cycling Bealach na Ba - Tornapress

A magnificent climb the views are stunning. My first ascent was in 1970 when the coastal road was a track! Ive been over a few times but the hardest was on a tandem with camping kit and eleven bags: at one point we pressed and wound something up, probably the block. We stopped for fear of a mechanical, found we couldnt push the load upwards so were forced to ride! This is a classic climb, the British version of an Alpine Climb. Definately 5 points.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Many British climbs are hard in a different way from the alpine cols. This one is hard in the same way. It never gets extremely hard, but as everyone else has noted, the long straight in the upper half of the valley is just hard enough for long enough so that the hairpins at the top come as a relief. This climb must be done first from this side and on a clear day or you will have missed the best of the experience. Climbing from this side is a majestic experience and the view back down is breathtaking and awe inspiring.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Climbed 10 yrs ago from Tornapress. As stated above the long drag up the 2nd part of the valley is worse than the final hairpins, somehow. One drawback is getting past downcoming traffic as the road is narrow. Because of this I had to stop on the nastiest part. Otherwise had a great time, waved on our way at Tornapress by a group of motorbikers pointing vigorously down the turning to the pass, clearly aware being as they were, French, of the only reason a cyclist would have arrived at Tornapress. There is a very nice fish and cake resturant (tiny) called the Kishorn ?Seafood Restaurant on the N side of road a few miles S of junction.

My personal climb rating: 4 stars

Ive also done the Bealach na Ba in both directions as part of the 43 mile loop of the Applecross peninsula from Sheildaig. First day clockwise, going up the climb from Tornapress (east-west). Hardest part is the long straight before the hairpins at the top, otherwise its quite manageable. Descent to Applecross is very technical and requires a lot of concentration. If youre doing the loop all the way along the coast as I did from Applecross back to Sheildaig, dont underestimate how tough it is. It may not be that far, but there a lots of energy-sapping hills which dont show up on a touring map so stock up with food at the excellent Applecross Inn or the wonderful Potting Shed restaurant in the walled garden just beyond the village. Second day I rode the whole thing again anticlockwise and enjoyed it even more. Reached 49 mph on the descent towards Tornapress on that long straight bit before I caught up with the car ahead...

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Ive done this climb twice, once from each direction. I recommend east-west as you get to pass slowly beside the towering cliffs of the corrie, the majesty helps to distract from the pain. When you get to the top you reach the brow and suddenly have the whole of Skye and smaller islands spread out in front of you (if youre lucky to get a clear day), which you continue to have for the entire descent. To top it all there is the very good pub in Applecross, you can virtually freewheel from the pass summit to the pub door. Going west-east, the views of Skye are out of sight behind you, the terrain is relatively uninspiring, and when you descend through corrie the awe of it all is all gone in an instant. And theres no pub or any other refreshments at the other side for about 7 miles either side of Tornapress. I did it unladen both times, west-east first with cloud and no view at the summit, east-west a year later with blue skies and 60 mile visibility. The second time the climb took about an hour including many photo stops, the final approach to the first hairpin was done by cycling left-right across the width of the single track road as it is so steep.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

went up this side in may 08 with moutainbikes, panniers and camping gear. having never done anything this scale before it was intimidating and the second half unpleasant. i had to stop twice for a breather but cycled all the way. in hindsight i think that stopping might have been a more mental than anything else. there is a very demoralising corner 2/3rd up. i didnt think the hairpins at the top were the hardest bit, it was the long straight drag to reach them

My personal climb rating: 3 stars