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I got carried away on Strava last night and plotted what looks like a fantastic 'Big Day Out' (TM) which will almost certainly involve some prolonged hike-a-bike. It's a gravel route rather than MTB as the bulk is good gravel, but there are three crux sections, the first of which I know will be a ~1hr stravaig up a hillwalking path.
The second crux would be the south-west bank of Loch na Sealga, connecting Shenavall Bothy to the mouth of the River Gruinard. In a way this is sort of non-negotiable to the route so I'm just curious how awful it might be. The usual sources (Geograph, satellite view etc) aren't giving much away although there certainly appears to be a line of sorts on the ground.
The last section IS negotiable, and that's the 'classic' HT550 section from Dundonnel over to Little Loch Broom, I think it's variously known as the Kirk Road or the Coffin Road. I know this is a fairly well used section on MTB but I'll be on gravel, so excessive steep or very soft stuff is just not worth it. I can enjoy some rocky singletrack if it's not full of wheel traps and drainage ditches... This section IS negotiable because it could be bypassed to the south (via the old ferry and hotel, but probably with more lochside hike-a-bike) or just following the road back to Corrieshalloch.
Anyone shed any light?
Ta
Semi-native here:
I have walked the Loch Na Sealga part before, long before I was into biking, mind. I do remember it was pretty rough and boggy, especially as you get closer to Gruinard. Bit of a "false sense of security at the start" sort of path. Pinch of salt, as it has been over 10 years and may well have been improved / drained...but I'd expect somewhat of a hike here.
Re: Crux 3 - Assume you mean Dundonnell to Loch Broom, not Little. I think that is a fairly notirously hard and rough part of the HT550, with a lot of walking even on MTBs and rather wet. Beautiful views though. Again, I've just walked near it, not actually done it.
Intrigued to see a map of your route! I am really keen to take the big bike and do the GWT Dundonnell to Poolewe route at some point, but would be cool to see some more ideas around it.
GWT Dundonnell to Poolewe route
What's GWT please?
I've ridden Poolewe to Dundonnell, it was ages ago but it seemed like it'd be OK in the opposite direction - but there could be a ford early on.
Trail bike better than enduro bike for it.
Weird I was just talking the other day about getting back up that way this year.
I've "run" Dundonnell to Poolewe as the Great Wilderness Challenge. I'd not consider it with a gravel bike, though it might make more sense in the other direction.
For Loch na Sealga, the answer is surely a packraft.
There's also the Loch a' Bhraoin route as another option from.Shenavall. There's a short crappy section but at least it keeps you off the road for longer.
That bit of the HT550 route between Dundonnell and the end of Loch Broom is extremely steep both up and down, with a boggy bit on top. I would not ever consider taking a gravel bike up there.
Interesting that elray89 has walked the south side of Loch na Sealga before. I wasn't aware of a path there in spite of many trips to Shenavall and having climbed Beinn Dearg Mor above it. It can't be rideable on a gravel bike I'm sure!
Bit of a “false sense of security at the start” sort of path.
Well that's not so bad, if you assume there WILL be hike-a-bike then every bit of path that ISN'T hike-a-bike is a bit of a bonus, reduces the overall hiking-a-biking.
Assume you mean Dundonnell to Loch Broom, not Little.
Argh yes, apologies.
I've done Poolewe to Dundonnell years ago on the MTB, I'm sort of planning something perpendicular to it instead e.g. Loch Fannich , Loch a'Bhraoin, Loch na Sealga, Little and Large Loch Broom, Loch Droma, back to Loch Fannich (edit: a portion of which Scotroutes has just suggested).
For Loch na Sealga, the answer is surely a packraft.
Not entirely unappealing, but carrying it for the remaining 110km of the route? To be honest I have a similar dilemma for Loch Loyne and had planned to hire one from the folks in Aviemore...
I would not ever consider taking a gravel bike up there.
Yeah, I think based on the above I've come to the same conclusion!
It can’t be rideable on a gravel bike I’m sure!
I think, unless steep in either direction, a gravel bike is equally capable on the 'near unrideable stuff' as an MTB, I find the skinnier tyres and maybe the geometry makes it easier to pick a line through stuff. So if it's a case of hike-a-bike in between gravellable stuff I'm inclined to still take the gravel bike...
@NewRetroTom - Path is stretching it, but there is a (somewhat intermittent) route to follow. Some of it is rocky and decent, but a lot more is a boggy rut and it can be exceptionally hard to find again after it runs out for a while. I wouldn't take my bike along it as I remember it! You can just about trace it on Google maps.
@chakaping - GWT = Great Wilderness Challenge. Its the route of a walk that more or less follows the same route as the somewhat popular bike route. Charity run / walk sort of thing popular up there.
From D to P, the middle part around the bothy is crap and marshy, but everything from the climb up the shoulder of Beinn Dearg Mor down to Poolewe looks ace with a well made track. I've ridden out to Carnmore last year from Poolewe and the weather was terrible, but on a nice day it looks a good ploy for a big adventure ride. Path was great all the way, Torridon style chunky gravel singletrack.
@13thfloormonk - Nice! If you're prepared for hikeabike that sounds like a very scenic route.
I've done the Loch Sealga bit, years ago so memory is vague. I recall it being short rideable chunks for a while on the fatbike, before turning into a squishy HAB.
Gruinard river should be a nice easy cruise down the glen to the sea, but I recall that being quite uppy downy and much more effort than it had any right to be.
Interested in this. RE crux 2, the SW shore of Loch na Sealga isn't something I'd expect to find anything hugely rideable. Assume you want that shore not the northern one to minimise river crossings?
You can get through from na Sealga to link to the north (initially NE, then NW from memory) from about 1/3 of the way along the N shore. Usable route in sensational situation, probs better on foot than bike for large parts, (definitely gravel bike wise). May be of use to you as a link but not sure what the rest of your route is. Downside is potentially more complicated river crossing. Path/track in/out to Gruinard bay is good for progress. What the top 2/3 of the lochside to the boathouse/bothy are like I can't vouch for therefore hesitate to suggest as an alternative.
RE crux 3, I'd probably avoid in most cases but on a fine day, feeling fit and with the stars aligning, looking at the map I could be tempted just for the sake of completeness. In reality I'd avoid on a gravel bike 999 out of 1000 times.
Stick up a rough sketch/map of the rest of the route unless it's a secret project - be interested to see what else you had in mind.
[Edit - see plenty more chat arrived while typing. Will look at general route with a map as sounds like some potential. Not sure I'll have much useful to add other than go tubeless and with a MTB though (wink)]
North bank route sounds VERY interesting, will give it a look. That would actually save a big awkward river crossing, but I thought the terrain at the Shenavall end looked a bit steep so was put off... Edit: mmm, no, Bing Aerial view says no, looks like 3/4 of the length of the loch is trackless on the north bank and then the track that does exist is quite high up the hillside. Also you need a boat to cross the Gruinard by the looks of it! 😆
Plus I've assumed that I could pick my way DOWN the descent towards Loch a Bhraoin, having hiked up it, but if that was too steep or chunky for gravel then I think it would all just become a bit ridiculous. Not sure I fancy dragging the MTB round the whole route.
Route looks like this. Having removed the Coffin road up and over it is now 140km with potentially ~15km of hike-a-bike. At an average of 15km/h and 5km/h hiking that's pretty much 12 hours, plus faff etc. Definitely one for a long summer's day...
https://www.strava.com/routes/3269187500646389070
I walked a good chunk of that shore of Loch na Sealga last winter and I can confirm there's virtually nothing rideable on it. I wouldn't take a bike along it. You're probably looking at c3hrs of pushing and carrying and the last few km are pretty up and down too.
Non-negotiable you say? 😉
3hrs for 6.5km? That's a slow hillwalking pace but I guess you'd have the bike to push/carry...
It's only non-negotiable as I'd really like to incorporate the Gruinard track, but I guess following the landrover track south of An Teallach would cut out some distance and still be a satisfying addition to the route (did it once years ago but in the mist I think). I'll probably have had my fill of HaB by that point...
3hrs for 6.5km?
Sheneval to the start of the Guinard track is about 8.5km and there are potentially problematic river crossing(s) near the start.
It’s only non-negotiable as I’d really like to incorporate the Gruinard track,
Have you been on that before? I found it fairly unremarkable. It's nicer going the other way as you're looking up at the mountains.
Sheneval to the start of the Guinard track is about 8.5km and there are potentially problematic river crossing(s) near the start
Yeah fair enough, I think I was measuring from the end of the visible track along the south bank.
I had forgotten to check my shiny new edition of 'Scottish Hill Tracks' which describes the path as intermittent, with a steep craggy traverse at one point, before becoming easier along an old estate track. There's also a lovely picture going up the Gruinard river track, as per Spin's suggestion.
I think I'd save this for another time as a short out-and-back or something. Cutting it out makes the whole route look a bit more compact.
Check out this route on Strava: https://strava.app.link/EyVAqUvzXPb — Fannich Fisherfield and Fish