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Have 4 nights in Shieldaig starting Sunday and looking for route inspiration. The classic lollipop is the priority and I know of Ben Damph loop which sounds good. A bit of Googling doesn't throw loads up. Don't mind driving a bit to get to places but the closer the better. Lastly, rides that don't involve deep river crossings are also specified by the wife.
I'm just back from a week in Torridon.
Don't underestimate how big the full lollipop is.
I did the Ben Damph loop on Monday last week and it finished off a barely worn set of rear pads, the section along the loch was 'moist' to say the least!
You've got Applecross to Kenmore and vice versa, and the Ling Hut descent with a bit of 'pick your own trail' from near the top off the climb from Annat.
Oh, and that Annat climb, ye gods. Did it twice, second time not including the 2nd hikeabike to get to the very top, but it was brutal both times!
If you want an easy day kenmore to applecross for some grub and back again.
It's a nice ride!
Lucky bastard Sam.
Walk up Beinn Alligin while you're there too.
If you want an easy day kenmore to applecross for some grub and back again.
It’s a nice ride!
We did that a few weeks ago in 30mph+ winds, it was only a nice ride on the way back 🤣
Check the Applecross Inn is open if you’re relying on it for food.
The walled garden cafe in Applecross does some very nice food too!
An option I 'rode' a few years back to avoid the boggy slog along the loch on the Beinn Damh circuit was to ride up the trail as if heading to Coulags, then take the right fork heading towards Ruah Stac Bheag (good track for most of the way) - then at the point closest to the trail winching its way up to the start of the Beinn Damh descent, we cut cross-country (hike-a-bike) for 6-700m. It was pretty heavy going, but gave us a good climb up followed by the worthwhile bit of the Beinn Damh loop. Not much fun on the hike-a-bike bit though!
Below another option, basically a loop around back of Liathach. It’s got 1-2km of hike a bike in the middle. From memory the HaB wasnt too bad in that it was flattish just rough and off-on enough that HaB ends up easiest. Or maybe that’s rose tinted memory 😀
The final descent is real nice. Some good remote feel and photo ops too. A bit more Xc than Dh but another option.
I went the week before ta11pau1
Don’t underestimate how big the full lollipop is.
Agree with this. We waited for the shop to open at 10 before we set off. Back by 6, but probably should have given it a bit more respect. It was still the best ride of the trip though, the Achnashellach descent being the highlight.
Also did:
Beinn Damph loop - didn't seem worth the slog round the back TBH (though we had a big headwind which made the climb frustratingly stop-start). Good descent though, and we pushed up to do the bit in the forest at the bottom again. Would probably do GavinB's suggestion if doing again.
Coire Grande loop - good, but the climb is pretty epic, and the descent to Annat is a repeat of the lollipop. Probably worth doing twice in a week, but a third time might be pushing it.
Kenmore-Applecross-Kenmore - a nice day out with a stop for food (definitely check the cafe's open/book the pub - it's busy, because NC500), but not as epic as the others. The extra loop in the MBUK route towards Sand is OK, killed some time before lunch but not sure it was worth it.
A clockwise loop round the base of Liathach (edit: this is what Bri-72 suggested above) - didn't live up to the hype on Trailforks for me - doing it in the pissing rain on my own didn't help. Up and down stop/start climbing forever, followed by the descent of a million water bars. Probably would have been a pleasant half day loop on a nice day with company, but not worth it unless you really like bunny hopping IMHO.
Sounds like I've got a bit of a downer on it reading that back, but really it was amazing and I'd go back tomorrow!
You can do a nice loop through Gairloch and the Tollie path. View down loch Maree and Siloch is amazing.
Another option is loch en fadha from kinlochewe. Good in the dry as the ride back is along the loch and some of my mates moaned a little:)
I thought I headed a while back that they had sanatised the HaB but in bri-72 route? If so then that would be a great ride.
Can confirm that the initial ascent around the back of Liathach clockwise has indeed been recently improved as far as the point where Aligin walkers turn away towards their main ascent. That's a fair bit more civilised than it used to be, so at least you begin the process still pedaling. I would recommend parking up at the walkers' car park at the end of the main descent, so you get the road section out of the way early.
Yeah was 4-5 years back I did the loop good to hear if more rideable now.
I actually met and chatted to a guy who was part of a work party working on the path on my way up. He said, without any malice, that a lot of damage to the trail is caused by bikes, but that people further up the chain had been having conversations with a MTB advocacy group (maybe DMBS? He didn't know) about how they could make it more bike-friendly - though I think he meant more "not damaged by bikes" than "more fun to ride". The lack of motor on my bike was noted.
I've done the Ben Dampf loop a couple of times, but on my last visit I just pushed/rode up the descent and turned round at the top, much more civilised.
Combined it with a short loop up from Annat, over the Maol Chean Dearg bealach to the Coulags bothy, then turn round and retraced my steps.
If you don't fancy the full back of Liathach (I've not done it), then I think the Beinn Eighe descent is one end of it - and well worth an up-and-back from the CP.
Thanks everyone, plenty to go at. I'm fully expecting the lollipop to take us 6-8 hours, I've done a fair bit of hike-a-bike over the last couple of years and the Mrs has done a bit as well. Just hope we get a decent weather day for it 🙂
So thought I'd report back and say thanks for all the tips.
Whilst in Shieldaig we did the loop around Liathach, as suggested by bri-72, a frustrating second half of climb but a fun descent.
The Lollipop, which is a great day out, the second half of the descent to Achnashellach is amazing and up there with the best I've done, took us 7hr20min in total.
Did the Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail walk, which whilst short packed a punch and has great views.
And lastly, pushed up the Beinn Damf descent, turned around and came back down, which was good fun. Apart from the other half ripping her mech in half!
Also rode at Evanton Woods on the way up and Pitlochry & Moffat on the way home.
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