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After seeing a link to a blog posted on here last friday a mate and I fancy having a go at a lite version so looking for route suggestions for a one night stay in the wild.
http://mcalisterium.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/abernethy-glenmore-sluggan-pass-circuit/
Listed the ideal requirements below but these may just be fantasy given our travel time. We’re south London based so the plan is to travel on Friday, night out on Saturday and travel back early Sunday evening so route suggestions generally achievable in that timescale, as much as some of the remote Scottish trips I’ve looked at do appeal.
More likely to do this in spring next year rather than rush out before it gets cold this year.
Remote enough to avoid people on the route
Decent route which takes in some good singletrack riding, not just pootling round on fireroads or access roads.
We're both relatively fit but nothing excessively demanding.
Somewhere where there’s likely to be an established fire pit or its possible/allowable for two sensible people to have a small fire.
Close to water of some description, be it stream, river or lake/reservoir.
Would like to take in some decent hills.
For destination the Brecons came to mind or alternatively there is a night train to Edinburgh (I think) which we could use on the Friday and Sunday nights if we could then change for a train into the more remote areas to a start point. Open to suggestions though.
Ben thinking about the sleeper train from Euston to Scotland, so will be watching with interest.. Otherwise the Brecons are a great spot, feels wild/remote yet not too far from London.
Jameso - Have you been bike packing in the Brecons?
We do some fantastic 2 day or 3 day routes in the Dales. Some home/night away/home and some home/train/night away/home. We normally use YHAs or the like but you could camp if you don't want a good nights sleep (HA!). fab riding though, let me know if you want any route info.
C
No, but a fair few day rides and weekends spent there and the guys I bikepacked with in France this summer did a weekend bivi riding there last summer. If I wanted an easy-access spot from N London M25 area it'd be my 1st choice anyway.
That's my blog 😀
Glad you enjoyed it. Aviemore would be a pretty good location as it's on the London - Inverness line. The route I did is fairly XC, and didn't have a huge amount of singletrack/climbing/descents, the area is popular so you will see folk too, but it's not the Lake District, so it's all relative.
I think the route could be extended to incorporate more singletrack, although you may need to take some out/back diversions to do so.
There are trails around Badaguish which is on/near my route which you could play around on. Bothy Bikes in Aviemore have a set of 5 bike maps for the Cairngorm NP for £10, give them a phone if you do plan on coming up, the maps will help you plan and you can ask them for some route advice at the same time.
Dartmoor.
Just came back from there after a weekend of bikepacking.
Thanks Chris, will drop you a mail. Did think about the dales given the ease of access. We definitely want to do the wild camping thing though as that is part of the appeal.
Thanks vorlich, will maybe give them a call if we head up your way. Blog was great by the way, some cracking photos too.
Will have a look at dartmoor too.
One other point. I reckon if you do come up on the sleeper, you'd be better staying for a couple of days to really get the most out of it. Maybe better to try somewhere closer to home in the first instance.
Ok ta, first time at this so happy to take advice. Just had a quick google on dartmoor and that looks promising.