INVERNESS, TORRIDON AND APPLECROSS, TWO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTH WESTERN SEABOARD

Applecross to Torridon this route offers you the feeling of a utter desolate place and giving a sense of remoteness, this is home to some of Scotland's most magnificent mountain scenery, and this route allows you to appreciate it to the full, with the grandeur of mountains from Liathach and the western end of Beinn Eighe from Loch Clair and Glen Torridon, out door enthusiasts in particular should plan extra time here.

The main route includes a number of significant lengths winding and mostly single track roads, for example, through Glen Torridon and round to Applecross are quite demanding roads with blind bends on single track between two passing places, the place for dramatic light and weather, the views across to Skye are spectacular

From Inverness take the north Kessock bridge on the A9 to the Tore roundabout, take the second turn off onto the A835 to Maryburgh past Cononbridge over the Conon the river starts at Loch Luichart, it flows in a south-easterly direction to be joined by the River Meig at Scatwell before passing through Loch Achonachie, joined by the Black Water at Moy Bridge, and the River Orrin at Urray, before flowing into the Cromarty Firth,

This is a popular region for the fishing, the Estuary Beat is controlled by the Dingwall & District Angling Club and extends for approximately 2½ miles (4 km) from Conon Bridge down to the Cromarty Firth.
The Brahan Fishing's comprise the Upper, Middle and Lower Brahan beats and is operated as a timeshare by the ‘Conon Syndicate’, the Lower and Middle Brahan beats are mostly double banked and extend for just over 2½ miles (4 km) from Conon Bridge to just above the Orrin.

Continuing on from Maryburgh, through Contin, Tarve, to Garve a small village along the A835, the main road from Tore, near Inverness, to Ullapool on the west coast, this region is a popular base for walkers there is plenty to do in the vicinity, offering challenges for all levels of fitness on Ben Wyvis, the Dearg or the Fannichs. Walkways have been constructed by the Forestry Commission and provide trails to Silver-bridge and Rogie Falls, about 4 miles away.

Other activities include wildlife spotting, Munro bagging, fishing, cycling, golf or just admiring the magnificent scenery with a scenic drive.

Garve is 24 miles north west of Inverness by road and about 31 miles from the head of Loch Ness,

From Garve follow the route to the junction onto the A832 to Garstan through Corriemoillie, Lochluichart, Achnasheen, Badavanich, Leckie, to Kinlochewe

Here you can go over over the famous Bealach na Ba, ‘the pass of the cattle’ that zig-zags up from the main Shieldaig to Lochcarron road, or alterativly take the low level road round the peninsula, this has an ever changing panorama it twists and swoops at first through the Loch Shieldaig woodlands with scary blind bends and occasional oncoming vehicles with suicidal tendencies, before opening out with vistas over the islands of Raasay with Skye behind,

From kinlochewe at the junction take the A896 to Torridon, Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and several Munros, here you will find walking, cycling, Munro ‘bagging’, climbing, mountain biking, bird watching, fishing, stalking, sightseeing or just relaxation It lies near the head of Loch Maree in its magnificent valley, and serves as a junction between the main Ullapool road north, and that which heads west to the coast at Loch Torridon.

From Torridon continue on the A896 through Annet Balay following upper loch Torridon to Sheildaig, the village was founded in 1800 with a view to training up seamen for war against Napoleon, after his defeat and exile to Elba, the community found itself a new role as a fishing village with a string of largely whitewashed cottages and other buildings laid out along the shore of the loch with others scattered up the rising ground behind it, here you will find lochs and rivers which include eight hill lochs with boats for fly fishing and occasional salmon fishing on Loch & river Badachro and Red deer stalking on the estate available from mid-August.

From Sheildaig continue on the A896 to Applecross, along this route is the Coire a' Chaorachain - the corrie of the rowan tree this is one of a series of impressive corries usually seen from below, from the road to Lochcarron, but this view looks down from the Applecross plateau, this is high country with many cliff-edged corries, over the Bealach na Ba, on the first of the zig-zags roads it seems endless until you reach the car park at the summit with views over to the Isle of Skye, this has to rank as one of the real contenders for a truly great biking region amazing scenery diverse countryside, thousands of miles of quiet, testing yet stunning roads, the weather is not always great but the ride and your visit will make it well worth it.