Torridon & Skye MTB Tour

To secure your place on the Torridon and Skye Epic Ride  A 30% per person, booking deposit is required. Deposits are non refundable and the full balance is due 8 weeks before your arrival in Scotland.

If you snore, prefer your own privacy or simply want to spread out and would like your own room there is a single occupancy option for your own room. This depends on availability and is limited to a certain number of rooms per property per week. 

If this is of interest then please contact us for prices, your deposit will then be calculated at 30% of your total holiday cost.

Getting ready for four days of mountain biking is fairly full-on, remote locations can be a major task. These notes will help everybody know what to expect from the trip. If there’s anything else you need to know, or want to check, please don’t hesitate to ask.  

Please note that this is totally dependent upon the weather and trail conditions and could alter considerably. We will duscuss all this in the morning on day 1. Accommodation is available for the night before day 1.

Day 1

Applecross 

Riding distance: 17km  

Ascent: 280m  

We’ve only got half a day to play with here but Kenmore to Applecross is a great way to start the trip. The ride is short but totally exhilarating with plenty of sinuous singletrack across remote ground and an awesome technical final descent. It also finishes at a great pub where we’ll grab a beer before we hop on the minibus for the Torridon and our accommodation.

On Friday night we stay in the Torridon Youth Hostel and eat in the fabulous Torridon Inn.  

Day 2

Torridon 

Riding distance: Various 

Ascent: 800m-1600m 

We have a few choices for the mountain days in Torridon - we can make a final decision on  the day based on the weather and how the group is feeling. Ideally, on the first day we’ll ride  the 4 cols route, climbing from Annat to over 650m before dropping back to sea level at  Achnashellac - one of the best descents in the Highlands. It’s a big climb out from there. But  it’s worth it for the return descent from Bealach na Lice to Annat. We have an alternative  loop that is a little longer but stays a little lower - ideal if the weather isn’t on our side. 

On Friday night we stay in the Torridon Youth Hostel and eat in a stunning loch side restaurant in the wildest west of Scotland

Day 3

Torridon 

Riding distance: Various 

Ascent: 800m - 1,600m 

Again, we have choices. The Ben Damph loop is favourite – a shorter, slightly lower version  of the previous day’s exploits with some great technical riding at the end. But there are other  options including a few exploratory routes. We’ll make a final choice based on the weather  and how the group is feeling. 

On Saturday night we stay in the Torridon Youth Hostel again and eat in another incredible coastal restaurant only 15 minutes down the road

Day 4

Sligachan, Skye 

Riding distance: 18km 

Ascent: 270m  

The ride starts with a rocky climb and an even rockier descent to the beautiful and remote Camasunary beach. From there, we’ll ride the singletrack through Glen Sligachan, with amazing views of the imposing peaks of the legendary Cuillin Ridge. Although this ride is fairly short, the trail is technical and average speeds will be low. The ride ends at the Sligachan Hotel, where a celebratory pint or coffee will be in order, before a 2.5 hour minibus ride to Aviemore and our journeys home!

Our meeting point for the Torridon and Skye Epic Ride is Aviemore. Easily accessible via car, train and flight into local airports

Included in the price is all your travel whilst on the trip with us in Scotland and including collection and drop off from Aviemore train station. If you are planning to self drive there is parking in Aviemore where your car will be safe and secure without need to be moved. 

If you are flying into the UK and travelling to us by public transport there are great rain link from Aviemore to Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

Edinburgh - Aviemore

First jump on the bus or tram in to the city for £5 then your train will depart from Edinburgh Waverley Station

• 12 trains per day
• £17.50 each way
• Average travel time 3h20m
• Fastest travel time 2h45m
• First train 06:48
• Last train 23:19
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/train-times/edinburgh-waverley-to-aviemore

Glasgow - Aviemore

Slightly more tricky, but jump on the bus for £7 and head to the city centre and Glasgow High Street Station

• 12 trains per day - none direct
• £23.10 each way
• Average travel time 3h24m
• Fastest travel time 2h44m
• First train 06:50
• Last train 23:11
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/train-times/high-street-glasgow-to-aviemore

By Rail

Virgin Trains East Coast - www.virgintrainseastcoast.com

ScotRail: www.scotrail.co.uk

Caledonian Sleeper - www.sleeper.scot - A very popular service with a late evening departure from London and and early morning arrival into Aviemore. Depart London 21:15 Arrive Aviemore 07:40 ready for coffee and bikes! £170 ish

• Advised bike - 140mm - 170mm Enduro bike *
• Fitness - 3*
• Skills and Technical ability - 3*
• Riding Style - All Natural / Spirit of Adventure

The riding standard and fitness level required to ride the Torridon and Skye Epic Ride trip is of an high intermediate / advanced standard. This is not only for your enjoyment and personal safety, but it is also for the group as a whole. The riding can be very technical, long and exposed.

Please read our ability assessor and ask any questions before making your booking.

Follow our Ability Assessor to see if this holiday is for you

There’s no getting around it, 7 mountain bikers will be pretty conspicuous and we’ll have some impact on the landscape and other trail users. As a company, we’re 100% committed to minimising our impact in every way we can. We operate a strict ‘pack it out’ policy for all litter (including banana skins and orange peel), and we try to leave as little trace of our passing as possible. While we’ll enjoy some epic descents and trails, please ride in control and at a speed that reflects your line of sight and abilities. We’ll certainly meet walkers and we want any interactions to be as positive as possible. It’s important to give mountain bikers a good name.

It is essential and a required part of your booking process that you have holiday insurance in place for your trip that covers against medical and personal accident and all the activities including mountain biking you will take part in. 

We have worked with Yellow Jersey Cycle insurance for the past 3 years now and feel they offer the perfect Travel and Bike insurance package. All Atlas Ride clients also receive a 10% discount on their Mountain Bike and Travel policies. Your discount code will be in your booking confirmation. 

Yellow Jersey

Kit List - The weather can be very varied in Scotland so we need to be prepared. We’ll have a briefing every evening to give you an up to date weather forecast and plan the next day. We can share some of the kit to keep packs as light as possible, although on very remote days we need to cover all eventualities.

• Hydration pack big enough to carry everything in the list below – suggested size 15L to 20L • 
• Water and snacks – gels, energy bars, flapjacks, jelly babies 
• Lunch (we supply it but you need to carry it!) 
• Dry bag to keep everything dry inside your pack 
• Mini pump for your valve type 
• 2 inner tubes plus spare ones in the minibus (even if you use tubeless) – Scotland is very rocky! 
• Tube patches (preferably self-adhesive) 
• Tubeless repair kit (if you use tubeless) 
• Tyre boot or patch 
• Tyre levers 
• 2 spare spokes that fit your wheels 
• Multi-tool 
• 1 set of spare brake pads 
• Rear gear hanger for your bike - essential 
• Cable ties
• Duct tape (we suggest wrapping 1m around your pump) 
• Power link for your chain type and speed 
• Mobile phone - in a waterproof case or plastic bag 
• Small personal first aid kit
• Insect repellent (we recommend Smidge) 
• Sun screen 
• Any medication you need Recommended clothing 

Recommended Clothing

• Helmet – not full face 
• Knee and elbow pads 
• Cycling shorts and/or waterproof shorts (or trousers)
• Wicking base layers or cycling jerseys 
• Mid layer (fleece or soft shell) 
• Windproof jacket 
• Waterproof jacket 
• Insulated jacket or warm emergency layer 
• Woolly hat or buff 
• Riding glasses 
• Gloves (worth having a spare pair if it’s wet) 
• Waterproof socks 
• Cycling shoes (you must be able to walk in them!) For the minibus 
• Small ‘hand luggage’ bag for post-ride clothes 
• Plastic bags for wet and dirty kit 
• Chamois cream if you use it

Your guides will carry

• Pliers
• Chain splitter
• Emergency spokes
• Spoke key
• Adjustable spanner
• Cassette tool and chain wrench
• Shock pump
• Puncture and tubeless repair kits
• Small bottle of chain lube
• Spare chain links/joining pins
• Assorted nuts and bolts
• Emergency shelter
• Emergency blanket
• Warm insulated jacket
• First aid kit
• Maps
• Compass
• GPS
• Mobile phones
• VHF radio