MTBing in the highlands - advice please

[ali4390]

Evening all, after a little bit of help with trip planning.

I have to take 5 days holiday and thought what better way to use it then cycling in the highlands - the destination is chosen because my grandparents live in Applecross so would like to stay with them. Now I understand Torridan is not too far away (around an hours drive), are there any other places to go whilst I'm up there?

If possible I would like to do as much single track as possible but always return to Applecross to stay with my grandparents (due to helping look after and spend as much time as possible with an ill grandparent). I'm coming from Derby so looking at train to Edinburgh and then hiring a car, I've never done anything like this so any advice, general or trip specific, is much appreciated.

[anonymous-user]

there will be loads on the isle of skye, have a hunt online for a guide who can show you the best places though to be fair, an hour with a 1:25k OS map should find some good trials if you can follow contour lines etc. It might be worth droppping pher "getcarter" an email, i think thats his part of the world?!

[ali4390]

I did think about Skye as its only a quick dash across the water from their front door - stick the bike in the rowing boat and good to go!!

Ill drop him an email thanks.

In terms of taking things with me, is there anything in particular I should be taking? As I won't have anyone with me I want to make sure I'm prepared if I get into trouble but obviously won't be able to take much with me.

[timbo48]

Both MBR and Singletrack magazines have done routes that ended up in Applecross during the last 12 months IIRC. Might be worth checking their websites.
Had a holiday there back in the mid 70s staying in one of the old cottages along the front, near to the hotel. No bar in those days though!

[ali4390]

I found the MBR article online including videos etc - great info included so thanks for that

I've been going to Applecross every year for as long as I can remember (22 now) and it is ridiculous how much it has changed in just the past 3 or 4 years, especially since Monty Hall's TV programme, so I imagine it is almost unrecogniseable from the 70s (aside from the scenery )

[Pablo16v]

The Torridon route is an absolute cracker. Big mountains and 2 x 7km descents that will have you grinning like a loon. I’d recommend starting and finishing at Achneshellach Station to get the best out of it.

[ali4390]

Pablo16v said:

The Torridon route is an absolute cracker. Big mountains and 2 x 7km descents that will have you grinning like a loon. I’d recommend starting and finishing at Achneshellach Station to get the best out of it.

Sounds awesome. Do you know where I can find details of the route you're talking about online? There seem to be so many Torridon rides, and whilst I don't mind exploring, I would quite like to do a tried and tested one where I know I will be able to find the car again!

[Pablo16v]

Singletrackworld had a couple of threads running during the summer, I'll see if I can find them……I’m sure someone posted a map.

Aye, here you go.......

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/torridon-f...