Torridon 10th -14th May 2024

[Highcountrydrifter]

Great thread! Really enjoyed the pix and comments.
So much so that I'm inspired to ride this loop.
I'm travelling from New Zealand and will have most of September in Scotland and I'm looking for a bit of advice from some of you old hands.
I'll be riding solo, and for this trip I'll need to hire a bike - so which is the better town to rent from distance and travel wise to Torridon - Inverness or Fort William? and does anybody have recommendations for a hire-shop?
We've got a campervan (hopefully with a bikerack) so are mobile but dont want to waste riding time by having to drive long distances.
I'm 67 and have both a Levo and Kenevo here in NZ, and this ride looks very similar to a lot of what we have in the South Island.
I'm torn between the Cairngorms or Torridon - what say you? - if time was limited and you only had a few days up your sleeve? Is one markedly better/more rideable/spectacular than the other and if you only had time to do one of these - which?
Thanks guys - I'm hoping somebody can shed a bit of light on this subject, but if not, I've pretty much settled on Torridon, but if there's something better in the regio I'm hoping I'll bump into somebody for a bit of local knowledge.
Cheers.

 

[The EMF]

Great thread! Really enjoyed the pix and comments.
So much so that I'm inspired to ride this loop.
I'm travelling from New Zealand and will have most of September in Scotland and I'm looking for a bit of advice from some of you old hands.
I'll be riding solo, and for this trip I'll need to hire a bike - so which is the better town to rent from distance and travel wise to Torridon - Inverness or Fort William? and does anybody have recommendations for a hire-shop?
We've got a campervan (hopefully with a bikerack) so are mobile but dont want to waste riding time by having to drive long distances.
I'm 67 and have both a Levo and Kenevo here in NZ, and this ride looks very similar to a lot of what we have in the South Island.
I'm torn between the Cairngorms or Torridon - what say you? - if time was limited and you only had a few days up your sleeve? Is one markedly better/more rideable/spectacular than the other and if you only had time to do one of these - which?
Thanks guys - I'm hoping somebody can shed a bit of light on this subject, but if not, I've pretty much settled on Torridon, but if there's something better in the regio I'm hoping I'll bump into somebody for a bit of local knowledge.
Cheers.

Having ridden both areas I’d plumb for the Cairngorms. Don’t get me wrong Torridon is spectacular but very isolated. Ballater in the Cairngorms is well placed for a multitude of trails and trail centres which will suit a solo rider. Nice little town in Aberdeenshire.
Pm @Just gan for info of the area as he’s the man for all things Scottash.

 

[Just gan]

Great thread! Really enjoyed the pix and comments.
So much so that I'm inspired to ride this loop.
I'm travelling from New Zealand and will have most of September in Scotland and I'm looking for a bit of advice from some of you old hands.
I'll be riding solo, and for this trip I'll need to hire a bike - so which is the better town to rent from distance and travel wise to Torridon - Inverness or Fort William? and does anybody have recommendations for a hire-shop?
We've got a campervan (hopefully with a bikerack) so are mobile but dont want to waste riding time by having to drive long distances.
I'm 67 and have both a Levo and Kenevo here in NZ, and this ride looks very similar to a lot of what we have in the South Island.
I'm torn between the Cairngorms or Torridon - what say you? - if time was limited and you only had a few days up your sleeve? Is one markedly better/more rideable/spectacular than the other and if you only had time to do one of these - which?
Thanks guys - I'm hoping somebody can shed a bit of light on this subject, but if not, I've pretty much settled on Torridon, but if there's something better in the regio I'm hoping I'll bump into somebody for a bit of local knowledge.
Cheers.

Hard one to choose from. Torridon is one of my favourite places but mostly for hill walking . Some seriously rough routes there I haven't done much biking there saying that I did the Tea Hut loop three weeks ago. It's a remote area . Cairngorms I posted a ride I did yesterday. It's got plenty as EMF said just not as rugged looking as the West coast . Ballater is a nice little place . How many days would you be hiring a bike for ? . Ballater to Torridon is only 3 hours driving so you coulddo both . You could hire in Ballater easily I'm thinking Inverness would be better for Torridon hiring. Pm me if you want more info I could easily phone and get some hire prices for you . September can be a good month weather wise in Scotland.

 

[Just gan]

Having ridden both areas I’d plumb for the Cairngorms. Don’t get me wrong Torridon is spectacular but very isolated. Ballater in the Cairngorms is well placed for a multitude of trails and trail centres which will suit a solo rider. Nice little town in Aberdeenshire.
Pm @Just gan for info of the area as he’s the man for all things Scottash.

Yes it's a hard one to choose from . Won't recommend Capel Mounth that's for sure eh. He has to get the award for furthest travel to cycle.

 

[Highcountrydrifter]

Having ridden both areas I’d plumb for the Cairngorms. Don’t get me wrong Torridon is spectacular but very isolated. Ballater in the Cairngorms is well placed for a multitude of trails and trail centres which will suit a solo rider. Nice little town in Aberdeenshire.
Pm @Just gan for info of the area as he’s the man for all things Scottash.

Thanks for that insight, sounds like I couldn't go wrong with either destination.
Cheers

 

[Highcountrydrifter]

Hard one to choose from. Torridon is one of my favourite places but mostly for hill walking . Some seriously rough routes there I haven't done much biking there saying that I did the Tea Hut loop three weeks ago. It's a remote area . Cairngorms I posted a ride I did yesterday. It's got plenty as EMF said just not as rugged looking as the West coast . Ballater is a nice little place . How many days would you be hiring a bike for ? . Ballater to Torridon is only 3 hours driving so you coulddo both . You could hire in Ballater easily I'm thinking Inverness would be better for Torridon hiring. Pm me if you want more info I could easily phone and get some hire prices for you . September can be a good month weather wise in Scotland.

Thanks for the input, will research Ballater, and I'll look up your post about Cairngorms. Glad to hear that September can be a good month weatherwise, although I suspect the weather up there is similar to weather down here in the South Island.
I appreciate your input.
Cheers.

 

[Highland Wheels]

Thanks for the input, will research Ballater, and I'll look up your post about Cairngorms. Glad to hear that September can be a good month weatherwise, although I suspect the weather up there is similar to weather down here in the South Island.
I appreciate your input.
Cheers.

If you are over Cairngorms direction speak to Nash @ Ride Scotland and see if he can sort you an Amflow for your visit or try Cycle highlands in Ballater, they may have something as well

 

[Just gan]

Thanks for the input, will research Ballater, and I'll look up your post about Cairngorms. Glad to hear that September can be a good month weatherwise, although I suspect the weather up there is similar to weather down here in the South Island.
I appreciate your input.
Cheers.

No problem I would post your ride plans when you are over here. You could get some company for a ride if you wanted that. Plenty folk on this forum who ride those places.

 

[Highcountrydrifter]

Yeah, that would be sensible, and once I firm up my plans I might just do that.
But equally, I'm ok if it's just myself - there's nothing quite like a big day out by yourself in that sort of country, but if a local wanted a day out I wouldn't say no to the company.
Your recommendation re Ballater was good advice - thanks for that. Haven't booked anything or have dates but they look to be my first choice to hire from once I get landed.
thanks again for that.