The NW Highlands weekend trip is more singletrack based than the other weekend trips offered. It’s perfect for riders wanting to experience their first bikepacking adventure on hardtail, or full suspension mountain bikes. Although the distance and ascent might appear modest this is a ride that is committing, exposed to poor weather and has a lot of rocky, technical singletrack.

Accommodation is at a campsite by Loch Shieldaig and a private cabin in ‘The Sanctuary’ of the Applecross peninsula. All meals and trail snacks are provided. To help minimise our impact transport to our biking location is provided by rideawaybikepacking on this weekend trip.

Friday

Pick up from Jim in Grantown on Spey, or Inverness whichever suits you. Then drive to Shieldaig where we will arrive in time to check into the campsite then take a short walk to enjoy dinner at a popular seafood restaurant and bar.

Saturday

Before leaving Shieldaig we will visit a local cafe for breakfast and to choose our takeaway sandwich for the ride. There will also be the opportunity to purchase any additional items that you might want from the village shop at your own expense.

Once the VW is loaded up we will head along the beautiful coast road to the start of the ride. Within minutes of leaving you will be engaged with the challenge and beauty of this trail. There is a steady, undulating climb south to the high point with some sections of looser, more exposed trail to negotiate. The final descent to Applecross is fast and exciting with a final section on road before we reach the cabins and campsite where we will be spending the night.

Dinner is at another first class restaurant where you will have had a table booked in advance which allows our group to have a more relaxed time once off the bikes.

Sunday

Breakfast is at a takeaway van with a difference! We will then simply reverse Saturday’s route which means all the downs become ups, with the challenge of ‘cleaning them’ and all the ups now become whooping, swooping downs on this amazing ribbon of trail. The return journey is a fun test of cornering skills, descending skills, climbing skills and loaded bike handling skills.

Once the bikes are loaded onto the VW we can discuss how the ride went and agree on a plan for the journey back. There may well be time to visit other riding venues in the area, or closer to Inverness if conditions and group desire allow. You will be dropped off in Inverness, or Grantown on Spey.

day 1 : c. 12 miles and 1500 ft ascent

day 2: c. 10 miles and 1310 ft ascent