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Have done some big mountain rides, many of which have been suggested on here so thanks to various parties for their suggestions and recommendations.
A few of the lads we ride with have recently expressed a preference for rides that are almost all rideable rather than have a significant portion of pushing / hike a bike. I know it is tough to judge as the fitter you are the more rideable some terrain / climbs is but as a guide, when we did the classic Torridon loop for the Annat / Auchnashellach descents and Coire Lair there was a fair bit of pushing involved whereas we can knock out the Burma Road / Carn Ban Mor climbs no problem.
So, what big mountain rides are there in Scotland that can be recommended with a minimum of pushing but still with good singletrack / descents? Any contributions would be welcome 😀
So, what big mountain rides are there in Scotland that can be recommended with a minimum of pushing but still with good singletrack / descents?
If you / your partners find that the Torridon loop has too much pushing and carrying there will be very few rides that tackle munros that would suit you.
I have done several Munros with (notice that I don't say 'on') the bike this summer and all of them have involved at least 45 mins and some times almost 2 hours of sustained carrying.
Edit: I think for everyone it's always a trade off between the amount of carrying they are prepared to do and the quality of the ensuing descent. Personally, I'm happy to carry for a couple of hours over the day to access good descents but I appreciate that others are not. Several of the rides I have done were good days out but involved so much carrying that I will be unlikely to repeat them often. For the most part though there aren't many big hills in Scotland with quick access to good descents. For me this is one of it's charms. You've got to [u]earn[/u] it!
Spin, totally agree tbh as do most of my buddies - we have a weekend away coming up and trying to get some ideas for routes so thought I would see if there were any compromises out there. The last big weekend away involved more pushing than biking although in terms of miles it was probably 60 riding 40 pushing, just the descents go by soooo much quicker 😉 so the request for the next one was a wee bit more riding...
Any idea what Morven / Morrone is like riding up (and down for that matter) wise? Anyone?
Cheers all...
Edit: I think for everyone it's always a trade off between the amount of carrying they are prepared to do and the quality of the ensuing descent. Personally, I'm happy to carry for a couple of hours over the day to access good descents (EDIT adventures) but I appreciate that others are not. Several of the rides I have done were good days out but involved so much carrying that I will be unlikely to repeat them often. For the most part though there aren't many big hills in Scotland with quick access to good descents. For me this is one of it's charms. You've got to earn it!
I'm with Spin... but I've walked more Munro's than I've taken bikes up.
I don't want it be easy as the challenge/exposure/effort is a big part of the fun...
It's not...
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Bedmaker
Where are you planning on riding?
wiz74
Spin has hit the nail on the head. Very few of the rides in this thread can be done without sustained periods of portage. It's the price of entry to unlock the big descents.
Ones that can be mostly ridden include Bynack Mor to the shoulder, Carn Ban Mor, Beinn a Bhuird, Glas Tulachean and I think Mount Keen is mostly rideable but I've not ridden it yet so take that with a caveat!
If your mate's aren't keen to carry, there are loads of non mountain routes they can do but it severely limits your choices when it comes to the big stuff.
Cheers
Sanny
Folks - again cheers for the comments...and thinking about it we always talk about earning our downs although that is normally when conversations turn to uplift at trail centres - not in the wilds I hasten to add!
Beinn a Bhuird is on the (extensive) to do list - Mount Keen (anti-clockwise) is all rideable if yer a wee bit fitter than me - which wouldn't be too difficult 😉 I have done it a few times.
Guess we will have to just go back to trail centres 😉
I accept Messiah's comments that it has to be a challenge as that's what makes for epic days out - and to be fair I have never had a day out where I have said I won't do that again so have been fortunate so far.
Who was the loon that did the Ring of Steall with a bike. I have walked that (some time ago right enough) but that looks like pure pain / frustration with a bike in tow! Liking yer write-up of Nevis, had thought it was undoable / unadvisable with a bike but sounds like approach from the north-west is the way to do it - added to (ever growing) list...
Great thread tho... 8)
Who was the loon that did the Ring of Steall with a bike
The route that Sanny refers to as the Ring of Steall is not the walking route going over An Gearanach and Sgurr a' Mhaim via the Devil's ridge.
It's more of a link up of some of the stalkers paths in the area of the Ring of Steall.
Phew - glad to hear it - some bits of that were hairy on foot!!!
Liking yer write-up of Nevis, had thought it was undoable / unadvisable with a bike but sounds like approach from the north-west is the way to do it - added to (ever growing) list...
I'd say Nevis is worth doing once but too busy and too much carrying to become a regular event.
Politeness and unshakeable good humour is the way to go on Nevis which is why Sanny was a good person to do it with!
That's me out for Nevis then 😉
Seriously tho - it will have to be midweek for me I have hiked it (both ways) and the 'queue' on the tourist path in summer has to be seen to be believed...
Beinn a Bhuird can be ridden almost all the way up... the descent is a bit more problematic unless you know the "secret way". 😉
For Lochnagar riding up from Invercauld/Ballochbui via Sugart Mor/Beag saddle is more rideable than going from Loch Muick over Broad Cairn; but the return via Gelder Sheil and Balmoral is a long fire road deal breaker for me. A big reason for riding Lochnagar is the descent of Glas allt Sheil... it makes me nervous just thinking about the super long techfest of trouble with the ever present feeling that if you get it wrong you might be going home in a chopper... or as chickenman puts it
(there's no freaking way I am ever riding down this path..total respect to anyone who does!!);
One of my favourite descents and I try to do it at least once a year 
+1 for Spin and Sanny's comments. I get a perverse pleasure from the push/carry sections while I'm doing them, and definitely get get some extra satisfaction looking back on a ride where the height was really earned.
Beinn a Bhuird can be ridden almost all the way up... the descent is a bit more problematic unless you know the "secret way"
Messiah - gonna have to share after that!
A big reason for riding Lochnagar is the descent of Glas allt Sheil... it makes me nervous just thinking about the super long techfest of trouble with the ever present feeling that if you get it wrong you might be going home in a chopper
And that's it, I' off to ride this NOW! Then I can come back on here and request information about big mountain rides that you don't have to push down 😉
Was thinking a big day out could include:
Kick-off in Braemar
Ride Morven / Morrone
Over and up by Loch Callater to Lochnagar taking in the aircraft debris off Sugart Mor
Down Glas allt Sheil
Pootle back to Balmoral distillery
Do a car share / split so that we can avoid the trek back to Balmoral, sounds like a great day out ticking off many of the highlights in that area - thoughts?
Wiz, u can count me in on that, im coming from Dundee but happy to meet up somewhere to sort the travelling out for others.
Tackled the bottom section Glas allt Sheil on Saturday, with one over the bars moment that took me by surprise. A few sections i had to walk but as i walked up past the waterfall i was thinking to myself " no fricking way will i make it back down". It was bloody hard but doable.
Would have headed up to the top of lochnagar but was doing the whole Glen Doll, Loch Muick, Capel Mounth route so we opted out a few hundred metres up from the bridge over the stream to head back down the way we had come up from Loch Muick.
Some amazing riding around that neck of the woods.
Mactheknife - sounds good. Not sure when yet send me yer email address and ill keep you posted 🙂
Wiz, email should be in profile buddy 🙂
looking forward to it.
Er, if I was planning a ride to take in the Glas Allt Sheil descent I would want it to be as early in the ride as possible not at the end of a death march of epic proportions.
Callater to Lochnagar path... here is a pic of "stuartie_c" from this forum riding down the Callater end of it... it's a fun descent so I would suggest it's quite a hike to get up!
I can't put the picture in because he hasn't allowed sharing but here is a link to it...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartie_c/3693779030/
There is an easier way up to the Lochnager plateau from Invercauld up the Feindallacher burn which is mostly rideable (IMHE, YMMV etc).
I've had my eye on Ben Attow for a while Sanny.
I'm thinking, humph the bike to the top on the stalker path then descend the East ridge towards Allt Beithe.
Return via camban bothy/glen lichd.
The lure of a going to Torridon for a Coire Lair/Annat loop on the new wheels instead is strong though. Forecast for Saturday looks okay.
Bedmaker
Do Ben Attow aka Fhadda! 😀
I had a look at it previously on Walk Highlands and it looks pretty promising. It's one I'm keen to do so pics and a wee ride report on this thread would be great!
Cheers
Sanny
A great way to do Lochnagar as a full day out is to start and finish in Braemar; the following route is well over 90% rideable, even when you're high on the mountain. Ride east down the main road and onto the south riverside forest tracks at the Invercauld bridge, then after a few miles swing south onto the track up the glen near the Gelder Shiel. Then on up to the pass, join the Muick-Lochnagar walkers path briefly, then head SW on the contour trail to pick up the Glas Allt trail by the footbridge. Ride up the trail towards the summit. My favourite descent is then to go west off the summit, past White Mounth and over to Carn an t'Saggart Mor. Either carry up and summit that among the wreckage or work around the trail on the SW side to meet the Callater descent; challenging, but in a really fun way. Once at Loch Callater lodge, you have the choice of heading straight back down the glen track or adding in the short climb west to get you to Glen Cluny and the A93. There's a sweet wee bit of singletrack on the way. Finally, and if you have the energy, climb the Morrone track for the rocky descent back down. The only weak point in the route is the Lochnagar contour trail, where wet weather turns it into a bit of a bog but it doesn't last long and you'll still ride most of it.
Heh - I had ridden down to Loch Callater from Lochnagar and had totally forgotten about that bit - cheers for the alternative Messiah 😉
Highlandman - looks like a good shout too - will map it and see what like.
No where am I gonna find the time to do all these routes without getting sacked / divorced?
Not a munro but what about Beinn Damh? Summit could be combined with the loop for a longer day. From what I've seen the path looks pretty good.
Anyone been up past Glas Maol past little glas Maol and down either the ridge with Bessie Cairn or Shanovan hill on a bike? Both have massive height drops so if rideable shoudl be awesome? Might be a bit of a two car job but would be cool to know if it is rideable.
I can answer the Glas Maol question for you marionheck. I've been up there form the Glen Isla side on a bike. Parked at Auchavan and rode up to Tulchan Lodge and up the Glas Burn path to Monega. I fancied going past Tulchan lodge and up Shanovan Hill as it looks more rideable but there was a shooting party at the Lodge and I decided I'd rather avoid them. First part of the Monega path is very steep but it gets rideable as you get higher, and once on the plateau it's an easy scoot to Monega, Little Glas Maol and Glas Maol itself. We then scooted round on a well defined path to Cairn of Claise (and I wanted to go on as the path goes round to Tuirc and get a gander into Kander [because it's fab] but nobody else wanted to as the wind was picking up). From Claise we went to Druim Mor to pick up the path marked "Caderg" and what's called the "Forest of Cairnlochan". I like techy stupid steep paths and on the map this looks like it would fit the bill, but it's possibly one of the dumbest things I've ever done on a bike. One day I'll go back and do it again… there almost is no path, it's f*&^ing steep, and there are great big sink holes and tree stumps and all sorts of other crap hiding in the heather. Hilarious!
As a big ride it was remarkably short with only the one monster climb and stupid descent, but there are heaps of variations you could do. I'd like to go back but on the rare days I get into the hills at the moment I can think of umpteen better route's to do.
Coming down the Monega path we went up would be fun.
Useful info Messiah.
I was contemplating heading up there this weekend so your top tips are timely.
Out of interest, has anyone done the Aboyne, Loch Muick,Glen Doll, Glen Esk and Mount Keen loop? It looks like it could be a lovely day out.
Sanny. I can't see many folk wanting to do such a huge loop. The parts that would cause me concern are
1.Glen Doll to Glen Esk. Road to the Clova Hotel. Up to Loch Brandy is cool and on to Muckle Cairn starts out okay but the path gets ratty nearer Skuilery. It reforms nearer to Inchgrundle (Loch Lee) but it's never great fun.
2. Mt Keen to Aboyne, to Ballater, and up to Loch Muick is/would be a boring end/start (I rode some of the Deeside way with my little kids last weekend 😆 ).
Hi guys
Doing Ben Lomond again tomorrow but looking to
Do something Sunday fairly big and nearby. What do you think of Ben Vane? Ben Ime any good? Have read through this thread with interest but there is a lot of
Info!!!
A few of us are gonna do a Munro in November if anyone wants to join? Pretty relaxed where but this thread is ace! I've done only one so far but want to do some more...
Sooooooo Stob Coire a Chairn today. Rode up the westie from Kinlochleven past Mamore Lodge then followed the stalkers path. It's pretty easy to follow It's a bit boggy in the middle section. Nothing too bad and even the squishy bits were really fun to ride on the way back down. The trail gets better and better the higher you get turning into a really sweet extended section of technicality and flow. We were on a time limit so it was a fairly quick up and down but well worth the alpine start. We even managed to then head up to Loch Eildhe Mor for the singletrack descent back to Kinlochleven. it's eroded a fair bit since I last rode it but is an absolute hoot to ride. all in all, a great day out and well worth the climb up. I fancy going back and trying the get onto An Gearanach from the Glen Nevis side. There is also a lovely looking bit of trail heading up from Loch Eildhe Mor that looks intriguing.
We bumped into a German who has spent the last month riding in Scotland and is heading for Greece! Fair play to the Germans, they know how to tour!
So has anyone headed up An Gearanch from Glen Nevis? I reckon I could fashion an arrangement to get over the steel bridge with the bike so how does the rest of the trail look?
Sanny
Sanny - yer mad as a bag o monkeys - good effort! I have climbed up the route your describe onto An Gearanach and it would be a slog / carry with a bike if I recall. Also, some pretty exposed wee bits on the initial parts of teh ridge - it was a while ago right enough and others that have done it more recently may have other views.
Been thinking about a spin up that way soon myself prompted by previous posts on this thread. Was thinking the Glen Nevis - Stob Ban - Sgurr an Lubhair - Stob Coire a Chairn - Kinlochleven - WHW back to Glen Nevis loop that I think was described some time ago. Any guidance / commentry on amount of rideable / hike a bike etc?
Would anyone like to form a small group doing a ride in the hills this Saturday? I'm champing at the bit to get out and company would be ideal for a bit of safety and banter 🙂
Well that was a nice alternative to working on a Monday!
The plan was to do a coast to coast from my folks house in Kintail back to my house at Beauly via Bealach na Sgairne. Once I got to the Bealach I decided it would be rude not to do Beinn Fhada (Attow) while I was there on such a stunning day so I headed up the coire and onto the summit plateau.
It's a long old hike to 1032M from the sea 🙂 Carry/push all the way apart from a few short sections.
Starting at Kintail
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The view from the top was rather good, if a little hazy. Lookig across to the Cuillins, Black ones right in the middle of the pic
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/8113383119/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
and looking over the top of the 5 sisters to Knoydart (I think)
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/8113394200/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
The plan then was to ride the lovely trail down the long east ridge into the head of Glen Affric, looks awesome doesn't it? I'm heading for the loch in the distance.
[img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8113397588_5a338eda2e.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/8113397588/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Sadly, it's not. It's a long demoralising push (mostly) back down the hard won height gain through peat hags, too steep to ride tussocky grassy bits, big knobbly unrideable rockyness.
Don't do it!!
The path I pushed up would have been a great ride back down, pretty much all rideable and entertaining but this route was nasty. I ended up slithering off the south side to get it over with nd joining the path near the Camban bothy.
I stopped for a breather at the Youth Hostel and found some new adornments for the bike
[img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8113376181_09e9161b3a.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/8113376181/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
and I could look back at where I'd come from, the pointy bit away up there
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/8113397588/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
From there it was a spin down the glen to join the road and spin back to Beauly. The last 10 miles hurt, I haven't ridden more than a couple of hours in the last four week due to work being crazy busy. The lack of fitness showed!
I just know my legs are going to hurt tomorrow and even more on Wednesday.
Consider it a hike with bike! You got out on a beautiful day, though the ground doesn't seem to know it was dry this weekend!
If anyone wants to get up the big hills this weekend I'm good for it too.
Nice write-up. FWIW, that's Ben Fhada in the distance, from near the loch in your last photo
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3029/2845611376_4baa3c9907_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/2845611376/ ]Camp spot, Glen Affric[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/druidh2000/ ]druidh_dubh[/url], on Flickr
Last pic should have been this one
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/8113372205/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Stunning. Only for the bike,the first pic looks like its from 81! Do you have a Garmin route map or similar?
Hi Wiz74
I tried the route you described back in late Spring but started at Kinlochleven. The carry up from Glen Nevis to the bealabch is straightforward. My mates weren't keen for Stob Ban so we continued up onto Sgurr an Iubhair. That would be a corking descent the other direction I reckon. From there, it is a rocky but rideable descent down to the saddle where you can follow a stalkers path behind Am Bodach over to Stob Coire a Chairn. It looked a mix of rideable and carry but it's not far. The payback down Stob Coire a Chairn would be definitely worth it! Unfortunately, the carry up onto Am Bodach was a peak too far for my mates and broke them just a little bit. There is a route down into the Corrie beneath but it's a bit shit and not worth the effort. Stob Coire a Chairn is the prize. It's a good route but a committing day out as there's no quick escape route. It's a carry all the way up from Glen Nevis over several kilometres so you know what you are getting if you try it.
Spin did an alternative climb up onto Stob Ban. I think the descent to the bealach was about 50% rideable but he spannered himself on the descent so the rest of the descent down to Glen Nevis wasn't a favourite for him. He reckoned it was a bit too rutted but then carrying an injury probably didn't help.
Now a question. Has anyone headed up the munros at the end of the ring of Steall from Loch Eilidh Mor? The track back down looks ace but I've not met anyone who has attempted it on the bike.
Cheers
Sanny
Okay Sanny and friends. Where would you suggest as Biking Munro number 3 after Ben Chonzie and Mount Keen. I don't want your 90% rideable which really means less than 50% to us mere mortals. For me it would have to be mostly rideable but requiring a lot of grunt to get up and basically 95% doable on the way down (and not just by Martyn Ashton).
Glas Tuileachan? There's a big track almost all the way to the top.
Ben Lomond is mostly >90% rideable for mortals on the way down. Way up is mostly unridable.
Druidh.
Where is Glas Tuileachan roughly so that I can check it out on Tracklogs?
Tomd
Is Ben Lomond really 90% doable. I know the bit up to the shoulder but the bit up to the summit is a big lump.
May go for one of these this weekend.
Glas Tuileachan is up past the Spittal of Glenshee hotel at NO 050760.
You can park at the Spittal and ride up past Dalmunzie House. Don't be tempted to try descending down to Loch nan Eun and out along Glen Taitneach.
Keep an eye on the weather this weekend!!!
Glas Tuileachan ...
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By strange coincidence I was just watching 'Highland Emergency' which showed some DoE kids being rescued from beside the ruined lodge in the first pic.
Thanks Druidh. So if heading over to Loch nan Eun is out of the question, and you are right it looks very tempting on the map, would you suggest and out and back up and down the main path?
I reckon there should be a way up/down from the Fealar Lodge track. I believe it's possible (with permission) to drive up to Daldhu. However, I've not tried this and a short, snowy October day wouldn't be my first recommendation for it.
Unfortunately 70% ridable means pushing or carrying half the time 😥
Carn a Chlamain (Atholl) as described earlier by Sanny with the descent down to Forest Lodge is a cracker. Beinn a Bhuird is very ridable, but the last mile to the north summit across the tundra will not make you too many friends with the environmental lobby with the ground being so soft ATM. The descent back down the route of ascent (Quoich) would be great but a bit easy. We rode down to the Sneck and walked up Ben Avon (it would be a push up and the return to the Sneck is eroded enough just with walkers).Returned by Glen Slugain.
So what about the following?
From the main A924 follow the Allt Fearnach track until you are adjacent and below the top of Sron Chrion a'Bhacain. Push carry roughly NE past spot height at 027737 until you reach track at 032744. Follow track to summit of Glas Tulaichan. Back down main track to Glenlochsie Lodge and Spittal of Glenshee. Then take path SW out of Spittal of Glenshee up Coire Lairige and onto An Lairig. Keep following over to main road at Enochdu.
Now that looks like a stonking day but maybe for a long summer day rather than a short Autumn blast.
Anybody done it?
Make sure the shooting is done with, I was not able to use the main path up to Glas Tuileachan because they were shooting on the plateau. I came up the gulley on the left hand side in the end.
By my rough calculations it is about 37km with a height gain of 1380m of ascent/descent.
[quote=thecrookofdevon ]Then take path SW out of Spittal of Glenshee up Coire Lairige and onto An Lairig. Keep following over to main road at Enochdu.
That's the route of the Cateran Trail.
Sorry for my ignorance but what is the Cateran Trail?
You could try the munros off of Glenshee on the western side. There is Land Rover track all the way up the two closest to the centre and the third one is very rideable both out and back. They are very quick to knock out so not a full day adventure.
Carn a chlamain is steep up on the main path. I have a bloody mindedness that means I'll ride even if walking is just as quick but that's just me so I reckon some will push most of it and some ride most of it if that makes sense?
Glas Tulaichean descent to the loch is fine until it gets a bit boggy and vague for the last 200 metres. We followed the obvious track down from the southern side of the Lochan which turned to shit. Next time, I'd head down from the loch as the path though a short scramble down at a couple of points was easy to follow and definitely a path!
Sanny,
Apologies for the delay and thanks for your earlier feedback. We tried the route a couple of weeks ago, not the most successful day in the hills! It was that weekend where it was snowing above 600m in that area of Scotland and the smart money was on a change of plans - never ones to be accused of being smart, in for a penny, in for a pound!
The climb up to the bealach at Stob Ban was almost completely unrideable as you mentioned and the weather got worse when we completed the climb. Two of the party returned the way we came and the other 3 of us pushed on with the view that if things closed in further we would bail as well. As you are aware, once you commit to skirting round the ridge to Am Bodach there are no easy bailing options. Due to the reasonable snowfall and the very walker specific paths up high on this route, there was more pushing than riding done.
We also took the wrong path at the bealach just past Am Bodach - poor choice there which resulted in the path we were on dead ending in the corrie with the lightning strike of the path we should have been on over the far side of the corrie - doh!
We made the decision to cross country it to the path (I know - irresponsible) which was an experience - 400m vertical descent over lumpy heathery grass was an experience but at least it meant we got out of the snow line but into the rain!
From there the descent on the path into KLL was pretty sweet although we were a little jaded by then. Luckily, the two lads that turned back earlier in the ride collected us from KLL so saved the 20k of WHW in the dark that we would have had to do had they not bailed early!
So lessons learned:
1. We are not as hardy or adventurous as some on here!
2. That route is a BIG day out in good weather and a step too far (for us) in November.
3. There are places in the hills that are probably no place for bikes being ridden (pushed) by us.
4. Whilst we don't ordinarily like doing out and backs, preferring circular routes, doing an out and back of that corrie from KLL is probably optimum for that descent.
Sanny, never thought I'd he's you say number 3!
Greg
wiz74 - sounds like a decent wee adventure and there's nowt irresponsible about taking the cross country route anywhere.
Oops, sorry wiz74, just seen the Sanny at the top!.
Wiz, did I speak to one of you on the ridge between Sgurr as Iubhair & Am Bodach? Me & the Mrs were doing the Ring of Steall. There were 3 of you & the one I spoke to said you were going over Am Bodach down to KLL then WHW.
Fizzer, aye that was me (us). Cracking weather that day huh!
Glupton1976 - we will stick to paths 99% of the time when in the hills - unfortunately, the choices on this occasion just didn't allow it. Was defo an adventure though!
Sanny, just read on fresh goods friday that their Giant Trance 29 is off up north for extended testing with Sanny - good effort sir!
Just to be absolutely clear, none of the write-up re: our less than successful day in the hills is a reflection on you or any other route pointers posted on here - we are all big boys and (should) know what we are getting ourselves into.
Was pretty miserable that day but the worst has faded from memory and now thoughts are turning to trying it again, albeit in late spring!
Thanks for your input - appreciated.
Hi Wiz!
That sounds like a bloody tough day out, fella. Reading it reminds me why I tend to stick to good weather days. With the weather closing in on you, I reckon things could get pretty consequential pretty quickly up there. It sounds like you used your noggin and did the right thing to get down. Being able to make decisions like that even if it means you don't do the route you are hoping for is no bad thing in my book. I'm seriously impressed that you did it as a November ride. That's pretty hardcore in my book!
How did your mates like the descent back to Glen Nevis? really keen to know what they thought.
I was up Carn a Chlamain again last Sunday with my mate Roddy. We came across some super slippy verglas part way up but fortunately the snow up above it as we approached the summit was super grippy. It was almost like skiing as we dropped off the summit plateau. 😀
Thinking of the 4 munros around the Buchaille next. Lairig Gartain looks pretty promising for riding.
Aye, the Trance X is a lovely piece of kit. It's a 20 inch which the early reviews I read suggested would be pretty big and reachy but with the 90mm stem and 720mm bars, it's a perfect fit for me. It's not often that I'll get on a bike and not want to change anything. Early impressions are of a solid piece of kit that positively zips along the trail. I'm really looking forward to using it in the big hills which is what I'm intending to use it for.
Cheers
Sanny
Wiz
Any pics?
Cheers
sanny
Sanny,
Will see if I can upload some (poor) pics later.
Trance X looks outstanding value for money beside the 5 grand santa cruz!
The two lads the went down to Glen Nevis struggled to get any flow on that descent, mostly due to the stop start nature of the path but also due to being significant areas of ice. To be fair, the boggy bits near the bottom of that path at the Glen Nevis end were far easier to negotiate due to them being frozen. In decent weather it might be a bit better but there ain't much flow to it I would say.
Gotta err on the side of caution in the big hills so discretion was the better part of valour in those conditions.
Some of your plans sound interesting, I'm off to Glentress 😉
Aye Wiz it closed in after we saw you. The Devil's Ridge was ' interesting' to say the least!
Some Photos of the trip above...
Looking down glen nevis
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There was a path here somewhere...
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Hmm, that worked!
A few more...
Pretty chilly day...
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X-countried from snowline to here!
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Thread revival time! So what has everyone got planned for this year then?
Cheers
Sanny
More than last years pitiful effort for me... I'm never moving house again. This year will be different and I will be back in the hills where I love to go.
Plans?
Take up kayaking........
Yep. Packraft is on order so I suspect I'll be trying a few Munros by some unconventional routes (though not necessarily involving bikes).
I've been a fan of this thread for a long time and hopefully this year I'll get out on them thar hills. After trying to sift through the thread this morning I reckon Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond and Ben Vorlich will be on my to do list for 2013. These seem to be the favoured hills, anymore I should be adding to the list to start off?
How about the cobbler? On the map there looks to be a route around the three (i think) Monroe's in the area? T
Aye the Cobbler is good. I would add on Ime and Narnain as they are close by and worth a crack.
Might I suggest Mam Sodhail and Coire Leachavie above Glen Affric?
I spotted this one last year on Google Earth but have no idea when I'll get a chance to ride it (downside of living in Vancouver now 8) [/smug]) The coire Leachavie descent looks beautiful, apart from the bulldozed trail thats appeared at the bottom apparently.
The path up Coire Ghaidheil even looks half decent...
Nice tip re Affric. Aiming for Ime and Narnain on the next frosty day we get. Will need to leave the Buchaille until the Spring but 4 in a day looks promising. I also want to complete all the ones in the Cairmgorms as there are a few I have still to have a bash at.
Ben Lui looks promising too and an easy trip from Glasgow.
Just got the 4th in the Ultimate Munros guidebook series. A terrific guidebook that gives great beta about the paths. Well worth the money for anyone who fancies giving this Munro game a bash.
So who has ridden the Drumochter munros? All 7 look doable as a day ride but I was wondering whether the western ones should be ridden clockwise or anti clockwise? Also, what would be the prefered route for the three on the eastern side of the road?
For Tolmount and Tom Buidhe in the eastern Cairngorms, what route would folk recommend that maximises riding up as well as down? Is there a decent path from Loch Callater. Also, has anyone extended these to take in Dreish and Mayar or is it a bogfest?
Has anyone tried Bidean nan Beam? I walked there a couple of years back and was struck that the upgraded path could make for a fun albeit steppy descent. has anyone had a bash at this?
Cheers
Sanny
Also, has anyone had a crack at An Casteil, Ben Vane and Ben Vorlich by Loch Lomond?
This thread is a bigger time waster than a couple of cats 🙂
What way are you thinking of for Bidean? Surely there would be much portage going up and probably down once at the river into Corrie nam Beitheach?
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has ridden Creag Pitridh, Geal Charn and Beinn a Chlachair starting from the A87 near Moy Lodge. You can get to about 850m between the first easy enough on a path.
Sanny, I've ridden fairly often on the high ground around the tops at Callater etc. A cracking big day out is as follows-
Start in Clova at the main car park and ride up to Bachnagairn, then up onto Broad Cairn with some carrying. Then ride over to Cairn Bannoch and on towards t'Saggart Mor, descending the main Callater trail (mmm.. nice). Cross at the lochside bridge behind the lodge and head up the landy track to Tuirc, which you'll probably ride a fair bit of. Then on to Claise and east over the muir to Tom Buidhe. From there nav gets a bit interesting but head south for a big white slab of quartz and continue past it on a faint quad trail, across a small bog and on towards Finalty Hill, climbing SSW on a faint doubletrack. Hang a left on the landy track just before getting to Finalty, then first right to a faint ruined cairn and onwards generally east to Mayar, approaching the summit up a trail from the west. Straight up and over the top and ride down onto the ridge, heading for the Kilbo trail.. Descend to Clova, your transport and thence a well earned pint.
This is quite a big day- 7 munros and a couple of minor tops, with two very good descents. The first high traverse is straightforward in good visibility but would be challenging in anything else. The only section of really difficult navigation is after Tom B, where you realy do need good visibility to be able to stay on the very faint route across the peat and the bog- amazingly, it is largely rideable in good conditions, you just wouldn't know it from just a short distance away. This is a committed day, one for considering your mountain safety quite carefully and I'd only consider doing it with perfect viz and a clear safety margin of daylight.
Adding either Tolmount and/or Dreish would make it a pretty major undertaking. Happy to discuss if you want to get some more detail.