Scottish mountain t...
 

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[Closed] Scottish mountain that keeps on giving

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Is there such a thing, a descent you will go back to time after time, inspiration please, got to take advantage of this great weather.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:11 pm
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Dunno about on a bike, but I've been up Buachaille Etive Mor around 500 times. 😉


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:14 pm
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Dunno about on a bike, but I've been up Buachaille Etive Mor around 500 times.

How many?


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:18 pm
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Yip - around 500 times. To be fair I spent most of a year working on the thing.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:19 pm
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Wow, you built it?


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:23 pm
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That grass doesn't cut itself


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:37 pm
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The path didn't built itself.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:44 pm
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The Buchaille is overated, once was enough :D.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:44 pm
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The path didn't built itself.

There's a path??
Where's that then?


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:45 pm
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I've done way more than 500 runs down Ft william WC DH track... Nevis range made sure it's a mountain that keeps on taking.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:48 pm
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Goes from the bottom to the top and back down again. Absolutely world class bit of path. Get's a bit dusty at times and it was a couple of mountain bikers who built it. 😉


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:48 pm
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I've climbed Ben Nevis over 600 hundred times, that was under snow and ice though, wouldn't want to ride my bike down it.

PS looks like i'm heading to the Lakes again, really can't think of anywhere that inspires me north of the border.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:52 pm
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Take your bike up and down the Cobbler, up and down Ben Ime and playing around on the trails around those hills makes for a great day out.

Failing that head up Stob Ghabhar, traverse the Blackmount, descend Glencoe Ski Centre and ride back to the start along the WHW.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 8:57 pm
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I've done Binnein Mor twice recently and dying to do it again, and again, and again 🙂 Mainly from the Lochan down to the Loch, but the bit from the unnamed peak to the lochan, with perhaps a walk down the steepest bits of the switchbacks, is also great.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 9:16 pm
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I did the descent around Coire an Lochan coming back from Ben Macdui on Saturday. Yesterday I took the train up to Aviemore again and was toying with doing it again though didn't in the end (for several reasons). I reckon it's a bit of a classic.


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 10:24 pm
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All in S-W Scotland and i use the term "mountain" loosely so don't get all heightist on me - we make do with what we haveI

I must have rode Screel hill nr Auchencairn at least 500 times since the very early 90's, we practically used to live on that hill back in the day when it was all 2" of elastomer damped travel and onza rim brakes/smoke n' dart tyres etc…etc.

Cycle up the fire road, climb up to the cairn and ride across the plateau to the opposite side then drop down the very rooty n' steep descent and ride back up to do it again…and again…and again.

The Cairnsmore of Fleet is another good one, easily rode that 100+ times as i used to go a quick spin up it on my way back from riding at kirroughtree.

And finally the Merrick, more than 50 times up/down that one but most probably under 100.

PS : I was in the position to be able to ride my bike rather than work for pretty much all of the 90's and up to 2006 ish so i did a helluva lot of riding 😉


 
Posted : 30/09/2015 11:58 pm
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Its gotta Ben Lomond for me, a fair old hike up but the descent is about 95% rideable and it s bluudy brilliant.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 7:42 am
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wanmankylung

I've never been up Buachaille Etive Mor, but I have always thought it is one of the most imposing hills I've ever seen.

Well done for building it.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:24 am
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The descent down to Annat from (Bealach na Lice-maybe-can't be arsed to look it up) the top, on the Coulags to Annat route takes some beating.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:26 am
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It was a tough gig right enough. 😉


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:27 am
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>Is there such a thing, a descent you will go back to time after time<

Err no quite frankly. Far too busy exploring those I haven't done.

And who overrates the Buchaille as an mtb descent? It's not even on the radar of 99.999% of the riding population.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 7:16 pm
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I've climbed Ben Nevis over 600 hundred times

Curious, is that an estimate or a real figure?

I assume you're an ML or above living in the Fort?


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 7:25 pm
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jeeze the Buchaille comment was sarcasam and not on a bike, the buchaille is one of my favourite peaks, i'm a climber.

Lived climbed and guided around Fort William for over a decade, the six hundred figure was just a flippant remark, top trumping 500 hundred ascents of the Buchaille, probably more around the two hundred mark in reality.

Ended up riding local in the end.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 7:46 pm
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**** me, that sounds boring.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:17 pm
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I was a Ranger, did a lot of path building and would often go bak up for a run after dinner. Those were the days.

If you should feel inclined to support the people who are doing that job now you can donate here:

http://www.footpathfund.org.uk/the-footpath-fund/


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:22 pm
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Fergal, were you not once upon a time "The Shark"?
I would go and ride the White Mile which is a mile long descent on top quality quartzite somewhere in Wester Ross.
Rick
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Posted : 01/10/2015 8:22 pm
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Have you soloed psychedelic wall, quite invigorating really.

*** me this thread is boring, cheers for the input.

PS. chickenman brilliant, you have restored my faith in humanity.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:27 pm
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Only 1400 feet so not even half munro but i ride dumyat 20 to 30 times a year. It changes every time and there are fast lines. Tech lines and big bollz lines!


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:29 pm
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That looks amazing.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:35 pm
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Tell you what, come spend a few years living in East Kent, mountain biking, and on return to Scotland I practically guarantee all the mountains will just keep on giving. You're either spoilt or doing something wrong or both.


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 8:41 pm
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[quote=chickenman ]
I would go and ride the White Mile which is a mile long descent on top quality quartzite somewhere in Wester Ross.Ah. Never been there with a bike but often wondered about it 😆


 
Posted : 01/10/2015 10:59 pm
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Chickenman / Scotroutes.

What mountain is that? It looks terrific!

Re the Buachaille. I've ridden it and genuinely enjoyed it. I had no real expectations but came back grinning. Not a ride to be taken lightly though! The descent into Glen Etive on the grass was a hoot although I can't help but wish we had Swiss trail builders cutting in tight switchback descents as opposed to stone pitched steps on a lot of mountains that tend towards the fall line. The switchbacks on Binnean Mor are a good example of what could be done. I agree with Dan re Binnean Mor. It really is very good indeed!

Cheers

Sanny


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 8:22 am
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Sanny - you should have a FB message


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 11:55 am
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https://goo.gl/maps/7DFeQpc3jcM2


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 12:11 pm
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I'm off up the three brethren again this pm. The trailbuilders do a great job. Pity event organizers go for the enhanced trail evolution school of thought.


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 12:43 pm
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Chickenman/Scotroutes/JeffCapeShop

Thanks muchly, that little gem just inspired some furious route planning on Walkhighlands and now I have a brilliant scrambly wee 4 day alternative to the classic Fisherfield 6 😀

God knows when I'll actually be able to head up there and do it of course, will just add it to the 'Routes' folder for now...


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 12:58 pm
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Thanks muchly, that little gem just inspired some furious route planning on Walkhighlands and now I have a brilliant scrambly wee 4 day alternative to the classic Fisherfield 6

God knows when I'll actually be able to head up there and do it of course, will just add it to the 'Routes' folder for now...

Yep, me as well. Though having had an epic saunter from Carnmore side a few years back I might look at the white mile as a route of ascent as well.


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 2:16 pm
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Who needs a mountain when you've got a priesthope hill?


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 2:22 pm
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So the route was ridden as a clockwise loop returning back up the Destitution Road. There is about a km of boggy stuff on the way in (a good idea not to ride this bit and piss off the walkers with huge holes in the peat)and a bit more pushing to gain the start of the slabs. Push up useful as some intricate lines are needed unless you're happy riding drops with complex landings. There is a large overlap near the bottom that I didn't ride. Angle 25deg at base with a short bit of 30deg; higher up less steep. Definitely not worth taking the bike above the 800m contour though. Not really a scramble 13FM as hands can remain in pockets (unless pushing a pushbike of course).


 
Posted : 02/10/2015 5:46 pm

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