Christening Scotty in the Mountains

We christened Scotty (or Montgommery as we might also call him) with an absolutely superb MTB route. It's one which has huge potential to turn into a multi-day route.  (Photos below).

Right click the image alongside and open it in a separate window - it's a big image with good detail.

From Polloch, just over the hill from our house, we rode up the side of Loch Shiel. The GPS track has us in the water, but that's because it switched itself off for a while.

Lots of timber has been extracted, opening up superb views. After coffee and cake with the friendly folk of the Scottish National Trust shop in Glenfinnan, which was not as expensive as many other cafes around here, we rode on.

Under the 'Harry Potter' viaduct. How Mr MacAlpine must turn in his grave at that now universal description of this engineering beauty he built in 1897 for £18,000. Then up to Corryhully bothy.

I've stayed here a few times when walking across Knoydart from Glen Shiel (not Loch Shiel - confusing eh?). Then we pressed on, discovering we could ride almost to the top of the bealach which leads across to Gleann Cuirneen and down to Strathan.

There's huge potential here.  Go North down this (very boggy) glen to Strathan, East along the road beside Loch Arkaig, then South down the Great Glen Cycleway to Fort William. There, hop the small passenger ferry across to Ardgour, and ride the quiet roads home.

Next time?