Torridon Highs

I've been a bit remiss with the blog of late... a sea kayaking day, trip to the Lakes and climbing...

So with a day to play with and inspiration to get out West with the bike I headed to Torridon to ride the much talked about Tour of Ben Damph.

After being chased by Jack and Jenna in his bright yellow Honda Jazz (they were going up Liathach) I ended up at the Torridon Inn and set off.

Beach life

I really enjoyed the initial easy stretch that follows the shore, taking a small detour to a headland for a photo opportunity - I think worth it! The ride then follows Loch Damh South past a wee fishing hut that marks the end of the landrover track and start of the single track.

This section is great, passing small beach's and having fine views. I was slightly saddened that at Kinloch Damph expecting great single track and remoteness (or feeling of) there's a new hydro scheme being constructed and they have decimated 3 miles of track, built bridges, roads... basically trashed the place. Hopefully when its complete some restoration is achieved - must write to them about this!

Slabs - thats Torridon

I got quite angry about this, but once I left the giant pipes and heavy machinery behind at the hydo's intake point in Strath a' Bhathaich the nice trail reappeared and sense of calm returned. I had to push some of the fine trail up to Drochaid Coire Roill (col), but that was nice as it allowed me to linger and look around. I think I have read somewhere that this landscape feels and looks quite Tolkienesque, and it certainly felt that today with the silver shimmering Torridon Peaks to the NE in view.

I had fun messing about with the camera at the col, playing on the rock slabs and even thought of a dip in the lochan... but at 12 degrees that didn't quite happen. The long descent was interesting! Loz raved about this... I enjoyed it, but obviously having an off day found it pretty hardcore. Its pretty loose and rocky with tennis ball to bowling ball cobbles! Basically I took it easy and wished I had lowered my seat +/- had a big travel bike and knee guards! I really enjoyed the the last section in the forest - now that was mega.

Mount doom

Overall I give it 7/10! It would have been 9/10 if not for the hydro scheme. I great Scottish ride that I can see why people say its a must do. It's definitely on the list for when Kev visits in Oct!

In the Hands of the Gods

That's how it felt yesterday. Lots of idea's for climbing, but after another sunny week, it was a very unsettled weather forecast in the Highlands this weekend. In the end it looked marginally better on the East and we headed to Strathconon a local glen to look at Salamander, a HVS I've been wanting to climb for ages.

It feels very remote as you drive up the endless glen... We ditched the van eventually and used bikes to get up Gleann Meinich on the forest road. The crag rears up on the right as you get to the end of the glen.

Before the rain!

Leaving the bikes it started to rain, and looked pretty grey... but as it's a steep walk up to the crag we pressed on, hoping it was a passing shower.

Jack latching the belay ledge on pitch 1

It's pretty tortuous ascending the steep heather slopes, but we got to the crag eventually. Wow - what a ticky place, socks tucked into shoes, endless ticks on the trousers had to be brushed off on the walk in. Amazing variation of tick, from pin head sized critters, to 3-4mm with orange backs! I knew there was a reason I'd thought that this would be a good Autumn/Winter venture!

Questing 

The 6 pitch climb is amazing! Sublime climbing on every pitch, with great variety. The first dog - leg crack started easily and then turned into a wild, but grippy off-width with good gear that you had to stem. This was followed by a bolder slab/face pitch, and so the variety went on. The 2 final pitch's are worth mention, as penultimately you get an amazing looking hanging corner (its easy but brilliant), and Jack's last pitch was an unlikely looking chimney that looked wild, but did have gear, and was okay in the end! It's also worth mentioning that the 5b variant we took on pitch 3 was better climbing and protection than the original route, and more like 5a!

Lets get out of here!

During the last hour or so on the route the wind had picked up and it was pretty cold, I just kept thinking amazing that it's 30 degree's in the South of England today as I felt I was verging on hyperthermia!

The walk down and out was pretty tortuous, but short lived with gravity on our side. I really great adventure that I felt we were lucky to achieve, as it really could have gone either way with the weather today.