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Had a bit of a reality check watching a Youtube vid of some passing from Glen Affric to Glen Lichtd via the Allt Grannda.
I'd passed this way before but had obviously misremembered it badly enough to think it would largely be passable by gravel bike, something akin to the pass at the top of Glen Tilt. Big mistake! It looks like 8km of very loose rocky slabby drainage ditchy trail, no fancy steering work would get you through intact I don't think!
Is it madness to consider Bealach an Sgairne instead? The climb from the hostel is boggyish but probably rideable in parts, and the descent is steep, twisty and exposed, but I seem to remember relatively smooth (if narrow?).
It's basically the crux of a big day of entirely rideable trail, so a bit of hike-a-bike would be acceptable but not 2hrs through...
You probably want to watch this Iain
TBH, I've done the AKW a couple of times this past 3 years and both times had 3" tyres. I'm not sure I'd be wanting to ride the bit between Strawberry Cottage and the hostel on any sort of gravel bike (and I don't normally shy away from taking mine on rough stuff).
Lol!! Thanks for that, had searched Youtube but didn't find anything.
So basicslly slightly smoother bits, interspersed with savage rocky bits. Funny how I only remembered the smoother bits.
Think I'll need to rip this route up and start again, either just pass through the glen on the road or just head NE instead.
I'm fine with a short crux a la Gaick Pass or Loch Builg, but both of these options look like up to 2hrs of very slow progress...
Either way, a gravel bike would spoil the ride, ascScotroues says, from Strawberry cottage onwards.
Both are great, but pretty full on.
I've never actually been further east along Glen Affric than the hostel, but the landrover track at that point seemed OK? I've certainly enjoyed similar on the gravel bike.
Is it really worse than e.g. the landrover track descending from Gaick to Glen Tromie?
Just planning in my head now but think I'd maybe head NE from Tomich instead and maybe try to incorporate some Loch Ness stuff instead, far more virgin territory up there for me anyway
Is it really worse than e.g. the landrover track descending from Gaick to Glen Tromie?
Yes. Gaick to tromies a Motor way comparitively.
More so I recall the track down from the yha to the loch being baby's head boulders and not much fun on 2.5" tires. I can't imagine it being much fun on a cross bike but equally it was due a resurface the woman at he hostel said as they hadn't been able to get up the hill with the pick up to restock the wood pile for ages.
Gaick to Tromie? A doddle. Trust me that bit of Affric would be no fun.
Ok thanks guys, decision made!
I really enjoyed the Gaick-Tromie section but remember being amazed at what I was getting away with and wondering when the puncture or dinged rim fairy would strike. Any rougher or rockier would probably just be a chore/push.
Will save further Affric explorations for future Munro bagging trips...