Torridon and Skye Singletrack Summary Duration: Grippy granite slabs, natural rock gardens, blisteringly rocky descents and 4 nights’ accommodation spectacular Highland scenery - this mountain biking trip has it all. Beginning on the 3 and a half days of sublime mystical Isle of Skye, we will take you on a guided tour of some of the most guided Highland biking exhilarating wilderness trails in the UK. Highlights If you’d like to extend your tour of Mountain biking along technical singletrack in the shadow of the Black Cuillin the incredible biking in the Scottish Highlands, let us know mountain ridge on the Isle of Skye and we can tailor a trip to suit Riding one of the longest natural mountain biking descents in Scotland - 7 km of twisty, sublime singletrack your holiday plans. Biking in the tracks of former world downhill mountain bike champion Steve Peat in the stunning Scottish Highlands Average Daily Distance: Breathtaking Highland scenery around every corner 50 km or 31 miles Example 5-Day Itinerary Includes: Day 1. Arrive in Scotland. Whether arriving by bus, train, boat or plane, we can pick 4 nights’ accommodation you up and take you to Portree, a beautiful fishing village on the Isle of Skye, where All transport and transfers you’ll spend the night. We’ll get the bikes ready for the journey ahead and have a pre- SMBLA qualified expert guide trip briefing. If time allows we can get the legs warmed up with a trip to the Quiraing, a Vehicle back up stunning landmark comprised of ridges, rock pinnacles and twisty, exposed Pick up and drop off in singlet rack which will whet the appetite for the biking that lies ahead. Glasgow or Edinburgh Day 2. We’ll transport you and your bikes to the starting point of the day’s biking, (alternative transport can be overlooking the Scalpay, a virtually uninhabited island off Skye’s east coast. The arranged – contact us for wilderness biking beg ins at the Sligachan Hotel, in the glen between the Red and more details) Black Cuillin ridges. The Alpine peaks of the Black Cuillin make a magnificent backdrop to the twisty, rocky singletrack that snakes its way south. There’s an epic Available on request: climb onto the shoulder of Blaven (Blà Bheinn) before a spectacular descent back to Pick up and drop off at other sea level. There’s one last off-road blast to finish the day before we leave Skye public transport links behind and head to the towering peaks of the Torridon Hills and a comfy bed for the Bike and kit hire night. Grade: Day 3. We’ve got a big day ahead of us so a hearty breakfast is a must! We’ll warmup with an easy road spin through the spectacular Glen Torridon scenery before heading Technical Grading: Red/Black off -road towards the Cuilin Pass. It’s an easy-going climb to a height of almost 400 metres finishing in a fabulously technical rocky descent almost back to sea level! After Dates: another short road section the mountains beckon once again and it’s back onto Partly guided trips are available at any time between April and stunning singletrack towards Glen Torridon. We’ll finish our day in the best way possible – a 6 km descent on tricky singletrack with the Torridon mountains as a October for groups of 2 or more. backdrop. The perfect end to a brilliant day of Highland biking! Contact us with the dates you have in mind. Day 4. Our destination for the day is Applecross, a tiny, remote fishing village perched on coast of Wester Ross, overlooking the stunning Inner Hebrides. Today is all about Price: stunning coastal views and fantastically remote biking. As with much for the biking in From £395 per person this part of the world, we’ll start from sea level with a gradual climb along rocky Please contact us with your trip singletrack with a few loose, steep sections and the occasional peatbog to keep specifications for an accurate things interesting! We’ll be rewarded at the top of the climb with an exposed, technical price. descent on rocky terrain. It’s then a straightforward, rapid downhill all the way to Applecross and the perfect spot for a hearty lunch. It’s just as well the trails were such To make a booking: good fun on the way over – we’ve got to get back to Loch Torridon! If there’s time we can show you some other fantastic singletrack around the base of Beinn Damh and Email us: [email protected] one of our all-time favourite descents. Phone us: +44 (0)7922 653327 or +44 (0)7891 630696 Day 5. We’ll transport you to Edinburgh or Glasgow where you can head home or Skype: trailbrakes continue your travels. Torridon and Skye Singletrack – Extra Information Accommodation and food We use only tried and tested accommodation providers on our trips so that we know that you will receive an excellent level of service. They provide everything you could need after a long day in the saddle from bike storage to hot showers, hearty food and comfortable beds. Accommodation in bed and breakfasts and hotels are always on a bed and breakfast basis and trip prices are based on two people sharing a room, unless otherwise arranged. If you would prefer hostel or bunkhouse style accommodation, breakfast is not included although most hostels can provide meals at an additional charge. Hostels will often have cooking facilities so that you can prepare your own meals if you’d prefer. Wherever you stay you will be able to get an evening meal locally. Lunches can usually be bought before beginning biking each day and because we won’t usually be passing through any towns, you will need to carry enough food and fluids with you to keep you going all day. Sole occupancy rooms are usually available in hotels or guest houses so please ask us if you’d prefer to have your own room. Clothing and kit Scotland receives a generally mild climate all year round with the Gulf Stream passing our western coastline. There are even palm trees growing in the region! Conditions can and do change very quickly in the Western Highlands, especially on higher and more exposed areas. It can rain at any time of year, sometimes all day and we often get four seasons in a day, so come prepared! A full kit list is available on our website (http://www.trailbrakes.co.uk/output/kit_list.asp) and a list of useful items will also be sent to you when you book your trip with us. General climatic information from Scotland is available here: http://www.scotlandinfo.eu/weather-climate.html. Up-to-the-minute weather forecasts from specific regions of the UK are available at the met office website (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/). You will need to bring a small back-pack (approximately 20 litre capacity) with you on your trip, in which you can carry spare clothes, basic spares and all food and fluids that you might need during the course of a day on the bikes. Midges! Midges (small biting insects) can be a pest in the Highlands but are usually not a problem when you’re on the move. If you decide to stop for a break in a sheltered spot where there is no wind and there are trees and water in the vicinity, there will always be midges around. They rarely cause a serious problem, they’re more of a nuisance, but some people react badly to their bites and develop an itchy red spot which can be irritating. Some insect repellent is advisable, those containing DEET being the most effective, and cream is available in pharmacies that relieve the irritation of the bites. The trails The trails on this trip vary greatly in technical difficulty from rocky Landrover tracks to extremely steep, loose, rocky, exposed singletrack! The surfaces are all generally hard packed or rocky but there may be wet, boggy sections to contend with as well. Some sections of these routes are technically challenging so off-road biking experience will be required. This trip has a Fitness Grading of 6 which means that you should have a high level of fitness and stamina from regularly taking part in cycling-based activities and you should be comfortable riding for up to 7 hours per day. The route will include sections of physically demanding terrain including long, steep climbs. This trip has a Technical Grading of Red/Black, meaning that the route is suitable for proficient mountain bikers. Trails can be steep and rough with some technical sections including large rocks and water crossings. Some off-road biking experience is required. Guided trips Our guided trips are designed to give you a hassle-free way to enjoy the amazing wilderness biking in the western Highlands of Scotland. We include a friendly, knowledgeable, SMBLA qualified guide who, as well as navigating you along the trials, can also give you tips to improve any aspect of your riding and take you on the best trails in the area. Our guides also carry spares and tools to help you keep rolling in the event of a mechanical problem, though if you’re bringing your own bike you would be advised to bring spare inner tubes and spare parts specific to your bike, for example brake pads and rear mech hanger. Our guides are trained in outdoor-specific first aid techniques so will make sure you, as well as you bike, are well looked after on the trails.