Myself and a mate have a week booked in Elgol on Skye in March.

We are keen to ride as much as possible.

We will be taking the big bikes, so suspension etc and are looking to take in as much riding as possible.

So I'm here looking to pick the brains of the northern devision.

In an ideal world we are hoping for technical riding rather the estate roads etc.

If a loop involves a night out we are happy to carry gear for that.

Any heads up on pubs etc also gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance.

Routes on Skye?

Nothing very much. Personally, I'd take a road bike.

If you are at Elgol there's the out and back up Glen Sligachan, it's normally done as a loop but the eastern bit is basically road. It often features in magazines and is in the Vertebrate guidebook - The Wild Trails Vol 1.

A little further up the road is a loop around the coast to the abandoned villages of Suisnish and Boreraig. Not done it but have seen that it's possible so no idea of how technical it is.

In the north of the island there's the Quirang, again it's an out and back.

As Colin says you'd be better with road bikes but you need to be away from the A87 as it isn't pleasant due to the volume and speed of traffic.

Take a pair of walking boots, some great rocky walking up there

If you are prepared to travel then the Torridon Loop (or one of them) and the circuit of Beinn Fhada would be within striking distance.

You might even be able to fit in a circuit of the Rhenigidale route on Harris if the ferries worked out in your favour.

There's always the route that Danny rode pal on the ridge looked pretty extreme

Suisnish / boreraig trail

Glen Slig to Camusnary trail
From Camusnary head over the track east to Loch slapin. At the top of Loch Slapin take the single track north to Luib

From Luib follow the A87 for a bit then take the old road round the coast to Sconser and back along the main road to the Slig.

As Scot routes said make it a bit of a road trip and bag the torridon trails or the trails around Dornie / Kintail as well.

Thanks for the replies, pretty much what I had expected.

The whole trip is a bit of a random occurrence, place and time wise.

That said it's a cracking part of the world so we'll be making the most of it.

Torridon is a definite, I have no problem striking out from Elgol, it's that far from me that some extra travel to ride good trails is not a problem.

I'll check out the ferries for Harris too.

Yes Ben, think I'll have to dig out my boots.

Mbnut wrote:Yes Ben, think I'll have to dig out my boots.

Might need to have a look for crampons and ice axe too depending where you're going...