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Description:-
The second stage of the Inverness to Plockton ride, somewhat unsurprisingly, starts where stage one finished - at the Glen Affric YH. From here, the route takes you into the wilderness of the Kintail mountains, then drops down to sea level for an on-road section alongside Loch Duich and Loch Alsh, before climbing again through woodland over to the idyllic village of Plockton.
The route:
Set out West from the Glen Affric hostel, remaining on the North side of the river. When you come to a ford (tag 1) you can either ride through if water levels allow, or take the path to the right which leads upstream to a bridge crossing then rejoins the main path.
Initially the path is very rideable, but after passing Camban bothy (tag 2) it narrows and becomes increasingly rocky with numerous water bars and stream crossings so some hike-a-bike is inevitable. The technical descent features some steep sections (tag 3) which require care when the rocks are wet!
Towards the end of the descent into Glen Lichd, the path heads down to a bridge over the river (tag 4). After crossing this bridge, turn right at the junction (tag 5) with the Glen Lichd path, which will take you past Glen Lichd House and onto a landrover track to Morvich. Be careful of sheep when whizzing down the track!
At the junction by the Morvich activity centre (tag 6) turn left and then, at the end of the road (tag 7), right. This road will join the A87, at which point turn right towards Kyle of Lochalsh and follow the road as far as Balmacara. Eilean Donan Castle (tag 9) is a point of interest along this stretch and also conveniently has a visitor centre with toilets and a coffee shop!
Upon reaching Balmacara, turn right just before the hotel (tag 10), then left onto a path and continue on up the hill to the viewpoint and into the woods. Ingore the first path off to the left to Balamacara Square (tag 11), turn left at tag 12, and ignore the next path to the left (tag 13).
Continue on North, passing between Carn Thollaidh and Cnoc a Chlarsair until you reach Loch Achaidh na h-Inich (tag 14). Remain on the path skirting the West shore of the loch, then turn left onto the road (tag 15). At the junction a few hundred yards along, ignore the road to Duirnish and carry straight on past Loch Lundie.
When this road ends at a T-junction, turn right then almost immediately turn left onto the woodland path signposted to Plockton (tag 16). This takes you under the railway and along beside the sea before joining the road into Plockton (tag 17), where you can turn right into the village or left to the train station.
Take the train back to Inverness.