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For the last few years 3 of us have undertaken a 3-day weekend of MTBing, covering things like a circuit of the Cairngorms, Tyndrum-Kinlochleven-Roybridge-Corrour and a tour of Torridon.
This year it has been [b]suggested that we tackle the Ft William-Montrose Coast to Coast[/b], but work constraints mean we only have [b]4 days[/b] in the saddle. We can be in Ft Bill late the night before (so available for an early start) and logistics will let us get back home from Montrose even if we don't arrive there until after 8pm on the last day.
We will be riding skill compensators (the last 2 of us made the upgrade following the torridon trip last year!) and carrying our kit on our backs - but travelling very light (smelly!) and staying in hostels etc - no camping/bivying/bothying. I'm the least fit of the three of us - so most worried about surviving! Technically I think we are all capable.
[b]So has anyone else done this is 4 days?[/b] Will 4 days be enjoyable (6-8hr days) or just a nightmare 10 hr/day slog. Most of the companies guiding this route seem to take 7 days - and "The Wild Trails" suggest its a minimum of 5. Are there sensible points to stop - that split it into 4 equal days? Are other suggestions/comments? We wouldn't be averse to chopping a little off the trip if there are other placed to start and stop accessible by train (there is no compulsion to go "coast to coast" - simply a long ride) - e.g. would starting at Spean Bridge and stopping at Brechin be sensible (saves ~20km)? Doesn't look like we miss much good riding.
All feedback gratefully received.
I'm guessing it might not be "gnarly" enough for you, but my C2C last year was Fort William to Buckie and that was in a fairly leisurely 3 1/2 days. Hostel/B&B to save weight too.
Fort William - Fort Augustus via Great Glen Cycleway with the option to skip sections on the road.
Fort Augustus - Kingussie via Corrieyairick Pass.
Kingussie to Braemar or Ballater via Glen Feshie.
Braemar/Ballater to Montrose via Mt Keen.
4 days is fine. This route is mostly all landrover tracks rather than singletrack but goes through nice places if that is what you want. The last day is long but has the most tarmac and after Mt Keen is almost completely flat or gentle downhill.
Some info about the coast to coast over here http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2205&hilit=coast+to+coast
End of this month ...
The plan is...
Fort William - Laggan
Laggan - Glen Feshie - Braemar
Braemar - Mt Keen - Montrose
What could possibly go wrong ? 🙂
I'm looking to do it in 2 days in July as a fast effort with a loaded bike. From what I can tell, 4 days would seem like a nice pace for a tour whilst still doing good miles each day. Bit concerned about the midges mind.
If you get the weather, it will be a great ride... enjoy!
Well its good to hear there are people more mental than us proposing to do it in 2/3 days!
[b]irc[/b] - 3-4 days of pure singletrack would be lovely but I don't think we will find that.
I guess the bit that is confusing me is the first nights stop - assuming we are there late the night before then only getting on the relatively flat/easy section to Ft Augustus seems like a waste. Ft William -> Laggan -> Braemar -> Tarfside -> Montrose looks possible if we can find accomodation at each place. But it does make the first two days fairly long.
[b]druidh [/b]- personally less gnarly is not necessarily bad! I'll throw it into the mix at the next [s]planning meeting[/s] pub trip.
We did it in 4 days. It is perfectly doable. We did have *perfect* weather mind, no wind, no rain, warm...
Clicky for piccies of the trip.
[img][url= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/55/164095626_e527807633.jp g" target="_blank">
poly - starts here...[url] http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2011/09/c2c-part-1.html [/url]
I travelled up to FW on Day 1, so was happy to get a few miles in that day on the easy stuff.
Poly
Here are the stops that we are using.
[url= http://www.potterybunkhouse.co.uk/ ]Laggan[/url]
[url= http://www.braemarlodge.co.uk ]Braemar[/url]
We are also booking our meals at these places.
Doing it all without carrying too much,and we won't be hanging around to play at Laggan on the way through 🙁 .
If you have not been before ,it's worth adding some extra time,even if it's just for the cafe 😉
Haggis - thats really useful info. I had assumed Braemar Youth Hostel (we've used it before, and the only issue was getting food when we were later arriving than expected and everything in town was shut) but another option with catering is good to have.
The Laggan link is also really useful. I think we've all visited Laggan before but never stayed on the doorstep. I doubt we'll be able to fit the tailcentre in too on this trip.
Anyone stayed anywhere near Tarfside? Google not uncovering much...
I guess the bit that is confusing me is the first nights stop - assuming we are there late the night before then only getting on the relatively flat/easy section to Ft Augustus seems like a waste.
You are correct actually. Thinking about it I took the train up then set off that afternoon so my first day was a half day really.
The Fort William - Fort Augustus - Corrieyairick route doesn't work as well starting first thing in the morning from Fort William without carrying bothy gear or camping gear. The first day is either too short stopping at Ft Aug or pretty big going to Newtonmore the first day.
Well,that was an interesting 3 days.
Did the Phil McKane Route
Got lucky with the weather ( even if it was super cold ),so the views
everywhere were stunning,but,and it's a big but,I wish I had taken my CX bike with some big tyres 🙄 .
I also wish I could have done it with less kit,as the extra weight( we packed for all weathers ) on the few proper off road sections ,kinda spoiled it a wee bit.
It wouldn't have been smart to chance it at the weekend ,as there was plenty snow up on the tops 😯
Still ,I am already looking forward to doing the Mount Keen loop in the summer ( without the snow 🙂 )
poly, yes I think we've accomplished close to that in 4 days.
Day 0 (not relevant) - B&B in Tobermory
Day 1 - Ardnamurchan - Strontian (round to Swordle and over)
Day 2 - Strontian - South Laggan (Polldubh, Loch Shiel, Corpach)
Day 3 - South Laggan - Fort Augustus - Corrieyairack - Wolftrax - Newtonmore
Day 4 - Newtonmore - Glen Feshie - Braemar - Ballater
Day 5 - Ballater - Tarfside - Edzell - Montrose
wouldn't have thought much on Tarfside, no.
so 4 days very feasible. email me if you want more details - in profile. cheers. Callum
[ oh, and most of those days, for two of us, were at leisurely pace, set off at 9am or so, but arriving mostly around 4pm in time for wash, pint and food. Apart from Day 4 which saw us rolling into Ballater about 7.30pm.. 50% on/off road, around 45 - 55 miles per day ]
Were you camping Callum?
Saw a green tent with some bikes outside ,near one of the big fords towards Laggan.
ah, sorry fasthaggis - can't claim to be that tough!
this was couple of years back - mid May - and B&B / bunkhouse / hostel to keep down weight and make it comfortable
I have ridden this as a 4 day, in a large group. We had friends carrying everyone's bags in a van, and organised a bike-bus drop-off and pick-up at each end of the route.
Day 1: Glencoe, over the Devil's Staircase to FW, then GG cycle way to Fort Augustus.
Day 2: Over the Corrieyairack to Aviemore.
Day 3: Rothiemurchus - Tomintoul - Glen Builg - Crathie, then over the hills on the south side of the Dee to Ballater.
Day 4: Over Mt Keen to Montrose.