walkhighlands

This forum is for general discussion about walking and scrambling... If writing a report or sharing your experiences from a route, please use the other boards.

Glenaffric

Glenaffric


Postby weesmudge » Mon Apr 18, 2022 8:36 pm

Evening all
Looking to go into glenaffric to do the 3 of the Mam sodhail group
But I've been looking at the maps to try and shorten the day down a wee bit
My thinking is to park at the last carpark at the foot of the Glen
But I'm wondering is it possible to cycle down the north side of the loch and then cycle shove my bike as far as I can up glen coire leachaive do the 3 and return by the same route would be great coming down the hill.
I've noticed on OS maps that there is a little outbuilding at about the 500m mark at a kink in the burn probably hydro or similar.
TIA
Chris
weesmudge
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 86
Munros:134   Corbetts:4
Joined: Jan 16, 2017

Re: Glenaffric

Postby malky_c » Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:09 pm

Depends how rough you like your cycling. The track along the north side of the loch is reasonable, but it is more of a quad-bike track than a landrover track so it has a few steep and twisty bits in it and a couple of short sections of new gravel that hasn't compacted down properly yet and will probably be like cycling in sand. There is a short section bypassing the lodge that is more of a path than a track, but it doesn't last long. Probably not too bad on a mountain bike (I was walking along there on Friday and thinking it would be mostly OK for cycling, although not as fast as the track on the south side of the loch).

The track up Coire Leachavie is very steep. It's definitely more cyclable than the path that used to be there before but I wouldn't bother myself!
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Glenaffric

Postby Helen Bruce » Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:53 am

I've not cycled the north side of the loch, but I did walk down Coire Leachavie from Mam Sodhail a few years ago and the track was very loose with fairly big rocks and quite eroded, so for me it wouldn't be worth the bother of cycling it.

However, another option for you would be to cycle on the south side road which is a good ride, then go up from there. See my 2013 trip report: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32549. You could do a variation of this, leaving your bike at the point where we ascended and then walking down Coire Leachavie on the descent.

From memory, apart from the initial grassy slog up to the ridge, it was a great day out. While you'd have a longer cycle it might be more enjoyable ...

Have a good day, anyway!
User avatar
Helen Bruce
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 101
Munros:160   Corbetts:81
Fionas:10   Donalds:20
Islands:46
Joined: Jul 17, 2011
Location: Edinburgh

Re: Glenaffric

Postby mmill » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:29 pm

We did those 3 last year and were glad we had walked it. We are probably fairly average pace and it took us just under 9.5 hours. Walking you can take in the great views, rather than be watching the track ahead all the time.
mmill
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 120
Munros:263   Corbetts:57
Fionas:11   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:30   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:2   Islands:18
Joined: Apr 12, 2011

Re: Glenaffric

Postby Colin1951 » Sat Apr 30, 2022 1:14 pm

You can cycle easily from the car park to Strawberry Cottage and probably a bit further towards Coire Leachavie before it gets to be more bother than it’s worth. In the other direction, Strawberry Cottage to the youth hostel is very bouldery and unpleasant for a bike.
Colin1951
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 163
Munros:226   Corbetts:20
Fionas:5   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:2   
Islands:12
Joined: Nov 9, 2010
Walk wish-list

Re: Glenaffric

Postby WalkWithWallace » Sat Apr 30, 2022 4:19 pm

Other option is paying the Angus the boatman to drop you off at the foot of Beinn Fhionnlaidh and do all 5 Munros back to the Mullardoch dam.
User avatar
WalkWithWallace
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1082
Munros:119   Corbetts:192
Fionas:57   Donalds:36+0
Hewitts:41
Wainwrights:29   Islands:25
Joined: Jan 27, 2019
Location: www.youtube.com/c/walkwithwallace
Walk wish-list

Re: Glenaffric

Postby Stuart84 » Sat Apr 30, 2022 7:43 pm

WalkWithWallace wrote:Other option is paying the Angus the boatman to drop you off at the foot of Beinn Fhionnlaidh and do all 5 Munros back to the Mullardoch dam.


That's my plan for this summer. Makes is manageable.
Stuart84
Walker
 
Posts: 11
Munros:281   Corbetts:20
Fionas:16   Donalds:5+4
Sub 2000:46   
Islands:10
Joined: Jul 25, 2016

Re: Glenaffric

Postby weesmudge » Sun May 01, 2022 9:08 pm

Evening all done this route today as per the opening question
So managed to cycle along the north side of the loch to the point where you turn right at the cairn to head up the Glen, shoved my bike up to the dam and then done the 3 munros in 8hrs 6min.
The cycle out from the dam was epic I have a full suspension bike the I use at trail centres and both bike and myself coped fine from dam back to the carpark in 34 minutes and I chatted to a couple with a dog for about 5 of them.
So for me it was worth the shove up the hill. 8) 8)
weesmudge
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 86
Munros:134   Corbetts:4
Joined: Jan 16, 2017

Re: Glenaffric

Postby WalkWithWallace » Mon May 02, 2022 9:21 am

Update. The boatman isn't running this season as he's recovering from an RTA. Hope he's okay. :(
User avatar
WalkWithWallace
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1082
Munros:119   Corbetts:192
Fionas:57   Donalds:36+0
Hewitts:41
Wainwrights:29   Islands:25
Joined: Jan 27, 2019
Location: www.youtube.com/c/walkwithwallace
Walk wish-list

Re: Glenaffric

Postby John Hughes » Tue May 03, 2022 11:02 am

Hi Folks,
Some interesting updates - sorry to hear about ferryman Angus' accident. Was hoping to use the ferry this summer. Looks like I'll have to cycle in and camp or stay at Alltbeithe. Does anyone know whether it's OK to leave your car for a couple of nights in the Glen Affric car park or do they enforce a restriction for one day parking only?
TIA
John
John Hughes
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Mar 19, 2012

Re: Glenaffric

Postby FraserHughes » Tue May 03, 2022 2:04 pm

John Hughes wrote:Hi Folks,
Some interesting updates - sorry to hear about ferryman Angus' accident. Was hoping to use the ferry this summer. Looks like I'll have to cycle in and camp or stay at Alltbeithe. Does anyone know whether it's OK to leave your car for a couple of nights in the Glen Affric car park or do they enforce a restriction for one day parking only?
TIA
John


I don't know about the main (pay and display) car park at the end of the public road but the car park at Chisholme Bridge is free and you can stay overnight.
FraserHughes
 
Posts: 250
Joined: Jul 15, 2013

Re: Glenaffric

Postby weesmudge » Tue May 03, 2022 6:12 pm

The carpark at the end of the road is a pay and display
And there are notices about no overnight parking but there always seems to be cars vans there that look like they've been there all night
weesmudge
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 86
Munros:134   Corbetts:4
Joined: Jan 16, 2017

Re: Glenaffric

Postby John Hughes » Wed May 04, 2022 9:45 am

Thanks for the info,
Looks like Chisholme Bridge car park will be ideal.
John Hughes
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Mar 19, 2012




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to General discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests