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Anyone organised Duke of Edinburgh cycling expeds in N Scotland?
Am helping a mate out with this, he was planning on doing Great Glen Way, but now a bit concerned about the range of abilities, amount of climbing, along with the volume of kit to be carried.
Any suggestions welcome!
The group need to do this really, not you. Give them a selection of ideas, get a laptop or few guidebooks and help steer the planning. This should include them being aware of what they can do [i]themselves.[/i]
What level is it?
You are not allowed to do waymarked routes, and so the Great Glen is out.
Cheers for that - good points. Hadn't picked up on no waymarked routes.
We need to get them out riding together so they all appreciate the ability level of the group, before they can discuss the route options.
There is a Silver and Bronze group.
Bronze = 6hrs activity, of which on a cycle exped I would expect at least 5hrs pedalling, an hour for a *really* good exped purpose, but for most groups it would be 6hrs pedalling. 35-65miles, depending on route climbing and surfaces.
Silver, add an hour each day (and the extra day). 55-110miles, depending on climbing and surfaces.
You can use *bits* of waymarked routes, but they should be navigating themselves on small roads and tracks. I would not look for singletrack with DofE bronze and silver, unless I knew they were a team of mtb'ers.
You can rent sets of trailers from Beyond Adventure in Aberfeldy, and they would take them to Ballinluig for a team heading North.
I think you could have a cracker of a route around Speyside area for both teams. Moray coast would also be great.
Remember you will fall foul of Wild Country rules, and therefore need to notify DofE of the routes, and have more robust risk management/qualifications in place, but you would have that I suspect from your Operating Authority.
(I am sat here planning Bronze and Silver training for a BB's group...)
Thanks. We are based in the Highlands and want to do something fairly local - so thinking Speyside would be good, or also there are plenty of good hill tracks between Moray Firth & Speyside.
No thoughts of singletrack - which will be a shame for the hardcore bikers, but they will be in a supporting role to the less experienced.
I believe we have access to trailers from Highland. Presumably they are more manageable than heavy panniers?
I believe we have access to trailers from Highland
Be interested to know about that. When I asked about trailers highlife highland wanted to charge a ridiculous daily rate.
Hmmm tis Highlife Highland -so will find out what they are proposing charging - have only just become involved.
I agree - I heard their hire rate (on anything) was shocking... It may be that Bothy Bikes or similar have a few they would hire, and Beyond Adventure may be able to bring em up in the season, as they are all over the place...
Trailers and bikes, with DofE, most definitely. They won't pack light, and cheap overloaded panniers are a problem lurking...
Great, will give em a shout.
Part of the Speyside way?
Yes was thinking Speyside way - but would need to just be part of their route - to avoid the no waymarked trails issue.
what about the short coast to coast.....
mr t-r took a group of kids from invergordon school. 1 day there 1 day back.
ardguy to ullapool.
t-r thanks for that - I was wondering about something on those lines. Or Altguish-Ardgay-Ullapool & overnight at Croik. Did it a few years back, just need to remind myself of the terrain over the whole route.
Must admit the thought of towing an artic trailer of kit sounds like hard work where ever they go!