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[Closed] Help needed to put the mountains into mountain biking - riding the Munros

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Hi guys

After knocking out several big mountain routes on the bike this year, the five munros in Lochnagar being my most recent on Sunday and definite favourite of the year so far, I’m looking to find out what other munros are worth riding beyond the usual classics of Ben Lomond, Carn Ban Mor, Ben Lawers, Ben Vorlich, Braeriach, MacDui, Beinn a Bhuird, Cairngorm etc.

If anyone has ridden or walked any of the following (or any others that spring to mind) that you thought might make for a good day out on the bike, can you let me know?

Ones on my radar are

Ben Chonzie from the Comrie side
Ben Wyvis
Beinn Dearg above Blair Atholl
Mount Keen (probably the most obvious one)
Beinn Ime and Narnain (from the west – the east is just a scramble)
Ben Nevis – never done it, always wondered, heard mixed reports
The Mamore range of mountains – I’ve seen a steep track head up from Kinlochleven that could make for a great descent
Bynack Mor - rode up the shoulder
The Buchaille – one of my mates walked it recently and reckons it’s a possibility. I’m not convinced but never say never
Any of the munros around Dalwhinnie
Stob Binean and Ben More - walked them, definite potential from the Balqhuider side
Ben Cruachan
Dreish and Mayar - look pretty easy off the Kilbo Path - cloud cover on Saturday knocked the summits on the head
Five sisters of Kintail - I'm sure someone mentioned this to me in passing but not sure if they were being serious or not

I’m sure that there are plenty more so keen to read your experiences particularly of stuff in the west of the country. A carry all the way to the summit isn’t a worry if there is reward of descent. It doesn’t have to be all rideable down either. Stuff like the Glas Alt descent off Lochnagar are absolutely fine by me.

On a related note, has anyone ridden from Glen Clova into Glen Esk? Any pics? Any good?

Cheers

Sanny 😀

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:08 pm
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No advice to offer you as I've only done Ben Lomond, but great idea for a thread. 🙂

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:17 pm
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Ben Chonzie from the Comrie side

years ago - remeber is as being a easy landrover track and then a wade thru heather.

Ben Nevis - its a rocky stepped path all the way up. I wouldn't even consider it for a ride but I know a chap who loved it. For me 4 hrs carrying a bike up for 40 mins of rock steps down is not worth it

Dreish and Mayar - did it in snow so don't know waht the tracks are like on the tops- kilbo path would be OK bt a walk for much of it on the way up - summit plateau is fairly flat.

Any of the munros around Dalwhinnie. Drumochter munros? Done em all - wouldn't even consider riding them as no obvious tracks as I remember - but again mainly in snow.

Not great info I am afraid

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:19 pm
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For Nevis, I'd agree with TJ re. the Tourist path, but the path from the North Face car park up towards the CIC hut would make a really nice ride. Would be an out-and-back, go as far as you choose affair. If you really wanted to go to the summit, going that way then onto the tourist path / zigzags at the half-way lochan would be much, much better than doing the stone-pitched path up from the Ben Nevis Inn.

Ben Rinnes could be really good - not a Munro, but pretty close.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:25 pm
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Beinn Dearg near Ullapool from Inverlael. I remember coming down it a couple of years ago and thinking "that would go".

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:26 pm
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Bein a ghlo has potential I think ( so long as you have your magic anti erosion hover tyres)

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:28 pm
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I have some routes and many more ideas, just no time to play. My maps are at home but I'm not so I can't remember names from here... but a teaser... Glas Maol.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:29 pm
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I've done Mt Keen, just from Glen Esk side up and back though it can be done as part of a bigger day out. Rideable a fair way up.

[url= http://www.ecurieneep.co.uk/routes.asp?routeid=4 ]http://www.ecurieneep.co.uk/routes.asp?routeid=4[/url]

Also did Beinn a Bhuird about 15 years ago but sure I read somewhere that the track was done away with.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:41 pm
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Oh - when you do the Five Sisters, please take a camera 🙂

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:44 pm
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Cheers guys. Keep em coming.

The Kilbo Path from Glen Prosen in the dry looks 100% rideable. It was a bit slippy on Saturday but nothing too steep that can't be ridden.

Drumochter seems to have a lot of new Land Rover tracks appearing which opens up possibilities.

Beinna Ghlo - rode the three a couple of months ago. A bit of carrying but a top ride / mini adventure.

Ben Vorlich from Loch Earn is a cracker - we did it in under three hours with a long stop for lunch and much picture taking. Two hours up and down is a genuine possibility.

Messiah - where have you been contemplating? Rough locations fine by me.

Cheers

Sanny

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:45 pm
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Sanny - think I saw some pics on Steve Deas' FB recently that may have included you? If so get Steve to ask Hodge for the Mount Keen loop we did in April. I was there but dont have any details! We climbed up from Glen Esk iirc, down the other side though and the names escape me now...

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:49 pm
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Not in the west but extending Beinn a Bhuird over to Ben Avon and Meall Gaineimh down is "interesting" 😕

Edit: Camera definitely required for the Buachaille!! 😯

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:50 pm
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I've been up Mt Keen and Ben Dearg from Blair Athol way. I've used a bike to access loads of others like in from the Linn of Dee - An Sgarsoch, Carn Ealar. See if you can get Danny Mac to show you round the Cuillin.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:50 pm
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Birky

The Ecurie Neep site is ace. That and Messiah put me onto Lochnagar. The Glas Alt descent is marvellous. I couldn't quite hop over the boulder on the right hand corner near the waterfall but the rest was ridden with just one off. A smashing tech descent that was the icing on the cake after the traverse from Broad Cairn.

Any thoughts on the two munros opposite Bridge of Orchy Hotel? I walked them years ago and thought the descent could go at the time.

I'm not planning to repeat Paul Tattersalls exploits but I reckon there is huge potential for big days out combining biking with a great day on the hills.

I'm hoping to do the Carn Gorm 4 in the next couple of weeks as they were a lovely winter's walk a couple of years ago.

Cheers again

Sanny

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:52 pm
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Ben Rinnes could be really good - not a Munro, but pretty close.

I've ridden Ben Rinnes a few times (it's pretty local living in Aberlour 😉 ) and it's good fun but not an all day ride. You can ride virtually all of the track on the south slope to the top, it's pretty loose and steep in places, I've not yet managed to clean it all.
The descent back towards the carpark is good fun, armoured up in places (after the walkers made a right mess with various lines) with a few drainage bars to keep you honest.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:55 pm
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I'm pretty sure gordymac has a' wyvis by cross bike' report somewhere on the fyrish bikes site from a while back.

Five sisters 😯 make a day of it and do the Saddle via the Forcan ridge aswell 😆

I watched a video recently of two guys dragging bikes along the aonach eagach, not sure if it was on here or facebook i found it.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:55 pm
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Lochnagnar -> Carn a Choire Bhoidheach -> Carn an t-Sagairt Mor -> Lochcallater Lodge is a good adventure. Finish via Jocks Road...

Not a Munro but anyone ridden down the old Allt a' Mhuilinn Path from the CIC hut? Often though that look good.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 12:56 pm
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Posted : 11/10/2011 1:01 pm
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Five Sister? Maybe not then! Ha! Ha!

Fraser

We did Lochnagar in reverse of your route meaning that we had the Glas Alt descent to look forward to.

Jocks Road is ace. Nice short loop from Clova is the way I went.

Ben Avon rocks. A real favourite for me. Nothing daft but stunning views up top.

Oh and if anyone has pics, even better!

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:03 pm
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Ben Wyvis - would definitely go, good path from the Ullapool road side. The top is sort of mossy/ peaty on rock, quite odd, one for high summer.

Beinn Dearg above Blair Atholl - yes. Absolutely. If memory serves me well you'd get a long way up and all the way down by bike.

Mount Keen (probably the most obvious one) - yes, either end. Classic route with the Fungle as a return.

Five sisters of Kintail - a lot of steep heatherbashing to get up (either from Gleann Lichd or the A87 side, assuming you're starting from the east end) then the ridge is proper steep. It's a serious proposition with a lot of carrying up, and there was no clear path onto or off the ridge when I did it.

Up that way, Ben Fhada from Loch Sheil side via the bealach on the north side would almost certainly be worth the effort as an out-and-back. A strong rider could probably ride most of the ascent and it would be a ripper of a down.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:13 pm
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I have done Mount Keen both directions and both have there good bits, but would say the route from Tarfside up and over is the way found to be the best. The descent of the back of Mount Keen is great and alot better than carrying you bike up it, no real path just pick a line.

Have you thought about a day at Bennachie not Munros but a great day out with at least 6 great descents.

The Allt a' Mhuilinn is not bad but doesn't last that long, only worth doing if your in the area I would say.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:14 pm
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Funnily enough been thinking exactly the same - what other Munros go on to the hit list for next year.

From your list, I don't reckon The Buachaille is a goer, especially the top part past the scree, and from walking the Mamores a couple of years ago I don't think there's much there either.

Ben a Bhuide wasn't on the list, but that's part of the Ben Avon ride so I assume you've done that

Mullach a Clach a Blair and Sgur Gaoith either side of Carn Ban Mor

Schehallion is a nice quick out and back, although a hump both ways over the boulder field at the top

Meall Corranaich and Meall a Coire Leith in the Lawers group. Could be included with Ghlass and Lawers,

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:39 pm
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Do you think this sort of thing could happen with red deer?

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:43 pm
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Kinlochleven

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:47 pm
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anyone mention the Ben Cruachan E/W circular route?

If you start at St Conans rise in Loch Awe Village there is long road up to the Dam and then go E-W round the ridge steep rise nice flat(ish) top section and then an awesome down taking in the Cruachan summit. 4-7 hrs

And then you can got to real food cafe in tyndrum after 😉

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 1:52 pm
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wee Fergal was asking on here about the south Claunie ridge a while back, facing the 5 sisters. Think it might be very nice once you were up there - 7(?) Munros and quite gently undulating as I recall walking it. Gain a decent bit of height at the claunie inn end on the road as well.

In Drumochter is there not a half decent path up to the Bealach of two of two of the Munros to the west of the A9? No idea how much would be rideable.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 2:50 pm
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Balfa

What route is that? Looks pretty awesome.

Cruachan and the Shiel 7 look very interesting indeed.

Keep em coming!

Sanny

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 3:37 pm
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Yep - Shiel 7 would go better than 5 Sisters I'd think. The track at the east end is an old road (now submerged under Loch Loyne) so will give you easy height gain at that end. There's a fairly decent stalker's path from the Bealach Duibh Leac heading back into Glenshiel; from what I remember it disappears into the heather lower down though we did come off the hill in proper darkness so could just have lost it (sunset from the ridge was lovely though).

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 5:39 pm
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Balfa

What route is that? Looks pretty awesome.

Its not my video so I'm not sure. Half the fun is working it out! I was fairly sure it was starting in Achbriabhach and south oper the tops.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 5:40 pm
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Mount Keen the only one I've done.

Started at Glen Tannar and up (a slog it is too) and descent into Glen Esk. There is a proper path off the back with a lot of straight flat edge drainage ditches/runs that me and my mate both flatted on, him twice.
Back over from Tarfside up the Firmounth and you have the choice of sticking to it or the Fungle. Done it both ways but would do the Fungle if you haven't already done it.

The carn a mhaim ridge could be fun...

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 5:53 pm
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It's a long carry to the top, but the path down Schiehallion would be a laugh. Don't do it on a weekend though; too many baggers.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 6:11 pm
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WTF was that "Insane" Aonach Ridge video

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 6:21 pm
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Interesting thread this is. I have been with bicycle up Sgorr Ruadh near Stratchcarron. The bottom 700 meters of it are nice singletrack, including That Descent, but the top 250 is across scree and grass and you are riding on a bearing as opposed to any trail. Probably worth doing once though.

A track marked down Sgurr na Fearstaig caught my eye a while ago, googlemapping it looks kind of promising.

Not munros, but the descent eastwards of the Sgurr na Feartaig ridge looks promising on googlemaps aswell, and I have allways wondered if a lap of the Re Cuillin is a goer?

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 6:29 pm
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Interesting thread...

Couple of weeks ago I took the bike up Beinn Dubhchraig. Plan was to go up Ben Oss too, but it's tough going on foot so ended up leaving the bike on Dubhchraig and walking the rest.
From the car park of the A82 there's a forest estate road which is 100% rideable and takes you nearly half the way up, then a bit of hike a bike, but once on the shoulder of Dubhchraig it's rideable to the summit. The descent is awesome...miss the forest estate track on the way down in favour of the singletrack through the trees.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 7:06 pm
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Glen Lyon - Carn Gorm
Schiehallion is a giggle 🙂
Ballachulish horseshoe has potential - after a monster carry up, you can ride a lot of the ridge from Sgor Bhan, Sgor Dheag and even upto Sgor Dhonuill, from there down to 759 spot height is fine, a short rubble gully leads to the descent path into Gleann Choalorais - ace fun 🙂
[img] [/img]

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 7:23 pm
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Loving the beta on what could go. Several I hadn't considered. Ben Cruachan really interests me as does the Ballachulish stuff. Really want to know more about Kinlochleven route on the video too.

I should add to the thread that Ben Lawers is awesome. Captain Mainwairing and I did it a few weeks ago. A truly epic descent.

What about the munros between Crianlarich and Tarbet. Any possibilities?

Keep em coming!

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 7:42 pm
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Sussed the Kinlochleven loop, Kinloch up and over the drovers road along WHW to glen Nevis, nice shot of the lower falls, then i am pretty sure they go along the well worn path towards Stob Ban, up onto the ridge turn left then contour on the path below Sgorr an lubhair, from there a couple of options down to hell. Thought the path up to Stob ban could bear fruit, nice to know, huge potential there.

Sanny Bynack mor summit is a tech fest rode it this summer, 1st of june and it snowed on the final carry!.

Narnain i wouldn't bother, Beinn Imme would be worth the carry with the lower armoured path.

Kintail five sisters is just way to futuristic for the average bear, 2020 it will be deriguer.

I note on Lawers you didn't opt for the descent of Beinn Glas, that would be pretty full bore don't you think.

edit. The Buchaille would be suicide, but then again some hombres did cary there bikes along the eagach :D.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 8:30 pm
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Fergal

Just looking at the map now ..... Wow! That looks stunning!

Off to look at my guide books. Getting psyched for some big days out!

Sanny

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 9:19 pm
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Matt

How would you go up for the Ballachulish Horse Shoe route?

Cheers

Sanny

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 9:25 pm
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Ben Wyvis, I'm yer man 😉

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 9:30 pm
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Interesting - for Beinn a'Bheithir, I'd have suggested UP Gleann a'Chaolais to the col and then down over Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Bhan 🙂

Edit: the path from Sgorr Bhan goes down the NE ridge towards the School

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 9:33 pm
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Kbrembo - Member

WTF was that "Insane" Aonach Ridge video

A waste of 4:26 minutes of my life.They should have taken an ironing board up like those other "extreme" muppets do at least they could have done something useful.

 
Posted : 11/10/2011 9:59 pm
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Has anyone tried the two munros opposite the Bridge of Orchy Hotel?

How about the ones between Tarbet and Crianlarich? I remember walking one years ago at the top end of Loch Lomond on a hot summer day where we played with a Boomerang in one of the big bowls. The last descent was steep and tech - may have to revisit the maps for that one.

What about the likes of Aonach Mor? Would that be a viable proposition?

Ben Vorlich by Loch Earn is mint though I wouldn't bother with Stuc a Chroin beside it. There was no discernible path accross the saddle that we could see when we were up there a few weeks ago.

Bynack Mor is a definite. I was gutted that no one wanted to do the summit when we did a round of MacDhui last summer. The descent we did was great but it seemed a shame to miss out on the last short climb to the top and the tors.

That Kinlochleven video is a bit special. I keep watching it, looking at the trails and hoping I get a weather window before the snow comes.

Sanny

 
Posted : 12/10/2011 12:16 pm
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The path up/down the Beinn Dorain/Beinn an Dothaidh col might be worth exploring. Continuing up to Beinn an Dothaidh might work too, but, IIRC, Beinn Dorain wouldn't be worthwhile. It [i]might[/i] be possible to make a circuit of this by going up to the col from the East. There's certainly a walkers path connecting it all.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Aonach Mor, but then I don't know what the ground is like. The only times I've been on the summit, it's been covered in deep snow 🙂

 
Posted : 12/10/2011 12:26 pm
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Druidh

I mentioned Aonach Mor!!!!!!!! Anyone have any experience of it?

Cheers

Sanny

 
Posted : 12/10/2011 12:54 pm
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How would you go up for the Ballachulish Horse Shoe route?

As Druidh says the path heads up NE ridge from school - thinking about it, more of this path is descend-able than the Gleann a'Chaolais way - more pedalling uphill, less carrying...druidh is right....

 
Posted : 12/10/2011 8:35 pm
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Sanny - Member
Druidh

I mentioned Aonach Mor!!!!!!!! Anyone have any experience of it?

LOL - yeah, I meant "funny that no one [i]else[/i] has mentioned it !!!"

 
Posted : 12/10/2011 8:46 pm
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I've walked up Aonach Mor, don't remember there being anything interesting - no real trails up through the ski centre. Decent enough path along the summit plateau, but nothing worth the effort of getting up there.

 
Posted : 12/10/2011 10:41 pm
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top thread Sanny, and cheers again for your advice on [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/ben-lomond-trossachsroute-advice-please ]mine[/url] last week - planning to take in Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich and Ben Lawers next weekend to start my 'munro (by bike) bagging'. hopefully we'll be able to squeeze in a couple of others too.

will definitely be coming back to this thread to plan for next year though too!

 
Posted : 13/10/2011 10:58 am
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this thread needs pictures too!

 
Posted : 13/10/2011 10:59 am
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Path up from Bridge of Orchy to the saddle between Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dotaidh(sp?) has been a bit of a bog any time I've been up it on foot. Not sure how much fun a descent from either of the tops would be, wide and grassy if I remember right. Behind the hotel however there's minor road and landy track in towards the uni club hut at the start of the path to Stob Ghabhar - now there's a ridge loop with potential! Fair bit of carrying I'd think. Stunning view over to Glencoe from there.

Ben Chonzie from the Comrie side is OK - loose landy track steep in places makes for a dull climb but fun (if not very technical) descent. L-shaped plateau up to the summit is all rideable but not too interesting. One to tick off rather than one to make a day out of.

Ben More Crianlarich has always looked like it might be good in the same sort of way as Ben Lomond.

Not a Munro, but Ben Vrackie behind Pitlochry is quite good, and the descent down the main path of Schiehallion is fun (although the day I did it I could barely see 6 feet ahead, so took it kind of easy!)

Another vote for Lochnagar - I did the Stuartie_C loop clockwise, started way too late and got caught in some sudden horror weather on the summit of Lochnagar, one of the few times I've really needed a map and compass as the light went and the path vanished beneath snow.

I've always been curious about the hills (Ben Vane?) above the railway line as you head up the A82 before you get to Ardlui - you can see a path from the road which looks promising, and I've headed that way twice but been turned back by weather both times.

Can't imagine Aonach Mor would be that great up above the gondola - pretty featureless up to the summit, and I can't think where a path out of the back corrie might go. You'd need to traverse round into that anticlockwise from the gondola station anyway.

I think Bidean nam Bian would be a cracker - up one path between the 3 sisters then the ridge over the summit and down the other side, then down the other path to the glen floor. Big proposition though. Features in my helicopter/snowstorm of the century/snowboard dream on a regular basis!

Top thread, nice one Sanny.

 
Posted : 13/10/2011 11:32 am
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Ben More from the Balqhuider side would go. Stiff and steep climb up. I'd aim for the lower peak to the east of Stob Binean for the descent as it has some lovely singletrack on the plateau to follow.

Stob Ghahbar - looks like there are trails on the map. Has anyone been up there to confirm its potential or am I going to have to just ride it and see?

Lochnagar would be scary in the cloud given the massive drop over the cliff edge.

Peachos

If the weather is poor for Ben lawers, take the trail up the Bealach beside Beinn Glas - great as a descent on the way back and very easy to navigate in cloud. The top of Lawers is tech and steep.

Sanny

 
Posted : 13/10/2011 11:56 am
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Ben Hope from the south, it has been a few years but if I remember correctly then it would be fine for riding

 
Posted : 13/10/2011 1:20 pm
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so we went up to scotland in dismal weather this weekend - the plan was to bag ben lomond, ben vorlich & ben lawers, but we actually ended up with none. the forecast of strong winds and heavy rain slimmed down the group considerably but a small handful still managed to get up some hills.

we started on ben a'an, not a munro by a good few hundred metres but thought it was a good option with it being a lot lower. that is a tough descent! worth it though...reckon i managed to ride something like 85% of it, there's a large section in the middle that is stupidly steep & rocky - actually a proper scramble to get up & was wondering whether dragging the bike up would be worth it. is is - there's a nice section off the summit which consists of smooth singletrack broken up with chunks of bedrock sticking out.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

this slab looked roll-able on the way up. missed the wheel-trap at the bottom though which sent me crashing OTB & onto my head & shoulder. should've dropped it, but not much run-out.

[img] [/img]

after that it went mega steep & steppy so was a bit of carrying down. the bottom half consists mainly of roots and rocks, which were loads of fun in the october conditions. very greasy indeed! pretty much all ridable, a couple of sections needed looking at first though to get the correct lines.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

it was proper tough, especially given how wet it was, but really enjoyed it. definitely going back again at some point - especially with the 'previous' i now have with that slab!!

saturday we ventured up ben lomond. MWIS said 70+mph winds on the tops and i reckon they were spot on!! we climbed to about 870m, so about 100m shy of the summit, before the winds became too much. visibility was low as well, perhaps 3 or 4 metres at times...so common sense told us to call it a day and not push on to the top (even though that thing inside me was urging me to go on).

what a descent! so long and flowy...even with wind & rain in the face. it's pretty much all ridable too. some of it is fast and smooth with a few drainage bars to hop over, other parts are more full of big boulders to pick your way through. then there's the 'paved' switchback sections which call for loads of slow speed control and balance to try and get around. the bottom section below the lowest deer fence & dropping through the woods is just fantastic as well. i'd highly recommend this descent to anyone who like big mountain action, and i'm already planning the return to actually summit!

pics aren't all that good - camera was covered in rain & grit all day!

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

bit gutted we didn't get to have a crack at ben lawers & vorlich, but they'll be there come spring...and i can't wait!!

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 2:33 pm
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Carn a'Chlamain above Glen Tilt, landy track all the way to the top, then the descent off towards Forest Lodge is beautiful stalkers track (after an initial four or five bog crossings).

Was running with water at the weekend, but would be a belter after a dry spell.

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 3:55 pm
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Top effort!

I particularly like the second picture with your mate in the background looking like he is riding without a bike! Ha! Ha!

Ben A'an in the wet and the wind! Chapeau! That's a tough ride in the wet.

Looks like you were really close to the summit of Ben Lomond if yon pic is taken where I think it is. In the cloud, straying off the path can mean a very long drop with a sudden stop at the bottom.

Cheers

Sanny

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 4:00 pm
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Monk-e-man

Saturday was pretty wet at times eh? We did Loch Bhac then headed up behind Blair Atholl. Great ride despite the occassional heavy rain.

Definitely put me in the mood to do Beinn Dearg and Carn a Chlamain as a late autumn / early winter day ride. The stalkers track off the latter looks ace!

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 4:03 pm
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Peachos - discretion is the better part of valour sometimes. The final summit of Lomond is a bit exposed and in bad conditions could be a bit dangerous - and the riding won't be great I would have thought.

Glad you got some decent riding in

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 4:06 pm
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cheers TJ & sanny. yep we weren't far off the summit - my camera has gps and places that picture in the cloud about [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?X=237247&Y=702542&A=Y&Z=115&lm=1 ]HERE[/url], so we were getting close to the edge with a SW wind which just wanted to shove us off the side! was probably the right thing to do...just gutted that we were so close.

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 4:15 pm
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Reading the postings has put me in the mood for having a crack a Ptarmigan descent now. I've walked it and only recall a couple of scrambly bits....hmmmmmm!

 
Posted : 24/10/2011 4:19 pm
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Another one for the list, Glas Tulaichean (1051m) from Spital of Glenshee

[url= http://trailscotland.co.uk/glas_tulaichean.html ]http://trailscotland.co.uk/glas_tulaichean.html[/url]

[img] [/img]

 
Posted : 01/11/2011 8:27 pm
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Look for a feature in the next issue of Singletrack that has some great Schehallion pics in it. I can highly recommend the new path if you like a bit of all-mountain action.

 
Posted : 21/12/2011 3:22 pm
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chipps - I work here
Look for a feature in the next issue of Singletrack that has some great Schehallion pics in it. I can highly recommend the new path if you like a bit of all-mountain action.
I call Troll!

 
Posted : 21/12/2011 3:23 pm
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Well Ben Chonzie got ridden by me and Marky Mark a few days ago. Blue skies but a wind of over 80mph (forecast predicted about 25mph). It was a great day despite the wind making for an alternative descent down into Glen Turret. Lots of snow made for a challenging but fun day out.

Schiehallion eh Chipps? I walked it and recall the top was a bouldery mess though the trail up to there would be pretty fun. Nothing remotely technical if I recall correctly. Looking forward to seeing the pics.

On a related note, are there any routes off Ben Nevis other than the main tourist path? I'm sure someone posted about it not so long ago on this here forum.

Also, has anyone ridden the Ptarmigan descent off Ben Lomond? It's a wee bit scrambly at the top but I rather fancy giving it a bash in the next few weeks if the snow clears a bit more.

Re Ben vane.

There is definite potential there with a path off the track up to Sloy Dam. It's on the list for a Spring bash along with the rest of the Arrochar Alps.

Glas Tulaichan can be made into a three summit round trip. When I do it, I'll post on here as it has great potential when the weather is nice.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 10:23 am
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Mt Keen is very good, tho I didn't go to the top.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 10:26 am
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**added to favourites**

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 10:46 am
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Carn a Chlamain and Beinn Dearg are definitely worth the price of admission. The latter with the Stalkers Path descent is a bit of a peach. I rode it in November on a glorious blue sky day. The climb up Carn a Chlamain is tough but very rideable if you have the fitness and sheer bloody mindedness to really give it a go. Good call on that one 13thfloormonk.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 10:56 am
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The path from the CIC hut down to the North Face car park has been improved over the last few years and will be an excellent ride. Could probably ride up it if you had the lungs. Not sure how this would link to the path up to the summit - is suspect there's be significant carrying both ways even for superheroes.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 11:20 am
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Great thread!

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 11:27 am
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If you come off the summit of Ben Nevis down to the half way lochan there is a path that goes round the lochan and down towards the CIC hut. Pretty techy but mostly ridable (probably). YOu can then pick up the North Face path down to the carpark.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 12:26 pm
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chipps - I work here
Look for a feature in the next issue of Singletrack that has some great Schehallion pics in it. I can highly recommend the new path if you like a bit of all-mountain action.

I call Troll!

Definitely not a troll. It's an out and back and only worth doing as far as the boulder field, but the descent is ace and 100% rideable

If you come off the summit of Ben Nevis down to the half way lochan there is a path that goes round the lochan and down towards the CIC hut. Pretty techy but mostly ridable (probably). YOu can then pick up the North Face path down to the carpark.

That's potentially a good call although IIRC there would be a 15 minute push across the glen and then the burn crossing. So long since I walked it, can't really remember the main tourist path from the lochan down - 95% rideable?

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 12:50 pm
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You can actually get to the top of the XC course from the path down from the CIC hut. Can't remember how though, I did it a few years ago and just sort of stumbled onto it.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 12:50 pm
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That's potentially a good call although IIRC there would be a 15 minute push across the glen and then the burn crossing. So long since I walked it, can't really remember the main tourist path from the lochan down - 95% rideable?


Only ever walked it myself but most of it would be fine I reckon.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 12:56 pm
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The Ben Nevis alternative sounds pretty interesting.

Captain

Are you up for that?

All

Are there any other shepherd path routes off the Ben?

Re Ptarmigan

I just noticed that Drjon rode that route in the last few days. One for this weekend methinks given the lack of snow and if the weather is halway decent. Some nice pics on his Flickr account.

On a related note, what would be the best route off Scaffell Pike? I know the summit is a bouldery mess but someone on here must have done it? Also, has anyone ridden off the Old Man of Coniston? I can think of some potential routes on a quiet day.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 1:36 pm
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Off the Ben - on a good summers day, i'd be tempted to try the CMD arrete, havn't even walked it so not sure what it's like.

I can't think of any other routes off the Ben, it's a pretty un-friendly place. No Sheep = no shepherds 😀

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 1:48 pm
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Sanny - Old Man of Conistion is one of my fave Lakes descents.

This here path is the one you want: [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=327409&y=497837&z=115&sv=327409,497837&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=834&ax=327409&ay=497837&lm=0 ]LINK[/url]

Park at the car park at the bottom of Walna Scar Rd and push straight up to the big cairn at the top. Then turn around. It's ace! Top section is tough going, mostly ridable though with just a couple of short bits where you'll have to lower your bike down. Next section drops you at the top of Low Water is great fun and the bottom section is fast and loose, dropping through some old quarry works (watch out for the cables!)

Edit: here's a nice shot of the trail from the top:

[img] [/img]

Interested to hear about Scafell!

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 2:08 pm
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Not quite a Munro but I did the loop round Ben Alder on Sunday in fantastic conditions. The ground was nice and hard and all the sections covered on snow where no problems to bike.

Going by the ground conditions alot of it looks like it could be very wet in the summer.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 2:13 pm
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There has to be one or two in the Cuillin that you could ride to and from almost the top of. Am thinking in particular Am Bastier - Sgur nan Gilliean bealach, possibly Sgurr a Mhadaidh also.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 2:15 pm
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Re Ben vane.

There is definite potential there with a path off the track up to Sloy Dam. It's on the list for a Spring bash along with the rest of the Arrochar Alps.

I seem to remember that there is quite a lot of scrambly bits on that path. It is pretty steep. I can't imagine it being particularly ridable! It was a while ago I was up there so may be wrong.

If you come off the summit of Ben Nevis down to the half way lochan there is a path that goes round the lochan and down towards the CIC hut. Pretty techy but mostly ridable (probably). YOu can then pick up the North Face path down to the carpark.

From the lochan to the CIC hut is essentially unridable. Certainly unpleasant to ride and an ill defined path. I'm sure someone on here tried to ride it before and regretted it.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 2:27 pm
 dh
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i think you'd struggle with Ben Vane with a bike.

Ben Lui maybe a possibility by coming up the LRT from tyndrum (is that the way to gold mine?), leaving a fairly short hike/bike to the top.

 
Posted : 17/01/2012 2:43 pm
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