This Family Cycling – Inverlael Forest Circuit is perfect for experienced cycling families that would like cycle a bit more uphill and downhill but don`t want a full-on steep downhill experience. Except for two shorter sections, the cycling is on landrover style trails with stunning views all around.
Length: Approx. 4 miles – 6.7 km
Duration: 1 hr
Ascent: 600 ft. – 185 m
Terrain: Forest access roads / light-trail
Difficulty: Blue
Highlights
- Family-friendly off the main road starting at Inverlael Walker`s Carpark
- Magnificent views over Loch Broom
- Can be extended with a network of forest access roads
- Views over Beinn Dhearg at the highest point of the route
Description
This route starts at the Inverlael Walkers Carpark owned by Forestry and Land Scotland. First, you go through the gate just behind the car park and cross the towards another gate in the distance on an access road.
After the second gate (at the Scottish Water Plant) follow the access road until you get to a V-junction. Her take the left and cross the bridge with a lovely gorge underneath. Once over the bridge 50 m later you turn left and at the next fork right slightly uphill.
Now you cycle the slight incline up until the next junction were you turn right until the following one and turn left. Now pay attention to a faint path on the right-hand side just 100 m or so after the last turn. Sometimes in summer, it can be slightly overgrown and easily missed. Take this path (single file for 800 m) for more of a challenging ride.
If you prefer a more gentle uphill cycle and don`t mind that the route is 1.5 km longer than stay on the access road instead of following the faint path.
At the next junction take the right one always cycling uphill steadily. After around 800 m you see a faint path coming up from the right, this would have been the slightly more challenging route to this point.
From here both routes only stay for another 150 m on the access road (highest point of the route) with some outstanding views over to Beinn Dearg and Gleann na Sguaib. While admiring the view don`t miss your path to the right downhill, a bit faint at the beginning it is fairly wide and straight forward to cycle down.
Once at the bottom of the path you reach another access road and turn right and follow the road until you reach the bridge from the beginning (over 1 km away). From here retrace your ride back to the walker`s car park.
This is route is done best with a Mountain Bike. That said a Hybrid would be fine for all the access roads. You would only need to skip or roll down the uphill/downhill path.
