through the high pass through Glen Gaorsaic...
Has anyone ridden tomich to morvich and back In a day??
I haven't but I reckon I could. I'd take the Occam to enjoy the descent and for the greater comfort at the end of a long day. Don't be tempted to take the track via Cougie though. It starts off fine but deteriorates at the col.