Bealach na Ba - Applecross

The Bealach has been on my list of ''hills to do'' for many years and since I was stopping overnight in Applecross with our campervan I took the oportunity to ''do it'' while my wife was getting the dinner prepared. However not content with doing only the West side, I continued down to Tornapress, turned around and came back over the Eastern side. Great weather, superb views, Sheep, Stags, crazy car drivers, skipping cassette, chain off once,[try restarting uphill on a 14% gradient] 40+ mph descents and smoking brakes - an epic two hours.

My personal climb rating:

Lovely climb, but overshadowed by the climb from the east for beauty, and toughness. First section is nice and easy, gets you climbing gently, until the middle bit, just after the last house on the left when there is a right turn. The climb then kicks up for the remainder and doesnt really slacken off. Dont underestimate this side though, it may not be as beautiful as the east, but it is very tough none the less.

My personal climb rating:

Climbed twice last year;once in February from Applecross in extremely cold and icy weather and again in July in perfect conditions from Tornapress. A truly spectacular UK route,difficult to judge and with very dramatic surroundings from both directions.My recommendation would be a climb from Tornapress and a stay at the Applecross Inn which must have one the best views in Europe to admire with a decent pint of beer.The continuation route along the coast and inland to Sheildaig is inspiring but more difficult than you would think -especially if you have had a good bash at the bealach.Take some gels!

My personal climb rating:

I climbed this from Applecross: the first leg of a trek from Applecross over to Inverness: about 90 miles in all. The climb is tough. Ignore the gradient information because there are some sections near the summit that are steeper than 10%. The climb is hard, then levels out. Once you reach the exposed section about halfway up the gradient gets steeper. The winds are ubiquitous and when I climbed they were in my face. The climb near the top was very hard. I made it but was obssessed with the concept of compact gearing for a good twenty minutes. One The road is single track and though there are frequent stopping places camper van drivers are soft in the head and give you very little room. The descent is a great buzz, though youd be well advised to take your lemon and lime on some sections as the road is very narrow, there is loose gravel on some corners, and there are some blind bends. Also, as with all such climbs there are plenty of bikers about. All in all, a legendary climb, a real tester, great views - a not-to-be-missed opportunity to lend some reality to your fantasies of mounting a lone breakaway on the Ventoux.

My personal climb rating:

climbed this mountain in both 2006 and 2007,in 2007 decided to try it in may, i stuck to my trusted 38x27 but still surendered and got off about 50 metres before the summit,conditions were very cool, with light drizzle at the foot of the climb.as i began to climb the clouds just completely covered me i could see no more than 20-30 feet in front of me ,it was so quiet, no one passed me in either direction it was very earie,going down the other side was a nightmare i had to get off and walk till i got to about 300 meters above sea level, i could not see the road enough to decend safely.it was a great if not strange ride , love to do on a nice sunny day apparentely the views are wonderful

My personal climb rating:

I climbed the Bealach at the end of April 2007 alone and in very hot sunshine I decided to go straight from the bottom of the climb with very little warm up. It is a beautiful ride and I passed only one other cyclist standing in a lay-by, we exchanged remarks on the heat as I continued pushing 39x23. I only felt the psychological get off your bike and my lungs wheezing on the final hairpins near the summit. The descent is hairy, watch out fae sheep and cars, the bar in Applecross is great but you may be tempted as I was to do the 50 mile loop around the coast, for this make sure you got some juice left in your legs as it rolls up and down relentlessly.