Isle of skye

[Donger]

Does anyone have any experience of taking the turntable ferry onto Skye from Glenelg to Kylerhea and then climbing up towards Broadford?

I'm planning to do a loop from Inverinate soon, going over the Mam Ratagan Pass first (which I have done previously), followed by dropping down to the ferry and then through Skye to the Skye Road Bridge, Kyle of Lochalsh and Eileann Donan Castle. The only bit I've never done before (except by car) is the climb out of Kylerhea, which I seem to recall looking pretty steep and daunting. I don't even know the name of that mountain, so I'm struggling to find anything on the net that sets out the profile or gradient. Google Maps seems to show it simply as "Kylerhea Glen". Anyone got any stats for the climb? (length, average and max gradient, etc). Any Strava files? Someone out there must have done it.

Cheers, Donger.

 

[NorthernDave]

Google gives the following profile for the ride from the ferry landing to the A87 near Ashaig:

869ft of climbing from the ferry, which looks like it will earn you about 4-5 miles of descending!

(EDIT to add) Or there is this on Strava https://www.strava.com/activities/149494811?hl=de-DE

 

[Donger]

Google gives the following profile for the ride from the ferry landing to the A87 near Ashaig:

View attachment 368080

869ft of climbing from the ferry, which looks like it will earn you about 4-5 miles of descending!

(EDIT to add) Or there is this on Strava https://www.strava.com/activities/149494811?hl=de-DE

That's great. Thanks, Dave. Can't decide which direction to do it now. The Mam Ratagan is certainly much easier from the West, and it looks like the "Kylerhea Pass" is too. But then I'm looking for an adventure and a challenge. Hmmm. (thinks).

 

[NorthernDave]

Just had a look on Streetview - what a ride! I wouldn't be able to choose between flying down there as fast as I could, or stopping every few hundred yards to take photos.

Enjoy it, whichever direction you decide on. Although if you do decide to end the ride in Kylerhea, make sure you've got good brakes or you might get wet.

 

[Cycleops]

I hope you've got you're accomadtion figured out as I understand Skye has had a 'flood' of tourists.

 

[theloafer]

did it a few years back . ... from what I recall did not seem too bad

 

[velovoice]

I've done it both directions: over Ratagan > Glenelg > Broadford by car (fully loaded but only 0.6 litre engine) and Broadford > Glenelg > Ratagan Pass by BICYCLE (with 52/39/28 chainset + 11-36t cassette, so very much sub 1:1 ratio low gear).

I would never ever ever attempt mainland to Broadford by bike.

Then again, I have arthritic knees. That final kick up to the summit from Kylerhea is a killer.

(My profile pic is of me waiting for the ferry on the Kylerhea side. )

ETA: my ride report from 2014 including route & profile:
http://velovoice.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/a-mountain-and-ferry-to-paradise.html

 

[smutchin]

Any Strava files?

If you use the Strava 'Segment Explore' feature, you can browse the map and any segments in the area you're looking at will be highlighted, thusly...

I believe this is the one you're looking for: https://www.strava.com/segments/12846708

And this is from the other side: https://www.strava.com/segments/1660944

I've never done it myself but I remember the turntable ferry from when Cyclist magazine used it for one of their ride features a couple of years ago - looks like a fantastic route they did, but brutal (although they came back to the mainland via the road bridge)...

 

[galaxy]

Looks an amazing ride and Tour, a tad jealous if i do say so.

 

[Donger]

Thanks @smutchin and @velovoice . Just the sort of stuff I was looking for.

I'll take a while to ponder this. I just know it's going to be the most spectacular ride I'll ever do in Britain whichever direction I do it.... two mountains, one unusual ferry, one beautiful bridge and a spectacular castle for starters.

The Mam Ratagan Pass is definitely much easier West to East, as I've done it that way without stopping, whereas East to West the 20% bit near the top is a real killer that always forces me to rest up a couple of times. I would like to beat it East to West at least once .... but then that means following up by doing the Kylerhea climb the tough way too. If the worst came to the worst I suppose I could get off and walk.

Perhaps an anti-clockwise route would be easier, but my problem (with my weight) is usually the braking on the downhill bits, so in a weird way I might prefer to try it clockwise, if only to avoid the steep descents to the ferry and down the Mam Ratagan to Shiel Bridge. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Crankarm]

You'd better be prepared for the midges otherwise you'll be eaten alive. And do not camp.