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Evening all.
I’m very excited to be heading north to Inverness this weekend to do the Etape Loch Ness road bike ride and to then be heading west to Torridon for a days riding on Monday.
I’ve been scoping various routes to do in Torridon and I think I’m down to a choice of 2 (only have time to do one ride before the 7.5hr drive home again). So, choices are either the Torridon Lollipop or the longer Torridon Classic. Has anyone on here done both and can you recommend one route over the other? I’ll be riding solo on a Specialized Levo. I live and ride in the Lakes so used to rough, rocky trails, but perhaps not of this scale.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Ta.
How heavy is a Levo?
Colin has it.
23 ish kilos. There is a fair section of HaB on the "classic" and the lolipop. Ben Damph may be a better riding option and a cracking descent to finish too.
You could do the descents...
Ride up ride down then drive round and repeat...
As above the mid section hike a bike isn't something I'd want to lug an ebike over
The lollipop gives the best riding but if your bike is 23kg it might be hard going! The classic loop has much less pushing/carrying.
Also a couple of laps of the Achnashellach descent could be good too. Nice singletrack/tech combo.
I’ve done the lollipop twice and the classic about five times and I definitely prefer the classic. The lollipop feels like a massive effort for only a little extra reward over the classic (the descent from Granda to the Achnashellach descent just ain’t worth the effort).
Also a couple of laps of the Achnashellach descent could be good too. Nice singletrack/tech combo.
This is what I’ll do the next time I head over.
The lollipop feels like a massive effort for only a little extra reward over the classic (the descent from Granda to the Achnashellach descent just ain’t worth the effort).
Each to their own of course but I disagree with this. The lollipop takes you into more spectacular and wild country and gives an additional bit of descent with less road/landy track. Both are obviously superb!
OP, can I just check where you got your route description for the Classic?
Mtbinfo, and it would appear VB Graphics have the wrong route down to Achnaschellach IMHO.
I've only done heading SW from 7 to Drochaid Coire Lair and then south. It it brilliant, the fire road in the book looks shit.
I'm sure you know this anyway, but better to be sure 🙂
I'm with hairyscary for what it's worth. I didn't find the first part of the descent that interesting and was a bit disappointed especially given the effort to get there but it is a stunning bit of scenery. But I have fond memories of the little bothy near Achnashellach and you miss that if you do the lollipop. Duncan and Rick make good suggestions.
Did the Classic route with a friend on a Levo and she had a blast so very doable. As the Generalist points out you will want to go via Drochaid Coire Lair which has a lovely techy rocky descent (imo the best bit of the route). There is an option before you go down this to head right, up towards Coire Lair and push up as far as you want (towards Coire Grannda) to add that bit of the Lollipop (which I haven't done).
Being Lakes familiar you will love it, be on the look out for opportunities to include bits of granite slab which may be just off the beaten track! Hope you get a good weather window!
Did the Classic route with a friend on a Levo and she had a blast so very doable.
How much pushing / carrying needed on the classic? I did the lollipop a couple of weeks ago which was excellent, is the classic more e-bike friendly?
I wouldn’t want to take an e-bike up the lollipop hike a bike section.
And this is the route we’re talking as the classic?
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How much pushing / carrying needed on the classic?
Maybe 1k up out of Coire Fionnaraich and a few other little bits depending on your skills and fitness.
Cool, I pushed that bit I think so getting an e-bike up that would be fine 👍
I’ve said I’ll do one of the routes with a friend and I think they’ll be wanting to take the eeb (I so would I to level the playing field!)
And this is the route we’re talking as the classic?
Looks right apart from the bit around Loch Coulin, I've always gone west of the loch but that shows east.
Cheers Spin - seems like either side is an option looking at other people's tracks.
OP here. Thanks for all the above posts, comments and recommendations - really appreciated. I think I will see what the weather is like in the day. If the weather is ok the it will be the Torridon Classic. If the weather is less than ideal then I think a loop of Beinn Damh.
The main reason I’m heading north is to do the Etape Loch Ness for Macmillan. If you have a spare couple of quid and fancy supporting this excellent charity then please head to my Just Giving page at this link and give what you can. These guys helped my dad in the last few weeks of his like and I will be forever grateful to them.