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Planning to do a 4-5 day trip from Lairg, to the west coast then up to cape wrath, along the top road and back down to Helmsdale. This is a road trip on a cx bike, so mainly good roads will be used.
Going to be a camping/hostel trip, any one got any experiences, tips advice, places to camp etc?
Also, what would you take? I think I have a good idea, done this sort of thing before, but some one always mentions something I won't have thought of.
Ta
[url= http://www.durnesshostel.com/ ]Lazy Crofter[/url] - Hostel in Durness run by very nice people.
Are you planning head towards Lochinver and up, or from Lairg towards Laxford Bridge and up?
Nice campsites (from a picturesque point of view at least - never camped there) in Achmelvich, which is just north of Lochinver, and Scourie.
Also [url= http://www.inch-lodge.co.uk/ ]This Place[/url] in Inchnadamph if you don't go as far as Lochiniver.
I would recommend going west from Lairg past Ledmore and up towards Scourie - much nicer IMO than the road that goes from Lairg to Laxford Bridge.
Achmelvich has a youth hostel in an amazing setting, and a great campsite too though there are some good wild camping spots and other campsites like Clachtoll nearby. Lochinver has the best pies on planet earth from the Lochinver Larder. Take a midge net, or a midge suit even better!
Have stayed at Inchnadamph lodge a number of times and can recomend it. it has a nice big drying room that comes in handy
Cool thanks, going end of May, early June, may not be too bad for Midges (HA!).
Thanks for the lodge recommendations.
Can't flippin wait!
if you have never been before prepare for it being very remote with big distances between things
I love the sango sands oasis at durness ( campsite)
Note about the laxford bit is bang on.Sounds like you are coming up by train,so give Lairg a miss and get off at Carbisdale which has probobly the best youth hostel in Scotland.Then cycle over to Lochinver for munchies.However, which everway you cut it,the road to Laxford is much tougher this way than than going up by Loch Shin.There are good campsites in Lochinver,Stoer area,Scourie and Durness.With decent grub available in all of them.Wild camping can be had wherever you like as well.Hotel in Tongue now has some superb food as has Melness.From there you can make Helmsdale in a day.
Hills - big ones around lochinver and just outside Durness and Loch Hope,otherwise a lot easier than anywhere else on the west coast.
Shouldn't have any issues with midges until mid june as a rule,don't camp in forests or near water if there are any about.
Nearest bike shops are Steve in Strathpeffer,Mark in Dingwall,Inverness has a good spread,but after that nothing.Thurso and Golspie have shops that sell bikes but don't know their reputations I'm afraid.
Good campsite in Dunbeath.
Be sure to visit Smoo caves at Durness. Very close to the road side and from there hard to see what the fuss is about. Once down at sea level it looks like the set from a James Bond film. Good campsite also at Durness with a path down to a cracking sandy beach. Pub grub seems a little more expensive at the north so may be worth taking extra food to self cater if on a budget.
Smoo caves
http://www.durness.org/Smoo%20Cave.htm