Torridon Weekend - Bealach na Ba and Applecross - Fri 12/10/18 to Sun 14/10/18

[Deano]

I was thinking of the Walled Garden at Applecross: http://www.applecrossgarden.co.uk

They used to have a restaurant at the campsite too, I'd imagine it's still there.

[whosatthewheel]

I was thinking of the Walled Garden at Applecross: http://www.applecrossgarden.co.uk

They used to have a restaurant at the campsite too, I'd imagine it's still there.

It was there two years ago... a very lovely cafe'/restaurant with excellent food...

[Peter]

As for the weather - the average rainfall in September in Wester Ross is about half what it is in Manchester.  And it stays light for far longer.

Point of order: in October the length of daylight will be less than in Manchester,  it no longer being summer.

Oops!

[Deano]

Is anyone off yacf coming, or has watw managed to put you all off?

[Jaded]

If you’ve not been up that way for a couple of years, be prepared for more traffic than you’ve seen before. The NC500 has attracted all sorts.

[IanDG]

Only just seen this - unfortunately too late

That was a good trip back in 2005

[Deano]

If you’ve not been up that way for a couple of years, be prepared for more traffic than you’ve seen before. The NC500 has attracted all sorts.

Tell me about it - I really noticed the difference in May (last time up there was 2014, I think). Getting buzzed by a gang of supercars up Struie Hill wasn't fun. And I couldn't believe how busy some of the roads were, even north of Ullapool. Mind, offroad from Ullapool to Ardgay was quiet

I overtook* this beastie up the pass, and spotted it near Ullapool a couple of days later.



As everyone who's coming is camping or campervanning, we've moved basecamp from Torridon to Lochcarron, which is a bit farther south (and better for trains). Hopefully no one's going to Torridon...

*No really, it was going that slowly.

[fuaran]

Is the Lochcarron campsite any good? I've never noticed it before, looks like a nice location.

Also for traffic, best to avoid the Attadale to Stromeferry road. Currently roadworks going on, with the road closed for hours, apparently some huge delays.

[Deano]

I like the campsite, I put a review up here: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=108159.msg2290073#msg2290073

Ta for the tip about the road. The campervan's going up the A9, but I was planning to go that way... Maybe I'll take a look at this track over to Attadale instead, which I had rejected for looking too rough, but a few hours' pushing the bike shouldn't be that bad: https://binged.it/2QF7g3g

From the campsite at Lochcarron, it looks a temtingly lovely track.

I'm not tied to any particular route, and I can thumb a lift from the campervan or hop a train for the last bit.

[whosatthewheel]

How was it? 

[Deano]

A lovely weekend (well, a week for me!)

There were only three of us, but we had a clear run up the pass on Saturday.




It was drizzly going back around the peninsula to Shieldaig where we actually stayed, since the campsite at Lochcarron was shut. Friendly pub at Shieldaig, which made for a couple of pleasant evenings. And Sunday, up Glencarron and over Coulin Pass to Torridon, was gorgeous.





And no midges!

[IanDG]

Looks great

[whosatthewheel]

First photo of Bealach Na Ba looks amazing.