Torridon is located in the North West of Scotland and it’s where my love for adventure riding began. As a destination, there’s something special about it, the vast mountains and unscathed landscapes are jaw dropping. In this episode we ride the ‘Classic’ Torridon loop, a 52km route with 1200m of climbing.

Allow a good 5 to 8 hours and it’s one, best done in the summer! Starting out, it’s a short road ride before veering off and riding alongside lochs and through Glens. It’s simply stunning and isn’t a ride you want to rush. I prefer to take my time, enjoy the journey and take it all in. Once you get into the wilderness you feel completely alone. The climbs are challenging, they’re technical and require sudden urges of power to get you up and over the rocky features - I’m still yet to clean it, no dabs!

The top of the Annat descent is incredible. Stood there, you’re surrounded by towering grey mountains and views stretch for as far as you can see. The descent is a technical one but I wouldn’t say it’s overly challenging, there’s a lot of flow to be had but you’ve got to work for it. It finishes down by a river, contrasting to the upper section you’re deep in the greenery.

Our next point of interest is the Fionnaraich bothy and it’s a good chance for a break. The single track leading up to it is challenging and requires a lot of on and off power surges. The bothy dates back to the 1800’s and is still used to this day by stalkers. It’s a place where riders can seek shelter from the ever-changing Scottish conditions. From the bothy to our next descent is a challenging path through lowland bogs before hitting a rugged hike a bike.

The descent to Annat is fairly undulating, rocky and is one of my personal favourites, you’re back in amongst those huge grey mountains and have a view on to the Atlantic Ocean. There’s something humbling about being able to ride in such a location. The descent’s super fun, rewarding and has so many different elements to it, fast single track, huge rock slabs and river crossings. It just puts a smile on your face!

Finishing right at the bay, there’s a chance to refuel at a traditional Inn which offers delicious locally sourced food and drink, accommodation - there’s no better location to finish a ride at!

This episode's sustainability focus is around travel. To get to Torridon, we drove three hundred and twenty-five kilometres in a diesel van which emits one hundred and eighty-two grams of Carbon Dioxide per kilometre driven. Creating the series, we lift shared wherever possible and to offset our overall journey emissions, I’m planting native Scottish trees through Trees 4 life. Trees can absorb between twenty-two and thirty-four kilograms of Carbon Dioxide.

To ensure neutrality, I’m planting one tree per one hundred kilometres driven and for this episode, I’ll be planting 16 trees. If you've enjoyed watching the series or want to offset some of your own emissions, feel free to plant a tree in my grove.

Link: https://treesforlife.org.uk/groves/36...

The entire series is being created carbon neutral. All our journey emissions will be offset and the advertising revenue generated from you watching this series will be split across planting more native trees in Scotland and the local trail associations.

All these rides are recorded on komoot so you can do them for yourself.
Collection link: https://bit.ly/SSSNorthHighlands

This series has been made possible with the support of Shimano, komoot, Schwalbe, SCOTT Sports and Thule.

#ScottysScotlandShowcase

@RideShimano @komoot @SchwalbeBikeTires @scottsports @thule

Episode 1 - Perthshire,    • The BEST Hand Built MTB Trails in Sco...  
Episode 2 - Aberdeenshire,    • The Finest Singletrack for your MTB i...  
Episode 3 - The Cairngorms,    • The Largest Variation of MTB Trails i...  
Episode 4 - North Highlands,    • The 'Easiest' Adventure MTB Ride in S...  
Episode 5 - Lochaber,    • Discovering Some of Scotland's Longes...  
Episode 6 - The Tweed Valley,    • This is Scotland's Biggest MTB Destin...  

Directed and Produced by Scotty Laughland
Filmed and Edited by Glen Thomson
Second Camera by Max Rendall
Still Imagery by Jonny Cook
Graphics by Scott Muirhead