[Closed] North Coast 500 - anyone done it?

It's certainly gaining in popularity this year. We're getting quite a few enquiries at work about it. For most folk it's beyond a weeks cycling so many want to chop it into two bit or just do the most scenic "central" bit north of Kyle to Tongue.

Lee Craigie and half a dozen mates are doing it in a relay fashion this weekend, hoping to get round faster than Mark Beaumont did.

We're suggesting some alterations to the published route to better cater for cyclists. Two main changes spring to mind; the NC500 misses out the "wee mad road of Inverpolly" and it uses the A9 down the East Coast. We reckon that it's better to pass the bottom of Stac Polly on the way to Lochinver and we have a couple of better options for the East once you get around Dornoch. One is to head to Bonar Bridge and then take the high road to Alness/Evanton and Dingwall. The other is to head for Tain then Nigg for the ferry (which is due to be re-instated this summer). Assuming the ferry re-opens, the official NC500 route will go this way anyway.

I made a film about it (1st cam op) and the charity are using it internally to gain investment, etc

It was beautiful, and I wish I was riding (three of my clubmates, one being the creative director rode it)

Agree with the re-route mentioned above^

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My brother recently drove it, camping each night. Said it was fab. Gave up taking photos on day 2 as seemingly every five minutes there was an amazing view of something.

Even though he drove it over six days he wished he had more time each day. Trying to ride it in five days is going to be tough, and you'll miss out on off-bike time to enjoy places along the route.

Thanks folks, much appreciated. Will have a look at the variations Colin, cheers.

I should also add that while the East Coast section has its merits, returning via Alltnaharra is by far the better option. Of course, you're then not really doing the NC500(a bit like those folk doing the WHW but skipping out the bit north of Rowardennan).

Scotroutes, would you favour clockwise?

Definitely. The Bealach Na Ba, Torridon, Laide, Assynt... They all work best in that direction. Arguably, Loch Maree and Tongue are better anti-, but not enough to swing it. In many ways, the route as it stands does end in an anti-climax. Including the Nigg ferry will help (just don't ask what the locals are called)

Daisy Duke - here you go!

5 of us did it clockwise last year.
3 long, tough days stopping in Ullapool & Thurso overnight.
Stunning scenery, and we got lucky with the weather.
To 'enjoy' the ride & the surroundings to full potential you need longer than 3 days though 🙂
And remember its 520 odd miles, not 500!

There's work to be done to create a cycling version of the. North Coast 500. Mrs Felltop is in correspondence with them, and they seem to be receptive to ideas. I've noticed a real increase in the number touring / fast touring cyclists already this year (NW Highlands). Good to see!

Scotroutes missed yiur reply - many thanks and yeah there was a guy called Onion who got in a lot of trouble for talking about that ferry crossing 😀

Fingers crossed weather holds fir next 2-3 weeks!

Me and a friend rode it last september and did it in 5 days light touring using youth hostels.
It was a fantastic ride but very tough. We are thinking of doing it again this year but over 7 days.
The roads are almost totally traffic free but roll very slowly due to the surface.

Day 1 . Inverness to applecross
day 2. Applecross to ullapool
Day 3. ullapool to tongue
day 4 Tongue to helmsdale
Day 5. Helmsdale to Inverness

550miles and LOTS of climbing :0)

Just seen the wee taster vid or the girls who did it in 36hrs non stop. So I'm further enthused!
Any further advice from anyone? I'm thinking of this time next year. Would that avoid peak midge time on the west coast?
F

I'm riding with a couple of the women who did the 36 tomorrow, looking forward to hearing about it.

Hugely impressive feat, fair play to them!
I'd like to stop for a couple of pints each night tho!

[quote=fatmax ]Just seen the wee taster vid or the girls who did it in 36hrs non stop. So I'm further enthused!
Any further advice from anyone? I'm thinking of this time next year. Would that avoid peak midge time on the west coast?
F

Surely you'll be moving so fast the midge won't keep up with you?

Not the speed that I climb!

I live on the west coast on the NC500 route and do a lot of cycling on these roads. This year, felltop and I are certain that there is more traffic on these roads; cars, cyclists and motor bikes. We have also had convoys of traffic, mostly 5-10 motorbikes or sports cars, but one recent convoy in support of Scottish independence was reported to be about 70 vehicles; I got stuck in it! So there are bound to be safety factors arising from the publicity of the NC500. Having said that, these roads are usually very quiet and safe and a pleasure to cycle, provided you like hills and don't mind some wind and weather (it is completely gorgeous this week though!). You won't find any NC500 signs but navigation is very easy, especially once you get beyond the network of minor roads out east between Tain, Inverness and Contin. A couple of pages from a road atlas will suffice to find your way beyond the minor network.

There are some sections I would avoid as they are really not good for cycling (but then I am not used to urban cycling and traffic). I would use the more minor roads to get to get out of Inverness to Contin but then the A835 trunk road between Contin and Garve is very winding, up and down with poor sight lines and fast traffic including big lorries heading out west. I have never cycled it and wouldn't want to. For those with chunky wheels, there are good forest roads north of the river and you can re-join the A road near Garve (OS map required or the local mountian biking map). The train or bike bus is an alternative. If you cycle it watch out for the level crossing at Garve and walk it as signed!! Same for the one south of Achnasheen at Balnacra - if you do cycle, weave to cross the rails at as close to 90deg as possible.

The Bealach na Ba over to Applecross and around the coast to Sheildaig is fabulous (my favourite ride). Most drivers are kind to cyclists ascending long steep climbs. Over the Bealach climb, hold your ground (use the primary road position as I teach in Bikability) and try not to be intimidated by the occasional vehicle trying to bully you out of the way -it is very narrow and gets quite steep just before the first left bend on the head wall so you are anything like me, will be slow and wobbly and working hard - don't let cars try to force past you - there isn't room, but do use the passing places to let them pass - most are just long enough to let 2 cars past before you need to re-join the road! The descent to Applecross has some great fast sections but some blind bends as well. The cattle grid at the bottom is very smooth...'nuf said!! Be ready for the roller-coaster of a road as you head South East around the coast back to Sheildaig - great fun on empty roads but narrow with poor sight lines when the trees are in full leaf.

I agree with the post above, the Inverpolidh road south of Lochinver is brilliant but perhaps they haven't included it as it just wouldn't take the traffic so I'm pleased it isn't on the NC500. I will include it in a cyclists version though.

Personally, I wouldn't take the A9 trunk road back from Thurso/Wick to Inverness - I would cut cross country from Loch Hope, Tongue, Bettyhill or Melvich to join the A9 at Helmsdale or Lothbeg - some lovely quiet singletrack unclassified and B roads over the wild open flow country - not to be done into a strong southerly! (The A897 may take some Dounreay commuting traffic on Sunday evenings/Monday mornings and Friday afternoons).

South of Brora, look at the map for detours to avoid the A9 if you want, but certainly use the minor road between Alness and Dingwall (and the cycle tack for chunkier bikes between Alness and Evanton) then train or the network of minor roads back to Inverness. There is also a cycle track which mostly runs next to the A835 after Dingwall and then the A9 to the Kessock bridge. The A9 would be a real anti-climax and quiet unpleasant here - I certainly wouldn't cycle it!

Keep an eye on the NC500 website - there may be more for cyclist posted soon....I'm hoping to work with Kenneth on this.

[quote=fraochmor ]Keep an eye on the NC500 website - there may be more for cyclist posted soon....I'm hoping to work with Kenneth on this.Would you mind contacting me (email in profile)? Ta.

The Bealach na Ba over to Applecross and around the coast to Sheildaig is fabulous (my favourite ride).

This was part of a recent mini tour and have to agree it was wonderful. The road back from Shieldaig to the bottom of the Bealach was very good too(and a nice café).

[/quote The road back from Shieldaig to the bottom of the Bealach was very good too(and a nice café). ]

The Bealach Cafe - very nice indeed and the Whistlestop at Kinlochewe, seem to see lots of our ex-pupils working in these in the holidays! Walled Garden Cafe at Applecross isn't to be missed to re-fule after the Bealach! On a light road bike, the whole Applecross circuit is just wonderful...when the weather is good and gives you the west coast light in the evening coming back to Sheildaig....

Returning from a Torridon mountain bike trip we stopped in at the Whistlestop, outside was a guy doing a bit of credit card touring which hatched the idea for the mini tour. It was very nice, both places run by nice folks too. Bealach refuelling was at the Inn 🙂 I'll keep in mind the Walled Garden Café for next time.

So far, I have written two NC500 cycling blogs on the official NC500 web site; June 2016 giving road safety advice about level crossings and single track roads and August 2016 about the cycle shops and repair options on the route with some tips about the Bealach na Ba...and more to come! Hope this information will be useful to you! Please share to let it be more widely known that this information is out there and readily available to anyone thinking about cycling the NC500 or anywhere in the North Highlands.

LOL - I was just about to post a link to [url= https://www.northcoast500.com/blog/blog/june-2016-(1)/nc500-cycling-blog-june-2016.aspx ]your blog[/url] 🙂

Thanks Colin!! We must speak...

fraochmor - thanks for the long post and the promise of more cycling stuff on the website soon, sounds good.
Anyone else been and cycled it this summer or planning a trip?

Met a mate in Edinburgh last week. Not seen him in 5 years or so. Hh asked me if I fancied doing this with him next year. He's always done heaps of road biking far more than he's ever done on an mtb. I think he's mad, I've never been into road biking. I've a sneaking desire to join him but I doubt my fitness levels.

I'd love to do this route too.
Jimmy Mac did it in June, smashing the record, and raising a bunch of cash for charity. He's shared a video of his trip at:

Jimmy's time was legendary

That was some accomplishment.

For anyone that's done it, does this sound like an ok itinerary?
Inverness-Torridon via Achnasheen, the Bealach and Applecross - 109m, 8600ft.
Torridon-Inchnadamph Hotel via Gairloch and Dundonell - 108m, 7700ft
Inchnadamph-Tongue via Kylesku and Durness - 100m, 9000ft
Tongue-Helmsdale via Thurso and John o'Groats, 114m, 7000ft
Helmsdale-Inverness via Glenmorangie Distillery and Dingwall, 73m, 3000ft.
?
Any thoughts welcome.

Early start from Inverness should see you fine. Make sure you have lights though.

You're missing the Wee Mad Road of Inverpolly. I'd much rather take that than the A835/A837 to Inchnadamph. Similarly there's a route from The Mound, past Loch Buidhe to Bonar Bridge then climbing over the Struie to Alness that is much preferable to NCN7 from Tain (and don't even think about the A9).

If the Cromarty-Nigg ferry is running then that's a good option too (just don't ask what the locals are called).

Yep found it quite tough- did it the last week of September. The weather was pretty good
INverness to applecross -82 miles - easy first 70 miles then the pass.
Applecross to ullapool - 117 miles - long day
Ullapool to Durness - 70 miles ( i cut the loop out round the coast 27 miles)
Durness to JOG - 93 miles - easier the further east you go
Jog to Golspie - 70 miles -OK but the wind!
Golspie to inverness - 60 miles ok butthe wind - the A9 gets busy

Took 5 and a half days - on a salsa fargo with panniers -should have travelled much lighter. the last two days were into a head wind all day - all day!!!

Did I mention the wind ?

Thanks chaps. We are hopefully having a back up van (one of the lads missus) so will be travelling light and meeting up each lunchtime get full bottles, waterproofs etc.

I go up and camp at Clachtoll in the van. This route has become such a magnet for car clubs and boy racers that I wouldn't like to bike it now. Or I'd do it away from predictably busy times. It's stunning though, I'll be back fat biking around Assent with a fishing rod attached to my pack next year.

Thanks devs, we're going 20-21 May next year, and so hopefully before it gets too mobbed.

I did a section of it in mid-September, had a route from Ullapool > Drumrunie > Inverkirkcraig > Lochinver and then picked up the NC500 where it goes round to Clashnessie and Drumbeg.

That part was noticeably busier than the early section of the ride and had a couple of 3-car convoys, usually all one type of car. Little sports cars like MX-5s.

When I turned off the route at Unapool and went down to Inchnadamph, the roads returned to peaceful solitude.

And as others have mentioned, the A9 / A99 road on the east coast is absolutely dreadful to ride on. Far better off doing a variation on the route and going up (or down) the middle through Altnaharra. I've got a nice route from Thurso to JOG as well that avoids all the main road but still gives you amazing views over the coast.

FWIW we've had quite a few customers on the NC500 this year and none have reported any issues with traffic. In fact, feedback this year is that drivers thoughout the Highlands and Islands are almost universally courteous and patient. That's coming from some European riders too.

Great cycling roads up there, but I'd echo what others have said; don't get too hung up on following the official route. You could miss out on some fantastic and very quiet alternatives.

FWIW we've had quite a few customers on the NC500 this year and none have reported any issues with traffic. In fact, feedback this year is that drivers thoughout the Highlands and Islands are almost universally courteous and patient. That's coming from some European riders too.

Oh they were - on some stretches of road round there you can't be anything other than courteous and patient as there simply isn't any space to get past!

I'm a little bit wary of these advertised driving routes though. It brings some much needed income and tourism to some of the more remote areas certainly and that in turn means better facilities but eventually it leads to a tipping point where you end up with gridlocked traffic and roads that while they're fine for 3 cars an hour can't cope with 8 camper vans meeting head on!

It's probably as well to keep the traffic issues in perspective; while there is a bit more traffic now than there was, say three years ago, it's far from busy and if you follow Scotroute's excellent advice to use the sensible alternatives, you'll have plenty of peace.
Remember, just because there's an 'advertised' route, doesn't mean that this is the only route that works. Over the years, I've done most of this as part of various other extended rides but never in one circular go.
My one tuppenceworth of advice- plan to take as long as you can, rather than rushing around. Take your time, get into a proper touring groove, relax and enjoy. It's a fantastic place and bashing through it all in just a few days is slightly missing the point, in my humble opinion. You will miss so much... Seafoood at the end of the Summer Isles road, or the amazing wee road around the Stoer peninsula to Drumbeg. Don't forget to stop and look behind you too...

Planning on doing the nc500 during the first week in may 2017..I would be interested to hear from anyone (beka) who had managed the route in 3 days..also if anyone else planning the route on the same week.
Matt

Planning on doing this next April on the run up to Easter. Are there any restrictions on wild camping??

Thanks

[quote=jcnm ]Planning on doing this next April on the run up to Easter. Are there any restrictions on wild camping??
Thanks

It's Scotland so you can pretty much camp where you want. Avoid folks gardens, try to stay out of the sight of houses, pitch late, strike early, no fires, don't leave any shit.

[quote=matty74 ]Planning on doing the nc500 during the first week in may 2017..I would be interested to hear from anyone (beka) who had managed the route in 3 days..also if anyone else planning the route on the same week.
Matt

Don't try to do it in 3 days.

was there any more progress on the more cycle specific route?

No(t yet)

Of course, there's nothing to stop anyone doing a pseudo NC500 picking better roads in places. There's been a number of threads on here with suggestions.

After starting this thread, I've just booked up today and confirmed everything.
17-21 May next year.
8 riders, 2 support crew...for carrying bags...and to be on bottles / waterproofs / food duty!
Torridon, Lochinver, Tongue, Helmsdale as the overnight stops.
Day 1 - 114m and 8100ft
Day 2 - 121m and 8600ft
Day 3 - 89m and 6000ft
Day 4 - 113m and 7000ft
Day 5 - 80m and 3000ft
Hope to have the energy to have a few pints each night.
Many thanks for all the advice to date. I'll no doubt be researching those variations nearer the time.

I've been cycling touring in Scotland for 20 years and I have to say I don't get this route. I've cycled maybe 75% of the route and I have to say sections particularly in the east aren't a pleasant cycle. No point being bloody minded is there? Following a route just to tick a box? Why not make up your own adaptation that cuts out the crap?

Waderider, fair enough. So any suggestions of yours for making the eastern leg more attractive / better cycling?

There are a few suggestions on the previous page.

I actually think there's quite a bit of value in doing the A99/A9 to Golspie but the A9 gets a lot busier after that and is unpleasant cycling. Head inland to Bonar Bridge and Ardgay to miss some of it and also get some great scenery on the way. Or make use of the Nigg-Cromarty Ferry and the alternative version of NCN1 thereabouts.

Good luck with the route. There's a fair chance I'll be travelling the JoG/Inverness stretch at the time so I'll look out for you.

Why bother going to Wick, Thurso and John o' Groats? They are all a bit crap. And the A99 and A9 can be a bit busy with trucks and boy racers etc.

Instead, I'd just go along to Bettyhill, then there's a lovely road down Strathnaver, to Altnaharra, then Lairg. Then head for the Nigg ferry, and down the Black Isle.

Strathnaver is a fine road.
I would also recommend the A897 through Forsinard as a lovely, quiet alternative to the main roads down the east coast. Nice description of it on this blog:
https://arnoldlejog.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/day-21-helmsdale-to-john-o-groats/
[img] [/img]

I have [url= http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zsquevlazkrejipg ]this route[/url] planned for late spring next year. Using suggestions from scotroutes and others, miss the East coast out and include minor detours from the 'official' route on the West to do the best bits (such as wee mad road of Inverpolly). Ends up at 405 miles

Looks nice that, though I'd be tempted to extend the easterly side to do Nigg-Cromarty and the Black Isle

I don't think the Nigg-Cromarty ferry has been confirmed for next year yet.

Great info here - thanks

Doing it in may / June. Will definitely do the wee mad road and cut back through the middle rather than east coast. Unsupported but not camping I don't think

Given a choice, would you use a road bike or cx / gravelly thing? Have 5 days which may allow a bit of exploring

Thanks

Road bike. There are very few "gravel road" options that make any sense for that route.

I've shamelessly stolen @fatmax's itinerary for the charity group (7 riders, 2 support) i'm doing it with this summer.

Currently trying to decide which bike to do it on.

how the hell do you get accommodation on this????? everything seems full / minimum 2/3 nights bookings / £350 a night

it is half term / bank holiday I suppose

(a) In a lot of places there's little available.
(b) The NC500 has been well (over)publicised this past year or so.
(c) You've picked peak NC500 time.

camping? 100 miles a day carrying gear though.....

oh and the fekking midges!

Planning to drive this in mid-May in our 74 VW camper after a week around the Isles, will probably take 4-5 days at about 30mph! Still trying to see if I can squeeze a bike in the back...

July here. Sacked off LeJog and then NC500 official route for 10 days touring islands and NW mainland, Glasgow-Inverness, Inc Bealach na Ba, Wee Mad Ed, Eilean Donan, Cape Wrath.

Bikepacking taking tents with the odd B+B/hostel.

This wasn't on the NC500 route but similar accidents have occurred in the area.

Cyclist injured in collision with sheep near Kilchoan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-39404796

Please take care when there are sheep around!!!

Interesting thread! Something I've wanted to do for a few years then saw Emily Chappell and Lee Craigie talk about it at the Adventure Syndicate as they did it in 36 hours !! I'd do it over 8 days or so. Lots of food for thought on this thread thanks.

We go up Tuesday night, stay in Inverness, and start Wednesday. Typically after weeks of calm and sunny weather on the west it's looking 'mixed'!
Can't wait. Any last minute tips?
Will post an update when I'm back.
Cheers
Fraser

I bike packed the full route last month. Challenging it was with some quite atrocious weather at times! Rain, heavy rain, driving rain, cold, wind, more wind, head wind and pretty poor visibility during those times. There were some good bits as well though. It took me seven days and I wild camped every night, with the exception of two nights at camp sites (in an attempt to dry out my gear!). If I was to do it again I would head south after Durness, I found it pretty bleak along the North Coast to John o Groats and down the East Coast to about Helmsdale. West coast was beautiful, just a shame about the weather I experienced. I guess that's Scotland though, and I missed the snow the following week.
Trevor.

w

It's been amazing. Currently on Day 4. The first three days we had pretty amazing weather and the scenery and cycling has been breathtaking. Heavy rain today. Four of us took the shortcut through Forsinard to Helmsdale while while the A Team / hardy folk have pushed on round John O'Groats. Will write something up properly when I'm back.

Parents have just done it in a motor home over 2 weeks, said it was ace. Might give it a whirl in the next couple of years

A few thoughts but happy to answer any questions...
Day 1 - Inverness SYHA to Torridon Inn, 114m and 8100ft. Inverness wasn't too busy at 8.45am when we left and the roads once out of Inverness were ok too. We rode as a wee peloton for the first 70 or so miles, to share the headwind duties. No significant climbing and we went along ok. My first time up the Bealach Na Ba and it's a tough slog but beautiful. Windy descent down to Applecross. Then wind then blew us along the coast (so many ups and downs!!) to Shieldaig, which I found tougher than the Bealach. But the views were stunning the whole way. Cars and motorhomes (lots of them about) all very and supportive on the narrow roads, and were generally great the whole trip. Torridon Inn was superb for food and digs. The owner saying the business is 10% up due to the NC500.
Day 2 - Torridon to Lochinver, 121m and 8600ft. A mammoth day with lots of climbing but longer and steadier. First 30 miles to coffee in Gairloch (Mountain Coffee Company) were easier then the climbing started from there. Lunchstop at Maggie's Tea Room was superb with a big climb after that, followed by a lovely descent towards Ullapool. We decided to not take the Stac Polliah road (someone had read to not take it!) and the cycle along Loch Assynt was atmospheric and lovely in late evening drizzle and then sunshine. The Culag Inn on the Harbour at Lochinver was terrible - avoid, both the hotel and service.
Day 3 - Lochinver to Tongue, 89m and 7650ft. We joked that this was our rest day and were wrong. The coast from Lochinver to Kylesku was seriously lumpy and we were all knackered by coffee at the Kylesku Hotel. Then there's a lot more climbing until just shy of Durness...and then a great descent down to the sea loch. Smoo Cave Hotel for late lunch was cracking. Round a lovely sea loch and then a tiring climb up and over to Tongue really took it out of us - a strong headwind for the last 30 miles. Tongue Hotel and Ben Loyal Hotel both recommended. Great meal in the Ben Loyal - really top notch.

So first three days done in windy and generally sunny conditions with just the odd squal to deal with. I'd ride all the route unchanged again.

Day 4, Tongue to Helmsdale, 113m and 7000ft. The weather forecast was horrific and although it started off not too bad, that's the way it proved to be post lunch. Halladale Inn in Melvich looked horrendous from the outside but we got a warm welcome, fantastic soup and hot chocolate. Given the feedback earlier in the thread and feeling pretty fatigued, I (and three others) took the shortcut from Melvich to Forsinard and over to Helmsdale in fairly heavy rain and high winds. It would be a lovely cycle in the dry, so that was a good shout. The others were mad keen to complete the entire round and get the John O'Groats photo and pushed on. It was a rainy Saturday and they said the roads/traffic weren't too bad. Two had to cut it short 10 miles short of Helmsdale due to being too cold to function / constant shivering. The others made it chilled to the bone, cold but in high spirits. Troopers. Some of us stayed in the Customs House B&B as it's run by the aunt of a pal - very old fashioned but the warmest welcome and the best breakfast of the trip. The others stayed in the Bannockburn Inn and got a warm welcome and we generally had a great meal - and they were very accommodating by staying serving after 10pm.

Day 5 - Helmsdale to Inverness, 80m and 3000ft. Warm and sunny again. Up early on a Sunday morning (and with some of us with one eye on the clock) we pushed on down the A9 until Tain, but the traffic did get worse after Dornoch. Some of the team pushed on down the A9 but I took a slightly more inland route to Alness and it was really pleasant, so I'd recommend that and the alternatives (Bonar Bridge etc) that others have suggested. But the roads from Dingwall, through Muir of Ord and back to Inverness were fine - pleasant cycling and not too busy at all.

Recommended? Absolutely, we are all buzzing today and all without exception loved it. It was a quite a stretch at times but the cycling is superb. We had two support cars and I wouldn't have liked to do it bikepacking or panniers - some of the hills are seriously tough, or you'd need to add a couple of days. I think we did it at a good time of year - pre-midge, pre-May Bank Holidays, good weather etc, but it was still busy with camper vans in parts and is definitely getting more popular from what folk are saying - but in no way was this an issue - I think we only had one dickhead driver in 5 days. 28mm tyres would probably be optimal for grip and cushioning. Any questions just give me a shout.

Currently just outside JO'G in our camper having driven around from Kyle after a week on the Isles. Fatmax, may have passed you on the from Ullapool to Clachtoll? We're in a blue/white 1976 VW camper wheezing our way up the climbs. The route certainly seems to attract much traffic, from campervans, lots of foreign motorbikes and full-on knobs in performance cars who have difficulty selecting reverse! Not sure I'd want to cycle the full route though

Can't believe you didn't do the Wee Mad Road of Inverpolly. In Dave Barters "Great British Bike Rides" he singles that out as his favourite route 🙂

doverbiker - yes, seem to remember seeing you (or someone in a similar van) near Clachtoll. There were ten of us at that point, a blue VW Passat and a knackered P-reg campervan.
scotroutes - it was one of those things. I'd organised 99% of everything and one lad piped up that he'd read on a blog not to go that way, and I didn't want to shout him down. One thing the trip has done is really spark my interest in taking the kids up there, so I'll be back to bike it another time. And will try and check out that book! And Colin - thanks to you and others for the constructive input, much appreciated, as always.

Nice write up. thanks

We are off to do this on the 1st of June.

The route i have on gpx seems to be the 'car' route. I would really like a gpx of a route that includes the wee mad road and the detour for the A9 last section into Inverness.

I dont seem to bright enough to make my own route for the gps, so can anyone link me to one please?

Thanks

Like scotroutes, the 'wee mad road' is absolutely brilliant. I suppose that there is always another time!

Great write up 😀