Sligachan to Camasunary

Route: Sligachan to Camasunary
Distance: 8.12m / 13.1km
Profile: View
Grade: Hard
Fitness: High
Time: 3-4 Hours
OS MAP: 32
Route Data: GPX KML
Riders: Dave Banks, Brian Gray
Date: 02/10/2016


Summary

A mixture of single track, rocky sections and some very boggy sections make this a rewarding mountain bike trek through interesting scenery.

High levels of fitness and decent skills are required, only due to the technical nature of the route. Be prepared to get wet and muddy.


Details

Starting at the small car park just before the A863 turn off to Dunvegan at the Sligachan Hotel, cycle down towards the old road bridge and take the single track through the gate on the left out to the boulder circle with its stone decorations. Keep to the left and follow the track uphill. There are numerous drainage channels at the start of the run, some can be ridden over, others are too wide, so you may want to err on the side of caution and get off the bike to prevent punctures. This becomes tedious after a while, but after about a mile they end and you can start to enjoy the route and the spectacular scenery it offers.

The track can be quite rocky in places and boggy in others, but by picking your line carefully, you can negotiate all but the most difficult obstacles on the route. There are a few water crossings that will also require you to get off.

After the initial climb from Sligachan, the track undulates until just short of the half way mark at Lochan Dubha, where it climbs at the watershed. From there it starts its descent to Loch an Athain. The section of track from Loch an Athain to Loch na Creitheach can be very boggy in places, and care needs to be taken as the ground conditions can change quickly. The unwary could be caught out and end up over the bars. Keep your speed down and be prepared to power through the boggy sections once you know the route ahead is rideable.

There is another slight climb as you leave Loch na Creitheach before a rocky single track section takes you down to Camasunary. There are also a couple of boggy sections just as you approach Camasunary.

The old bothy at Camasunary is no longer used, it has been replaced by a new one at the opposite end of the beach, but as that is the building shown on the map, it makes a good destination to stop and have lunch.

If you aren't going to do the return loop via Loch Coruisk, which is better suited for longer summer days, the route home is the reverse of the route in.


Photo Gallery

Car park at Sligachan		Looking up Glen Sligachan from old bridge		Boulder circle, keep left here		Cloud over Sgurr nan Gillean
First on many water obstacles		Easy single track		Puncture caused by drainage channel		Marsco and the route ahead
Water crossing with stepping stones		Another water crossing		Route gradually climbs		Blaven and the route ahead
Sgurr nan Gillean		Approaching the watershed		Cuillin Ridge		Blaven and Loch an Athain
Blaven and Loch an Athain		Blaven and Loch an Athain		Coire Dubh		Near miss with boggy section
Better route round		Loch na Creitheach and the route ahead		Loch na Creitheach		Looking back to Marsco
Looking back to Marsco		Loch na Creitheach		Loch na Creitheach		More boggy sections
Brian admiring the view back to Marsco		Final approach to Camasunary		Camasunary Bothy		Glen Sligachan
Camasunary Bothy		Rhumm		Camasunary Bothy		Blaven
Fishermans house		Derelict settlement		Derelict settlement		Derelict settlement
Glen Sligachan		Derelict settlement		The return journey		Very boggy section
Loch an Athain and Sgurr nan Gillean		Sgurr nan Gillean		Loch an Athain and Sgurr nan Gillean		Loch an Athain and Sgurr nan Gillean
Water crossing and Sgurr nan Gillean		Looking towards Sligachan

Video

This video, shows highlights of the route through Glen Sligachan, and the final descent to Camasunary.




This video, starting after the climb from Camasunary, shows the entire run back to Sligachan.