[Closed] Torrindon loop North of Annat - Clockwise or Anticlockwise

There's a lot of hike a bike if you do it clockwise but I imagine it'd be even worse the other way round. The clockwise descent is a belter, pretty rocky and technical if I remember right. Done the other way round the lower section would be rideable but much easier/less fun.

Clockwise but expect a quite a bit of frustrating walking in the middle bit.

TBH, it might be as well going up- and down from the eastern end.

Death march.

Nobeerinthefridge - Member

Death march.

This. staying in the pub would be a better day out ime

The clockwise descent is a belter, pretty rocky and technical if I remember right

Think it used to be, when i did it it was just water-bar central. Proper nasty ones, sometimes within a bike length of each other making hoping them even harder. Certainly didn't justify the mission to get there anyway

There has been a lot of work done on the path behind Liathach in the last year. I haven't ridden it since, only run it but it is probably more riedeable than in the past and certainly less boggy. The descent down Coire Dubh Mor is superb and not particularly rideable on the way up so go clockwise.

Think it used to be, when i did it it was just water-bar central. Proper nasty ones, sometimes within a bike length of each other making hoping them even harder. Certainly didn't justify the mission to get there anyway

That descent has hardly changed in the last 10 years or more unless something has happened in the last 6 months. Sorry if this sounds elitist but if you've got the skills to ride it it's superb although getting to it on that loop was always a PITA.

Sounds positive, Spin.

Spin - Member
That descent has hardly changed in the last 10 years or more unless something has happened in the last 6 months. Sorry if this sounds elitist but if you've got the skills to ride it it's superb.

There was a load of work done on it around 4 years ago. I could ride it fine, the Mrs hated it. I just thought it a crappy end to approx 3 miles of hike-a-bike

There was a load of work done on it around 4 years ago

Don't remember that at all and I'm up there quite often. If work was done I can't say I noticed it changing the character of the trail. You're right though that it wasn't enough reward for the hike a bike that came before!

It's only a short day but I sometimes do that as an out and back extending it up into Coire Mhic Fhearcair which gives some proper tough riding.

Only time I've done it was on the Soul, snapped rear mech hanger on the way up, so had to do the rest with one of those emergency mech hangers, so only having a couple of gears didn't help!

Although, It didn't bother me much doing the lollipop route the next day to be fair...

Did it last July and would never do it again . Did it clockwise and the first off road section was quite pleasant followed by a push / carry / drag the bike section that lasted about an hour followed by a descent that was definitely not worth the effort with drainage ditches and water bars of varying difficulty every few yards .

TBH, it might be as well going up- and down from the eastern end.

This. Several times over. We did it clockwise when we were up that way a few years ago. If I was up there again I'd just ride/push up the eastern end until it got hike-a-bikey, enjoy the view and turn around. Use the time saved to go somewhere with nice views.

I had no option but to push/carry up the eastern descent, until it flattened out, then ride straight back down, as had mashed up my rear mech the previous day riding the Torridon Lollipop route. We loved the descent - fast, rocky and some big gaps to watch out for. From memory, it took us about 40 mins to get up there, and about 3 mins back down.

MrsB has run the route clockwise a couple of times, and has always mentioned the muddy section around the back of Liathach, so never really felt that compelled to ride it.

Ben Damph loop as an option? Anti clockwise, all ridable, big scenery and a great finish like the Annas descent back to the road....

+1 for doing the push up and back down on the eastern end - if you like rocky, gnarly descents.

Then pop back to Annat and push up the Ben Damph descent and come back down, a much more pleasant experience than doing the full loop.