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Post by hodgy on Jul 23, 2015 6:29:51 GMT
22.7.15.
Already described as my favourite trail in the British Isles ..I set off at 7.30 am with a little bit of trepidation as when you set something up in your own mind to be that good there is always the potential to be disappointed...
This was going to be a little longer than the last time as I was setting off from our holiday cottage in Upper Toscaig which is 4miles south of Applecross on a singletrack road ..making the total journey 28 miles .
The weather upon setting off was ideal ..a strongish tail wind ..but with blue skies meant that the first four Tarmac miles flew by ..interrupted only when I spotted an otter in a small lily covered lochan at Milltown ..but before I could access my camera he / she was gone and didn't give me another glimpse.
On through Applecross to the start of the trail proper on a sandstone doubletrack following the River Applecross upstream for 4km ..and anyone who knows me will also know that I was extremely thankful of the fact that the herd of Highland Cattle roaming free..were a good distance
away from me down by the river ( I have been known to cut a ride short rather than cross a field in close proximity to cattle when on my own ! )
This for now is where my little story ends ..I'm having problems uploading pics to kickthebucket..which may have to wait for a better wifi connection when I get home..was it as good as I had remembered .....?
I will let the pictures tell the tale...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 6:15:11 GMT
Oh no, a cliff-hanger... did he get eaten by midges, fall into the river, gored to death by the wild kylie's or just lost in the mists of time in the land of the mystical rock for ever and ever, or just ... dummm dummmm dummmmmm!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 9:23:25 GMT
Has he gone the same way as the 9th Legion?...oh noooo.....
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 9:30:43 GMT
Oh no, a cliff-hanger... did he get eaten by midges, fall into the river, gored to death by the wild kylie's or just lost in the mists of time in the land of the mystical rock for ever and ever, or just ... dummm dummmm dummmmmm! ..now that would be telling you freakin nutter ...! Hahaha Talking about mystical rock ..we visited the Heritage Centre in Applecross ( very high brow for me !) ..and while Chopper is correct in his facts that the red Sandstone was formed 600 million years ago ...there was some form of Torridonian Gneiss ( I have forgotten it's full name ) which that was formed from which is 3 BILLION years old ..making these rocks some of the oldest in the world ! ...also I hadn't realised that Scotland was originally attached to Canada & Greenland ...now there's a dialect I'd like to hear ! Geography / History lesson over now children ...go play on your bikes ....and I will have some nice pictures for you to look at later on .. |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 9:53:43 GMT
Applecross to Kenmore in pictures ..with a few words thrown in ...if you don't like pics turn off your screens now ..because there are lots of them ! Double track for 4km  Then the track splits left to Applecross and right for Inverbain ( needs exploring!)  The start of the first ( and major ) climb ..looking back down the Glen towards Applecross ..with the Isle of Skye in the far distance  And looking up the climb ...  |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 9:59:37 GMT
A view of the River Applecross and the track to Inverbain  Looking back again  It gets very narrow and steep ...this is near to where Colin came a cropper in 2012 ..suffering a nasty blow to the head and concussion...he was going down at the time and clipped a hidden rock ...   |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:03:24 GMT
Still climbing ..nice waterfall   First climb over ..looking back  Gentle in comparison  |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:07:18 GMT
The water features ...not a fence shot ..resting on a bridge  ...the first of four small lochs coming in to view   The singletrack just keeps on going  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 10:10:29 GMT
Looks bloody tough riding - but bloody good too!
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:11:06 GMT
Getting close to the beach !  ...here it is ..a beach in the mountains ..  Time for a nana bar , drink and a sunbathe ...  |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:14:24 GMT
Getting closer to Kenmore ...hope that rock don't drop ..   Another little grunt of a climb  |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:20:36 GMT
What a view ...Glen Torridon in the distance and the mountain range which is Liatach  The start of the drop to Kenmore  |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:25:53 GMT
Another little loch on the way down   The tiny hamlet of Kenmore ...  Last of the singletrack  Journeys end  Time to turn around and do it all in reverse ...yesss!!  Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did ! |
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Post by glynnsixo on Jul 24, 2015 10:27:32 GMT
brilliant! great place to ride. conditions looking good also
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 10:44:38 GMT
brilliant! great place to ride. conditions looking good also Haha ..now it's funny you should say that Glynn ... Conditions on the outward leg were perfect ..with a nice tail wind to help push me along ..but it's as if the weather and trail gods combined as I turned for home and it absolutely lashed down ..almost sleet like on the highest point and I was glad of my waterproof jacket ..however they didn't diminish my opinion of the trail and the standing water which quickly gathered just made it a different but equally fun experience ...mind you I was effing soaked to the skin by the time I got back ! |
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Post by glynnsixo on Jul 24, 2015 10:55:21 GMT
lol............ looks like perfect day from ere neil  |
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 11:00:25 GMT
Looks bloody tough riding - but bloody good too! Nowhere near as tough as the ride you did in Bowderdale Pez ..a couple of stiff climbs which involve a bit of pushing at either end but they are over fairly quickly ..it just flows so well ..as well as having plenty of tech to put a smile on your face ... The pics don't really do it justice ..even though it has seen a lot more traffic in the 3 years since I was last here with Dave , Jean , Colin & Ian ..it's still right up there with the best I've ridden ..but better done with mates ! Every self respecting mountain biker should ride this before they pop their clogs ...anyone for a forum trip up here next year ..there is so much good riding !? |
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Post by Jan on Jul 24, 2015 11:22:31 GMT
That looks awesome Hodgy. It's along way to go for me though, maybe next year.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 12:24:17 GMT
Next year, sounds good.
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Post by roundie1981 on Jul 24, 2015 14:54:49 GMT
Looks like a brilliant ride that mate
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Post by Chopper on Jul 24, 2015 19:18:29 GMT
Looks bloody tough riding - but bloody good too! Nowhere near as tough as the ride you did in Bowderdale Pez ..a couple of stiff climbs which involve a bit of pushing at either end but they are over fairly quickly ..it just flows so well ..as well as having plenty of tech to put a smile on your face ... The pics don't really do it justice ..even though it has seen a lot more traffic in the 3 years since I was last here with Dave , Jean , Colin & Ian ..it's still right up there with the best I've ridden ..but better done with mates ! Every self respecting mountain biker should ride this before they pop their clogs ...anyone for a forum trip up here next year ..there is so much good riding !? Awesome, i need to do this soon  |
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Post by andy4d on Jul 24, 2015 20:15:28 GMT
Looks great. When I was there we had a bothy on the beach, no lecky and outside loo. It was a 20min+ walk from the road so we had cases of beer hidden in the bushes along the way to make it easier. It was a beer,no bikes holiday. Got a local guy to sail our beer supply for the week round the cove to save carrying it. My memory was seeing the same man a couple of days later being carried out the pub, trollied, and put into his car and see him drive off......wtf we asked. Apparently the local cop was over an hour away and would call before coming to town incase anyone wanted him. Guess its what some do in these isolated places....hodgy keep a look out!!!
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Post by hodgy on Jul 24, 2015 20:32:02 GMT
Not done this time but worth the trip on there own is the Torridon ride with the Annat descent ..7km of delectable downhill rockiness ..and the Ben Damph estate ride ..which I haven't ridden yet ..but Ian Bell tells me that it has an equally good descent to end and is a great ride ..there's 3 rides which make a worthwhile mini trip up here ..logistics may be an issue for riders further south ..but where there's a will there's a way ...
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