UKC

Looking ahead to Skye next year, and a trip up Sgurr na Stri. I’d be interested to know how much of the route down Glen Sligachan is bikeable. I have a basic hard tail MTB, and I’m not at all a hard-core biker: I’d just like to make the approach quicker. 

Its a quite techy ride, good if you like that sort of biking  but easier just to walk. Certainly less effort without wheels. 

I agree with Rick.

Walked it last year and it's a pretty rough path though good for walking. Our moving time was 6 hours 10 minutes and we are definitely not athletes. Most people could easily beat this if they wanted to.

It's only 2 miles until you start going up, 5 miles is where you would ditch the bike (1 hr 45 for us walking) and it would be just as hard going back as going out.

Unless your name is Danny MacAskill

Save it for a clear day, the view into Loch Coruisk with the whole ridge in panarama is out of this world.

Thanks for the replies. I’m getting the picture. Probably quicker from Camasunary and the Bad Step, then?

Yes, it’s much better, quicker, nicer in every way via Camasunary and the Bad Step.

I'm not sure to be honest. To go to Sgurr na Strì from Camasunary you'd be up the west flank or the south ridge. The west flank is a bit of a heather bash, with a river crossing. And the new bothy isn't much to speak about.

The path from Sligachan is a good surface, superb views (goes without saying) and uncomplicated. Then erosion path up the north ridge to the top, which is actually the east summit.

You wouldn't go as far as the Bad Step for Sgùrr na Strì. South ridge is good though!

On reflection, I’m probably wrong. The Camasunary route is technically much more problematic, whereas the Sligachan path is very good … it just seems a long way because it’s so unvaried. But, as you say, superb views all the way.

Fairly straightforward day walk from Kilmarie - over to Camasunary and then north to the bealach with Sgurr Hain. Think that's the easiest route. Enjoyable 16km, 1000m ascent, river crossing caution. Kilmarie to Camasunary is now a track I think, so you could (probably) cycle that.

https://kinleyhazel.wordpress.com/2006/09/08/sgurr-na-stri-september-2006/

Sneaky way in, 1 way trip in on an Elgol boat, ascend the hill and then return via the bealach with Druim Hain to Camasunary then the path back to Elgol (we added a diversion and camped at the summit but Sgurr na Stri and back to Elgol is about 13km, 750m ascent that way).

https://kinleyhazel.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/sgurr-na-stri-camp-october-201...

I've never really fancied the plod in from Sligachan for some reason.

Thanks for this - some good ideas here.

A couple of good trips there! I notice you went in September: I was on Skye this September and had some of the best Scottish weather ever.

It’s been a track for a long time. That said it’s pretty rough in places. I know I’d probably end up pushing my bike at some bits.

Late 1960s. It was planned to go all the way to Coruisk with the Bad Step being blown up.  Two short lived bridges were built over the rivers. I remember the wreckage of the one at Camusunary.

How desperate would that have been. Wrecking what is now a big tourist draw. Thank god it didn’t go ahead.

There is a very good article in the SMC Journal of 1969 about this whole sad affair. “The Coruisk Affair”

https://simrich.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/SMCJ/Number%20160%20-%20Vol%202...

This one? 1981, it was knee-deep in the middle.

Ta

G

I saw it in 1983. It was down to just a few planks then.