This Black Bridge to Ullapool ride can be completed in a day, but there are some fantastic wild camping spots on the route. Adults and fit riders will be able to do this route in summer in a day. For families, we recommend a beautiful overnight break with wild camping over even a night in the Schoolhouse Bothy.
Length: Approx. 46 miles – 74 km
Duration: 7 – 8 hrs+
Ascent: 3280 ft. – 1000 m
Terrain: Tarmac, Gravel roads and offroad – section with a path along Loch Damph
Difficulty: Red
Highlights
- Beautiful Black River and Strath Vaich with Loch Vaich
- Alladale Wilderness Reserve and stunning Gleann Mor
- Historic buildings with Croick Church and the Schoolhouse Bothy
- Knockdamph Bothy and Glen Achall before finishing in Ullapool
Description
This ride can be completed in a day, but there are some fantastic wild camping spots on the route. You can make it an expedition out of it. There are amazing views around every corner and keep your eyes open for eagles, red deer and adders.
Your day starts at Black Bridge on the A835 and heads along Strathvaich on a well-maintained track passing a dam in the distance. After about 10 miles you reach Deanich Lodge, one of the remotest buildings in Scotland.
Head NE along the stunning Gleann Mor through Alladale Wilderness Reserve, don’t forget to stop at the Badger hide a few miles before the heart of the Reserve. After you turned right after the bridge and big Reserve sign and before you hit the tarmac single track road there is a small sign with a waterfall on the right side. This is a lovely detour on foot to a very pretty spot.
After a few miles on the tarmac after Glencalvie Lodge, you reach Croik Church. The Church figured prominently in the Highland Clearances in 1845, a tragic event that is recorded in messages scratched on its east window.
The route now continues NW along the remote and beautiful Strath Cuileanach and over a hill to Duag Bridge. There is an old schoolhouse here, which has been converted into a bothy and there are lovely pools in the river for a quick dip.
From here the track is a bit rougher, following a path SW uphill to another bothy at Knockdamph. Make sure after the Schoolhouse Bothy once over the bridge and 100m further on the track to turn sharp right uphill. After a few miles, you have a river crossing (Abhainn Poiblidh) which can be after heavy rainfall in spate and unpassable.
The final 12 miles of the Black bridge to Ullapool route take you West along the Rhidorroch River and Loch Achall and eventually down into the coastal village of Ullapool.
Time for a well earned coffee and snack at one of the many eateries within the village. This route is very doable with a Mountain Bike.
Gallery Black Bridge to Ullapool
