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Club Weekend Away – Torridon
May 3, 2013 - May 6, 2013
So with less than a month to go I though I’d post an update.
The Torridon YHA is booked Thursday to Sunday (4 nights) for five, and we also have one camping and another staying nearby. If anyone else is interested it would be great if you could make it. Unfortunately the YHA is fully booked now, but there is good camping, B&Bs and a hotel locally.
I’ve had a look around for routes and have been busily colouring in OS maps. I’ve suggested some routes below, although we will need to see what things are like on the day.
Thursday
I’m planning on heading up in the afternoon, I have space for +1 in the van. If anyone wants me to take bike or kit that can also go in the van and get more people in a car. It’s around 4.5hrs drive, so hoping to get there at a decent time for a look around in the daylight.
Friday
Thinking of doing the Ben Damph loop of the Scottish Wild Trails II book. It starts from the hostel, and is 22km long with 650m of ascent. There is one big climb and hard descent, taking in stunning scenery (you can’t miss in Torridon). It’s at the more “moderate” end of the riding spectrum up this way so a good one to get us into the weekend. It finishes with a great descent back to the hostel. We should have plenty time for this so we can afford a leisurely start time if folk are tired from the week at work and the drive up.
Saturday
I’m thinking of a big loop on the Saturday. There are a number of variations on a big loop from the hostel, heading along the road to Loch Clair and climbing up from there. It’s possible to go right over to Achnashellach Station, along to Coulags and back over the Beallach na Lice to Torridon. The alternative is to go via Coie Lair, taking in more high level riding. This would be a full day ride, with 1000m+ of climbing and lots of hard work rewarded with cracking descents.
Sunday
For a change of scenery on Sunday I’m thinking of a short drive and ride on the Applecross Peninsula. We could drive to Kenmore and ride across the Peninsula out and back to Applecross (there’s a variation if we don’t want a straight out and back.) If people are interested we could look at getting a proper lunch in Applecross to fuel the ride home. This would still be over 30km with 800m of climb so still a good day out.
Monday
If anyone still has a working bike and willing body I’d suggest a loop around Coire Mhic Nobuil. This starts for Torridon and can done in half a day. It promises a fantastic 4km long descent of plenty. However, it has more than its fair share of hike-a-bike to get to it. 22km and 500m of climbing.
Other Logistics
It was really good at the Skye weekend doing a bit of communal cooking. The YHA doesn’t do evening meals, so our options are a) the hotel and b) cook. I would suggest booking in for one evening meal and cooking the other nights. We can sort details out nearer the time. I have space in the van to bring a BBQ, in case we’re basking in midge-free sunshine.
Sounds good Tom, quite fancy Torridon so count me in.
Hi Tom, thanks for posting this up! Count me in for this trip. I can make it for the Thursday too. I’ve ridden there once about 3 years ago and it was epic, will start hunting out routes for the trip.
Damn it, this coincides with the SBS Sportive.
🙁
Would love to explore such a stunning area, sadly away in the Lakes, walking that weekend. Have a good one guys.
Hi,
I’ve got stuff on that weekend too 🙁
No matter how tempting it looks, DON’T DO the Loch an Fada ride from Kinlochewe (in various books including Kenny Wilson) unless you like carrying your bike downhill for about 3 hours. It’s a a lovely ride up and the location is stunning, but descent is as very craggy, steep and narrow footpath- took us 6 hours with about 2 actually on the bike. And I’ve not even mentioned the 2 river crossings – one up to your knees! And, that was in June. Loads of other stuff to do anyway!
Hi Tom, count me in and thanks for organising it. Chris
can you include Al (no helmet) thanks
Gav, Chris, Graham & Al – I’ve booked the Torridon youth hostel for the 2nd May – 5th May (Thu to Sun) nights.
Due to the popularity / availability of the YH up there I’ve had to pay in full to secure the booking. I’ll drop you all an email with further details.
If anyone else is still interested, give me a shout ASAP.
Tom
Hi Tom – thanks for sorting it out!
In case anyone was undecided about this trip then then this might whet your appetite:
Torridon Routes
Some more Torridon route chat:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sorry-another-torridon-q
Look forward to hearing all about it, 6 of us are up the following weekend. Debbies birthday is on the weekend you’re doing it and not sure she’d forgive me if I went that weekend!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7760231560_863ca99a86_o.jpg
My take on the route which squeezes in the best descents, a cracker of a day out. Keep an eye out for the wee tea room at achnashellach station, a very nice English lady who will sort everyone out with tea and cakes in her lovely garden. No signage, just a house really.
Enjoy folks, wish I could make it.
That looks like a good route. Did you do the loop bit clockwise?
Thanks
Hi Tom
I am up in Torridon for 6 days prior to you arriving for the weekend so I will have enjoyed much of riding available. I should have a proposed itinerary by start of next week that I will post up. Also happy to catch up with you guys on the Fri to provide feedback on the various routes.
Cheers
Nick
OK thanks, would be good to get some up to date route advice when we get there.
Tom, yes, clockwise. There’s a wee bit of hike a bike coming up from coulags, but it’s more than worth it. The descent down coire lair is the star of the show, it’s fantastic, and then the descent back to annat and the torridon inn is almost as good!.
OK that makes sense, looks a cracking route. It’s been added to the map, thanks.