Scotland: Corrour to Fort William via Gleann Iolairean?
superhoshi
Posts: 6
Hi y'all,
thinking about going up to Scotland soon and riding from Corrour to Fort William really tickles my fancy. Now, the common way of doing this seems to be via Loch Treig, Meannach Bothy and Loch Eilde Mor to Kinlochleven.
However, Google Earth tells me that most of this is just Land Rover double track-ish.
Instead, it looks like it's possible to ride from the south bank of Loch Treig via a valley the OS map calls "Gleann Iolairean" to Blackwater Reservoir. The only info I can find about it is that's apparently a long long Singletrack which sounds good. But how rideable is it? I don't mind getting off and pushing occasionally, but don't want to commit to 15k of trail that is 80% carrying really. Is it prone to being boggy?
Also, what do people reckon is the better downhill from Blackwater to Kinlochleven? There seems to be a trail on the north side of the river, potentially rather steep, and a doubletrack on the opposite side (boring?). I'm riding a 120mm trail bike, don't mind some techy bits but would rather avoid constant barrages of huge boulders.
Cheerio
thinking about going up to Scotland soon and riding from Corrour to Fort William really tickles my fancy. Now, the common way of doing this seems to be via Loch Treig, Meannach Bothy and Loch Eilde Mor to Kinlochleven.
However, Google Earth tells me that most of this is just Land Rover double track-ish.
Instead, it looks like it's possible to ride from the south bank of Loch Treig via a valley the OS map calls "Gleann Iolairean" to Blackwater Reservoir. The only info I can find about it is that's apparently a long long Singletrack which sounds good. But how rideable is it? I don't mind getting off and pushing occasionally, but don't want to commit to 15k of trail that is 80% carrying really. Is it prone to being boggy?
Also, what do people reckon is the better downhill from Blackwater to Kinlochleven? There seems to be a trail on the north side of the river, potentially rather steep, and a doubletrack on the opposite side (boring?). I'm riding a 120mm trail bike, don't mind some techy bits but would rather avoid constant barrages of huge boulders.
Cheerio
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Comments
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im merely passing this on, the trail Gleann Iolairean" to Blackwater Reservoir you refer to is supposed to be awesome, my mate lived there for a bit (marines), spent a while exploring that area on bike and on foot, the devils staircase etc and he 100% recommends the trail your on about, but weather permitting, it gets affected with the moisture somewhat, but worth it if you catch it during a good spell of weatheri spent all me money on whisky and beer!!!0
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I've been through Gleann Iolairean as part of a circular route from Kinlochleven, Loch Eilde Mor to Meannanach, to the south end of Loch Treig, then back to Kinlochleven via the route you're looking at.
Basically the climb from Loch Treig to the high point below Meall a'Bhainne is unrideable. It is sinlge track, but definitely more suited to walking, and carrying the bike. And some swearing too. Once you get through the pass it gets better, with some nice single track past the bothy at Loch Chiarain. Once you get nearer Blackwater it gets pretty boggy. I managed to lose the path just past the monument marked on the map as it faded away into the bog.
I took the route out on the south side of the glen from Blackwater. It's a fairly level and uneventful LRT doubletrack which can be spiced up a little by riding along the top of the pipe from the dam that follows the track !
When you meet up with the west highland way though you do get a great high speed blast all the way to Kinlochleven, as you've kept almost all of your height until this point.
I've never done the route out from the dam on the north side of the glen, but it's known as the Ciaran Path, and has a reputation for being a pretty special ( severe in places ! ) and technical downhill.0 -
Was up that way a couple of year back. The ciaran path is pretty good. It might be a bit techy in places but you can always walk it as we did, and anyway its not long lengths. As for going down the track on the northern side of the river, its over too quick and theress too many walkers doing the WHW.
A few pics here
http://s403.photobucket.com/albums/pp11 ... land%2008/
enjoy
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