Five Sisters of Kintail, Scotland

Distance 28km (17.4 miles) Climbing 950m (3,116ft) Time 3hrs 30mins to 6hrs

Route summary A big day out in the mountains along lesser-trodden trails, with some hike-a-bike and too many water bars, but one of the best descents around at the end

Start/ inish Morvich National Trust car park (grid ref NG 961/210, postcode IV40 8HQ)

1

Continue along the tarmac track for 400m, then turn right through a gate by a barn, on a good, wide path along the valley bottom. Follow this obvious track for around 6km to the house/shelter at the end.

2

Bear left on the singletrack, past the house and keep left, watching out for water bars, which appear regularly. Cross a bridge and then another one, over a deep ravine, and follow the rocky singletrack uphill to the right.

3

This part requires some hike-a-bike a few times, eventually becoming more and more ridable. Pass Camban bothy and descend to the bottom by the river, where a number of valleys meet. Head towards the river, almost past the bridge on the left, but turn back, hard left, to it on faint singletrack, cross it and follow alongside the (left-hand side of the) river. 4

Just before a rickety wooden bridge over the stream, turn sharply left on faint singletrack, alongside the water. Follow it up the valley, as it becomes a good stone path with numerous waterbars. Keep ahead as the trail fades (and gets boggy when wet).

5

Keep left at Loch a’Bhealaich and climb (push) up the pass. There’s a technical descent to start, becoming more ridable. Keep right at a fork and ride downhill, with some hairpin bends. Keep ahead, following this excellent trail downhill, then along the valley bottom, through a gate and over a bridge. Follow the track left, over a bridge and right, onto tarmac and back to the car park.