ACTIVE OUTDOORS: Strathpuffer in summer is in lap of the dogs
Billed as probably the toughest mountain-bike endurance race in the world, the Strathpuffer is a 24-hour event that takes place in the middle of winter.
For all those reasons, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Back in the Januarys of 2015 and 2016, I took part in the challenge as part of a “quad” team and learned why, for others, it’s a must-do event.
Not only is the challenge itself an attraction to people like me who like to push themselves physically and mentally, but there’s a genuine camaraderie between competitors and a superb atmosphere out on the course and at the start/finish area.
At this time of the year, Torrachility Forest near Contin is a bit more sedate. Beyond the forestry workers, it’s a peaceful spot for dog walkers, explorers and runners, as well as being a popular spot for mountain bikers.
The midges seem to like it, too…
I’m out on my bike quite a lot but beyond a short commute to the office each day, the rest of my rides are relatively short excursions, either to reach the mountains or just for the joy of exploring. I haven’t really done anything near as technical as the Puffer in the last few years.
Yet for some reason, when entries opened for the 2025 event, I found myself giddily pressing the button and cajoling my new teammates into sharing their details for the entry form.
That was it. Without any questions asked, we paid our money, and we were in.
Among my team is my brother Alan, who was up in the Highlands for a holiday recently. I took the opportunity to show him the Puffer course, and to reacquaint myself with the route and a few changes to it since I last took part.
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We’re both riding hardtail 29in mountain bikes, which is a step up from the 26-incher I had on my previous two goes at the Puffer.
In a low gear to start, the course climbs up a couple of miles of fireroad before the real fun stuff starts. Then at a small gap in the trees, the singletrack begins in earnest, crossing what is usually a burn in mid-winter then climbing an awkward little rocky ascent that is difficult to pedal up. I just about managed it this time, but it was hard work, and prior knowledge was definitely an advantage!
The 29er rolled over the rocks better than I remembered on my previous bike, and I was enjoying the twisting trail. Alan was in front and I soon heard a bit of a shout – he’d stopped in his tracks at the sight of the slab.
This can be an intimidating bit of the route – a steep, uneven slab of rock you must descend before a sharp left turn at the bottom to avoid the trees straight ahead. My first experience of this – when training back in 2014 – was to say “no way” and walk it the first time.
After watching me ride it, Alan gave it a shot and handled it well, but I wanted another go, so I walked back up and rode it again.
The singletrack continues, with more rocks to negotiate, to find Bill – a skeleton made from metal and bike parts that greets you in the middle of the woods.
Beyond here, the route has changed slightly, so I was relying on a gpx file to keep me right. Instead of crossing the Bridge of Thighs, the singletrack loops sharply back on itself to add on a new section, then twist back to reach where the bridge should be.
However, a warning sign on the approach lets you know that the bridge is temporarily absent, so we carefully went to the crossing point and walked over the dried-up burn before continuing the route.
The trail soon reaches familiar territory for me as it headed up to the viewpoint over Loch Kinellan – which has become somewhat overgrown with gorse and broom in the last eight years.
From here, a swooping downhill takes you onto a brief bit of fireroad before rejoining a path towards View Rock, with some great flowing sections. You need to be particularly careful for dog walkers and other users around this section.
Then it cuts away again on some fine challenging singletrack over the shoulder of Cnoc nan Sasunnach – where Alan took a tumble – and down the other side. This section used to scare me in the past, but today I was loving the exhilaration of the downhill.
Parts of the route were well overgrown and we suffered a few cuts from the gorse and brambles, on top of the midge bites, but we got down with big grins on our faces.
The Strathpuffer in January is not going to be easy, but it is going to be a lot of fun.
Route details
Strathpuffer lap
Distance 8 miles / 13 km
Terrain Fireroad and singletrack mountain bike trails
Start/finish Torrachility Forest car park, Contin (charge)
Map OS Landranger 26; OS Explorer 437
Revisiting the Strathpuffer route before taking on the new (since I last did it) course in January 2025
Click here to see the route in OS Maps
