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Description:-
This is the route of the 2011 Tour De Ben Nevis organized by NoFuss Events. At the time of writing it's been run for the last 2 years, usually in September. In their own words...
"The race that took mountain biking back to the mountains. WELCOME to the No Fuss ultimate MTB challenge for endurance athletes and people with a sense of adventure. The event is about circumnavigating Ben Nevis starting from Fort William the Outdoor Capital of the UK. It is a 72km journey of discovery about our wonderful environment, about yourself and for some we have no doubt, about your bike.!"
Of course there's nothing stopping you taking on the challenge at any time, minus the entry cost and support/signage of the event itself. It's a long, rough and at times, remote ride though. I did it in both 2022 & 2011.
It's kind of long for a full description so here's some short notes.
The start of the actual race is usually in the centre of Ft.William, although if doing it yourself you could also conceivably start at the Nevis Range and get all of the road riding in first.
Ft William to Tag 1: Wildly undulating minor road.
Tag 1 to Tag 2: Follows a section of the West Highland way. It's a rough, wide track with the odd shallow stream to splash through (of frequent large puddles to splash though if it's been raining).
Tag 2 to Tag 3: Rough, rocky technical descent down the West Highland Way path. If this is your thing you'll love it, if it's not you'll hate it. Either way you lose a lot of height, which you have to then regain by climbing up the access road to the Mamore Lodge Hotel (now closed unfortunately). You can easily miss out the descent and re-ascent just by following the main track between these 2 tags.
Tag 3 to Tag 4: Initially a long, but not too steep climb up land-rover track to the edge of Loch Eilde Mor. From there it's relatively flat on a decent enough track to the ruin at Luibielt, although there can be some monster puddles if it's wet (seeing a trend here yet?).
Tag 4 : River crossing! Fairly wide, but if you go downstream a bit from the ruin then it's not too deep. Obviously this will depend on the amount of rainfall there's been in the preceding days but during the 2011 race it was only around knee deep even although it's had been a wet week leading up to it. (For some reason we seemed to cross nearer the ruin in 2022 and it was nearer bollocks wetting deep there).
Tag 4 to Tag 5: Don't bother changing your wet socks quite yet. The next bit involves a ride/push over some boggy ground, with some small streams to cross. Then it's bike on the back time (or push) up the rough, sometimes muddy path to the col below Meall Mor.
Tag 5 to Tag 6: Generally downhill again on a rough path which changes into a rough track before crossing a wide stream just before the bothy in the Lairig Leacach. Now its just about safe to change to dry socks!
Tag 6 to Tag 7: An initial bit of climbing and then it's a long, fast descent on stoney land-rover track. As it begins to flatten out a bit keep an eye out for the left turn and the entrance into Leanachan Forest on fire-road. At the end of this road turn right, then look out for the bridge to the left that crosses the stream.
Tag 6 to Tag 7: Once across the bridge turn left and climb uphill on a nice bit of single-track alongside the stream. Eventually you'll want to turn right, onto the old tramway and follow this, then fire-roads, along the hillside and under the Nevis Range Gondola.
Tag 7 : Here you start a descent down what I believe is part of the '10 Under The Ben' trail at Nevis Range. It's a bit technical with some drops, boardwalk etc, and with a tired body it's not easy. Once down safely though it's an easy ride down to the A82 and back to Ft.William along the cycle path that runs alongside it (near the end you need to go onto the road itself).
2022 variation: In 2022 the route up to Tag 6 was identical, from there though, after crossing the bridge you turned right, then took the fire-roads through the Leanachan Forest to the Nevis Range car park, and then via other tracks down to the A82 near Torlundy. It was less interesting than the 2011 route, but also a lot easier as it cuts out around 150m of climbing. If you are particularly tired on reaching Tag 6 it's worth considering.
Time to do: Under 'race' conditions the quickest time for the 2011 route as described was 4hrs 15mins, the longest 9hrs. For 'mere mortals' who are fit, used to doing this distance and want to take in some of the scenery along the way, I'd say 6-8hrs would be a fair expectation.