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I am looking at sorting out a weekend away for a bunch of mates in a few months time. Looking for technically challenging natural trails.
Current idea is to head up to the Kinlochleven area, anyone got any tips?
Must do rides (I presume there is plenty for a weekends riding?)? Good cheap accommodation? Where to eat/drink?
Any local knowledge would be appreciated!
Anyone?
Lots of natural trails around Kinlochleven More than just the Ciaran Path.If your looking for bunkhouse accommodation try Blackwater Hostel http://www.blackwaterhostel.co.uk/
Cabins at Macdonald Hotel in Kinlochleven are excellent value, plus there's a good bar/restaurant on site and they do breakfast for £6 in the hotel.
Blackwater Dam can be accessed via a long fireroad climb and makes for a great downhill on the other side of the river. Devils staircase can be done as a shuttle (if you've got 2 cars and 2 peeps) there is a car park just by the road where the climb starts near Glen Coe. West Highland way into Fort Bill is good for a day out. The Enduro trails (Dudes of Hazard Enduro) above Kinlochleven are worth doing (but pretty full-on). Fort Bill downhill is good if DH is your thing. XC trails in Fort Bill are average. Carry up/ride down Ben Nevis is great but do it in the evening (few walkers will be out at dusk).
Great place to ride in general. Watch out for midges!
MacDonald hotel is good. I've stayed in their cabins and it is good value. Nice people at the hotel too though it was out of season then so maybe not as busy and stressed then.
Routes: Devil's Staircase, Ciaran Path, Tour de Ben Nevis route. This would end with a nice descent into Kinlochleven - but then they're all nice descents. Could go higher into the Mamores - maybe check the munros thread.
wot badbod99 said
Blackwater Dam is Ciaran Path (same thing)
We also did Ben Lawers this year on the way up to Kinlochleven.
Oh, and the cabins at the MacDonald do have fly zappers installed.
Food there is excellent too and good value. We ended up eating there every day.
Definitely do check out the Dudes of Hazard Enduro route- the 2 descents off the mamore lodge road are phenomenal (the one off the road up to the dam, not so much, it does have good bits though so I'd still probably do it as part of a climb to the ciaran path. (which itself, is good but not amazing imo)
And yeah, if the uplift's still open then nevis range
The two "Dudes" descents you're looking for are called "Kennels" and "Grey Mares". Take a look on Strava. Both drop from the track above Mamore Lodge back into Kinlochleven.
Thanks for the help people.
Sounds like plenty of options, will get in contact with a few of those accomodation recomendations.
I think I have found the Enduro stages on the map.