tgo magazine live letters archive

Hi there

In the latest issue, Cameron sort of implies (by saying that cycling in could lessen the experience) that you can cycle in as far as Carnmore for this route. Is that the case, as on previous visits to the area I think that cycle use has been frowned upon past the forest just beyond Kernsary?

The piece concerned asks whether A'Maighdean gives the best view of the Munros, but as I've only been there once in 60mph icy hail, I'd like to try again to gain my own judgement!

btw - I'm keen to cycle in because it's a great way of introducing my children to the area. Will still overnight!

Hope someone can help.

Cheers

Doug

Doug I sent an e-mail to TGO mainly to agree with Cameron's opinion. I have been there 6 times and due to guide there on my 7th in a couple of months. On 5 of these trips it was a rush in round all 6 Munros in a day and out again. Last time we split the Munros into 2 days and what a difference it made. I had time to enjoy the scenery and make the most of the day instead of always looking at the watch.

As for cycling I am not a great fan of people cycling on paths, but that is my opinion. You can obviously cycle on the track to Kernsary but after the forest it is then a path which has been upgraded and is slightly further north than shown on the map.

If it wasn't for the fact that I want to get my oldest children to experience the wilderness I wouldn't dream of cycling in, and unless the path has changed beyond the deer fence above Kernsary I still won't do it as I don't want to damage what was, after all, only a footpath. If the estate has changed it to a land rover track, I'll cycle.

Thoroughly agree that the area has to be done with an overnight to appreciate it. Camped at Lochan fada a few years ago (came in from Kinlochewe), sitting on Beinn Tarsuinn for the sunset then Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban and Beinn a' Chlaidheimh the next day, back for sunset by the loch. Doesn't get much better!

Doug it is just a path beyond the forest where the vehicle track stops.

I doubt if the Estate would make new tracks. Is the owner not the chap who is dying of cancer and is pro walkers and was the instigator of the Letterewe Accord regarding access rights?

Thanks Lindsay - I didn't think the path would have changed. Everything I've seen on notices at the gate has been encouraging to walkers but discouraged cyclists.

You're right about the owner - Paul van Vlissingen. Recent pieces in TGO say he doesn't have long.

The path above the forest is cycleable, but I'm not sure how able your children are. It's still a path and not a track and therefore requires a good bit of effort and skill (skill to minimise impact in particular).

I'd also like to correct your OP. You wrote "A'Maighdean gives the best view of the Munros". I think that should be a from and not an of :-)

For what it's worth, I agree!

I'm sorry to disagree with opinions above, but the cycle beyond kernsary forest is wonderful on a well maintained path that goes all the way to Carnmore bothy and beyond.

I did A'Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor a couple of years ago this way from Poolewe. It's still a longish day (though I did extend it for half hour or so in the bothy praying for the weather to improve - it worked kinded of!), but not ridiculous long as would be with the walk in.

To attempt all 6 munros in day would be tough. I've done the eastern ones, also with the aid of a bike in and wild camp from Kinlochewe.

The scenery as stated above, is certainly amazing.

BTW the Carnmore bothy's not the most, err searching for the right word, comprehensive? of bothies.

Hasn't the estate rerouted the path from kernsary to poolewe northwards via loch kernsary ? That might make cycling difficult.

I walked through kernsary last october, cutting though the farm grounds, but there were 2 gates and lots of barking dogs. I didn't fancy the diversion to the loch as advised by the signs since it was getting dark and so I knocked on the farm door to ask for permission to cross through.There was no one in and so I just continued to poolewe along the track.

Carnmore bothy is a shed with a good roof, an earth floor and mice - nothing more. A real doss.

First of all - apologies for my dreadful grammar, druidh. Maybe the "finest view among all of the Munros", if we want to be a little more prosaic?!

Agree with the comments on Carnmore - when we stopped there for a look and to shelter out of the rain we were really glad that we had a tent! The very basic quality of it and the loud, drinking climbers gathered there put me off bothies for good.

btw - v bad news if there's a problem with the track in alongside the river from Poolewe. From memory the path round the N of the loch is rather boggy

If you are tempted to camp around carnmore, make sure you are well away from the hill ponies. They like a tent or two to supplement their diet !

The path beyond Kersary has been improved a lot and indeed the path beyond Carnmore now looks like a bloody motorway. It's hideous. When we were in there at the beginning of May we met several cyclists.
There is a diversion sign at the gate but I've always just walked past the farmhouse - I'm not sure if that area constitutes a "farmyard" to which new access arrangements don't apply, but I have a feeling that the route might be a right of way in which case there is no legal reason why you can't just go through the gate past the house.
It's quite easy to miss the path beyond the farm at Kernsary. You have to turn right, through a large gate, and go through the forest. A bunch of garrons graze in the forest and have turned large sections of the path into a muddy morass. Stick with it though and when you come out of the forest at the other side the path is in excellent condition - all the way to Carnmore.
Sadly Paul van Vlissingen, the owner, is dying of cancer and while he is pro access his old keeper wasn't so enthusiastic. I did hear one apochryphal story of someone bike wheels going missing when it was locked up at Carnmore!

Thanks for the info Cameron, it's a shame if the path has been "upgraded" to that extent. When I was there (6-7 years ago) it was a good stalkers path but you wouldn't have dreamed of cycling on it, hence my curiosity about your comments regarding cyclists in the article.

By the way - regarding the "Right of Way" issue, I remember talking to someone at the "Slioch" outdoor wear shop in Poolewe regarding the annual Great Wilderness Challenge a few years ago, and I'm sure he said the estate didn't want the route going Poolewe - Corrie Hallie every year because that would establish it as a right of way. I think it was something about 10 consecutive years, but that would be an issue of scottish law. Clearly the influence of the old keeper was still there!