[Closed] Torridon Circuit & Ben Damph Estate

Caught out by what?

Depending on what you are after there are other / better ways of doing the classic Torridon loop.

Apologies, I mean caught out by lengthy stretches of hike-a-bike. I had a 3-4hr marathon bog-trot last week which I'm not keen to repeat!

I'm happy with steep uphills if they're pedalable, I prefer not-so-steep descents as again I'd have to walk anything too drastic. I'm on my own and there's zero mobile signal.

Hope this clarifies, any advice welcome!

Let me guess - the Glen Garry loop?

That's the one!

I now feel the need to double-check everything in the guidebooks on here.

That loop does seem to be the odd one out. The others I've done in there have been fine, a bit of hike-a-bike but then you'd expect that on natural or not purpose built trails.

Some things have changed but those aren't the fault of the guidebook - the bridge by the lodge in Glen Feshie has collapsed since the book was written for example (I believe the estate is waiting for planning permission to replace it - might have happened). A guidebook is fixed at a point in time, these days having an associated web page with errata and updates is all that's needed.

Ben damph loop is decent as set out by the book.

Nothing wrong with the circuit but I would go up the the final descent instead (annal descent), round the left side of Loch an Eion, then straight up to the top of Coire Lair. You can then descend all the way down and rejoin the descent from the book's loop down to Acnashellach. Then complete the circuit.

Really good routes, probably heading up at the weekend unless the weather is shit.

EDIT: Unless your an XC whippet climbing god you'll probably be pushing/carrying up some of the climb.

I prefer not-so-steep descents as again I'd have to walk anything too drastic.

While the Achanshellac descent isn't insanely steep, it is pretty gnarly and technical with some awkward switchbacks.

I rode the Torridon lollipop and Ben Damph route two weeks ago. The former differs from the Phil McKane book and the latter is lifted straight from those pages.

Torridon from the route book, if I remember correctly, might be boggy not long after the start around Loch Clair and Loch Coulin. Also getting past Loch Coire Fionnaraich after the bothy before the hike-a-bike. All of which are short sections though and nothing to be concerned about.

We spent 8hrs 30mins riding the classic lollipop and it rained throughout and although there's a lot of hike-a-bike the geography and nature of the trails meant they were running fine. Albeit with a lot of standing water in places. It didn't detract from the riding though. Seriously good. It's the second time I've rode it and it's worth it.

Ben Damph has slightly different terrain. So the stretch along Loch Damph is saturated and all standing water. Rideable but through deep puddles with the odd one willing to swallow your front wheel whole. The stretch/climb from the end of the Loch to the descent, Srath a Bhathaich was soggy too. Again, you can spin your legs and it's tough climbing but it's interspersed with a lot of walk this bit, walk that bit, pedal to next walking section. Do-able in the dry I imagine. The descent back to the Torridon Hotel is awesome though. Especially the last bit through the scots pine woodland after the river crossing.

Either way, I'd imagine you'd expect the same conditions. As far as I can gather it's been raining on and off since we were there so I doubt it's dried up.

Enjoy!!

I prefer not-so-steep descents as again I'd have to walk anything too drastic.

While the Achanshellac descent isn't insanely steep, it is pretty gnarly and technical with some awkward switchbacks.

Great descent that starts off as baby head boulders, like riding a river bed, then into scree like features, then some swooping singletrack with stream crossings thrown in and then into steeper slickrock technical stuff. It seems to go on forever. Pretty tricky riding towards the bottom if I'm honest.

IIRC there's 3 or 4 difficult switchbacks and I only managed one. The last one I think. Although it didn't help that one of the first slickrock features, before the switchbacks, I decided to attempt it head first 🙂 Sort of put me in the wrong mindset 🙂

EDIT: http://go-where.co.uk/dirty-weekends/

2nd picture on Andy's site, this switchback might be the one I did manage, doesn't look much but the others looked impossible to me

I haven't a clue about any of the routes from the books and guides above but I was lucky enough to do this route in glorious weather three years ago, I'll always be grateful to rickmeister for taking me round. Even though we did it in dry conditions I can't think of any bits that would turn into bogtrotting as most of it was firm and rocky. Only serious bike pushing was the climb up Bealach a Choire Ghairbh.

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Just a suggestion.

I did the Circuit as set out in the guide book today.

From the Coulin Lodge turn-off through Achnashellach to Coulags was 90 mins, scenic but unchallenging and I'd say a ripper of a ride on a CX bike. From Coulags to Loch an Eion is spectacular but the rideable stuff is "nadgery". I had an OTB just before the bothy on a pretty innocuous stretch. I stared accusingly at the trail but couldn't see what I'd got hung up on. I hurt my hand, which worried me, and put me in a huff for an hour or so. Once over the Pass the trail is boggy in places but I don't want to be churlish, it's a stunning landscape and great, great riding. The best I've experienced this hol's.

I did the Ben Damph route two days ago and total concur with Kingofbiscuits. Great descent but the trails are all waterlogged. Gonnae do the lollipop loop tomorrow.

but the others looked impossible to me

not so 😉

I have ridden up there quite often. My favourite, which was almost all rideable, is the Applecross to Kenmore track. The Cuillin Pass was all rideable. The Coulags to Annat was glorious but there were sections I couldn't (didn't have the bottle-was on my own) ride. The track round Liathach was a labour of love that I didn't love, but it is glorious country so just being out there almost compensated.

I'm not sure where you are going but I have taken to doing the following to get a pointer on how things might be on the ground.....................

Try looking on the satellite version of google maps. Some areas have sufficient clarity for you to zoom in and get an idea of whether the track you are planning on using exists or not. If you can see it on there, then the jobs probably a good 'un. If you can't, then it's best to reckon you are in for a hike a bike session.