Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking Ideas (and directions)
Before you start, please could we recommend that you arm yourself with The British Mountain Map, Knoydart, Kintail, & Glen Affric which will give you further details and will show the various tracks and paths. Our nearest bike shop is Nevis Cyclesin Fort William.
The times are based where possible on the time it takes to hike. This should give you a cushion and all being well you’ll be quicker, but remember that timing is also weather dependent.
Route 1
Head south from Kyle of Lochalsh to Shiel Bridge on the A87. At Shiel Bridge turn right to Glenelg. Go through Glenelg and follow the road to Arnisdale and on to Corran. At a total distance from Kyle of approx. 37 miles.
At Corran take the track up Glen Arnisdale and follow the River Arnisdale through to Dubh Lochain.
Cross the bridge and work your way alongside the Loch and up the steep slope at the head of the Glen. At the top of the slope, you should see the line of electricity pylons. Head towards the pylons and turn right onto the access track. This track is rough but rideable.
Follow the track and descend the steep hill, at the bottom of which you’ll turn right and drop down through the wood to Kinlochourn.
Follow the track past the Lodge, through the white gate.
Stay on the track and turn right after you’ve crossed the wooden bridge and we are 300 meters on the right.
Hiking from Arnisdale through to us takes on average 5 hrs.
Route 2
Head to Shiel Bridge on the A87. At Shiel Bridge turn right towards Glenelg. Once you’ve gone just over halfway to Glenelg you will come to a road on your left. It’s a sharp left turn, take this road/track. This will take you along Glen More and you’ll be alongside the Glenmore River.
At your first opportunity cross the river to the southwest bank. You should pick up a track which will turn away from the rive in a southerly direction and lead you to Suardalan Bothy.
From the Bothy follow the track south westerly until you come to the electricity pylons. Turn left onto the access track and follow through as in Route 1. This is a more challenging route due to there being more off road than in Route 1.
Hikers tend to take 8hrs on average from Suardalan Bothy, although again with a bike you’d expect that to come right down.
Route 3
Follow the A87 south, go through Shiel Bridge and continue on the A87 to The Clunie Inn, some 28 miles. Take the track to the right and follow keeping right where it splits the left fork goes down to Clunie Lodge.
You will now stay on this track as it climbs up and over the saddle with Beinn Loinne to your left and Creag a Mhaim on the right.
You will have a steep decline into Glen Loyne. Cut down to Loch Loyne and turning right follow the river Loyne up to its source.
You then pick up the Glen Quoich Burn and follow down to Altbeithe. Turn left and you’ll be on a hardcore track that will run alongside part of Loch Quoich. When you reach the road turn right and follow for about 6miles to your destination.
This has been done again by hiking and total time from the Clunie Inn to us was around the 8hr mark.
