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middle_oab and I were thinking of an event this year (for fun at end of exams, but also as 'output' of his Physical for DofE). For various reasons an event is not going to be his 'thing'.
He is not a hardcore mtb'er, but does like gravel roads and easy off-road. He is strong, happy to just go out on a local 20km road loop, but has never pedalled a loaded bike or for full day. He is built like a whippet on a diet.
Suggest me an interesting, nice Highlands loop that is two days, with ideally Youth Hostel / Bunkhouse for overnight, that is not too far or too difficult...
Ideas so far are - parts of Deeside Trail, Speyside Way, possibly Affric hostel from Dundreggan...
Does it have to be a loop?
What sort of distance?
Have a look at Ardverickie - Corrour area.
Grantown - SSW to Spey Bay - Moray Coastal trail to Findhorn - Dava Way to Grantown.
Does it have to be a loop?
Happy to train it if needed.
What sort of distance?
I am struggling with this - he is a skinny beanpole. Pedalling for an hour or two is good, longer I am not sure how he will cope, especially with load. I think depending on road/offroad/hills breakdown 30-40 miles...?
Great Glen Way if you can handle logisitics.
Loch Ness 360 is a loop using the GGW and South Loch Ness Trail. There's currently a diversion on the latter that I need to investigate asap.
Does it have to be the Highlands? If not then look at the Galloway Forest area - no specific routes to suggest but you could easily figure out one from the map.
Closer to the Highlands - we did bits of the Wild About Argyll Trail at Easter. It's designed to be gravel bike and family friendly. When you look at it on the map there's lots of loops to it - this just means you can cut bits out as you wish. We started/finished at Arrochar as the bits from there to Helensburgh didn't appeal as one half of that is following the A82 down the side of Loch Lomond. You could do a loop or a linear route and get the train back.
Not the highlands but would the Big Country loop down this way (Galloways) suit?
Galloway Forest area
That would work, but we have pottered a lot there, I think he is keen for new place.
That and envy that I spend two days in Torridon with eldest_oab at the start of the same week....
Train to Dalwhinnie, up the side of Loch Ericht & follow the path past the site of the old Blackburn of Pattack bothy. From there the track takes you past the site of a new hydro electric scheme and out onto the A889 about three miles from Laggan Wolftrax for a bite to eat. Make progress from there up the road towards Melgarve bothy. Overnight there if you're burst, if not do the Corrieyairack Pass and head towards Blackburn of Corrieyarack bothy. and out into Fort Augustus. From there there's several options :o)
D.
Capital Trail is 240km, start and finish at Portobello - nothing too technical except the descent of Spooky Woods at Glentress. 2 days would make it quite pleasant rather than my 20 hour thrash on a fatbike...
Corrour to dalwhinnie - all on estate roads to laggan then road over the hill or estate roads but longer
Rannoch to Fort William via Corrour, Fersit and Leanachan
Not a route suggestion but if you are unsure of your lad's stamina then I'd be looking at a route where there's some bail out options later in the ride. They don't have to be on-route but if they were close by then they'd be an option should he begin to falter.
Colin's Rannoch to FW is ideal as there are stations at Corrour, Tulloch, Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge should things go wrong and there's a YHA at Loch Ossian for the overnight bit.
Corrour area good
Bit ot poss but see
- we did the ardnoe and faery isles loop, it's near the Crinan canal which is a lovely out/back bimble and down the Knapdale peninsula is quiet road cycling could loop on a bike (see bit where road goes from yellow to cart track at Ellary - that stopped the motorhome
also on Arran you can go from Kilmory to Brodick off road on mainly tracks
also see Caithness flow roads but that is a distance away
If you're on faceboak check out Arran gravel riders, cringeworthy as the term is, the guys are all good uns .
Train to Pitlochry and then back home via Aberfeldy, Glen Lyon, Glen Dochart, Killin<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">, Callander etc</span>
Nice mix of quiet roads and Sustrans.
Or train to Aviemore and then Sustans back to Blair Atholl and train home...
You could throw in the Gaick as a shortcut.
FW start up Glen Nevis or tour of Nevis route to Ossian YH.
Over the Corrieyairack to FA then easy ride back down Canal to FW.
FW start up Glen Nevis or tour of Nevis route
How do either of those match up with the OP's request?
Some of these suggestions are a bit more "trial by ordeal" than "quality time with Dad". 240km in 2 days! C'mon...
The best gravel is north of Inverness IMO, but a loop of Loch Ness is worthwhile.
Ben Wyvis can be circumnavigated on gravel with a little bit of road. If I can do it, your lad should have no problem.
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A longer one would be from Ardross (north of Alness) across to Alladale, thence through to Ullapool road (just sth of Loch Glascarnoch), turn left towards Dingwall. You can then ride road to Dingwall or if you still want more gravel, head in at Black Water Bridge along towards Garve and Rogie coming out at Contin, or divert slightly and come out at the heights above Dingwall (but the climb may not be welcome). Again it's one I can do, so your lad should have no problem. Stopping at the Burger van at Garve is worthwhile - the best burgers in the north IMO.
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I'd a laugh too! 😆240km in 2 days! C’mon…
Ben Wyvis can be circumnavigated on gravel with a little bit of road
There are some great estate roads in that area, north of Strathpeffer, which get out into the middle of nowhere, without being technical.
There's a new circular gravel/Road from tweedbank, borders. Take in some nice stuff not too difficult but you'll feel that it's pretty remote at times.
http://bikepackingscotland.com/reiverraid/
Cheers all - I now have three weeks of riding to whittle down....!
Gaick Pass north, then loop round towards Newtonmore and back by A9 cycle path towards Blair Atholl..?
other Cairngorm options are probably just a bit too 'core I suspect.
Decision made - and hostel accommodation in Ford booked 😮
Now, as well as a tour in Argyll, I need to plan two days of 'core riding in Torridon with eldest_OAB the same week....
Sorry to piggy back onto this but I could do with some help. My wife and I are off to stay on the shore of Loch Awe and I was planning on taking my touring bike (Genesis TDF with 35mm touring tyres) and my wifes Specialized Vita (28mm touring tyres - nothing bigger will fit!). I could do with some help assessing the "gravel" routes.
We are ok on fire/forest roads but not proper off-road - I will be in the bad books for sure if rocky downhills start to crop up. I would take the MTB's but my wife hasn't ridden hers for a while and prefers her Vita anyway - she's ok offroad, but only on the right bike!
The forestry commisions leaflet above looks good but is it for MTB's? Can't really figure it out. Looks like a MTB guide. The blue loop from Crinnan looks perfect if it isn't proper off road.
Any help on some 10-30mile loops in that area would be great - mix of road and forestry roads would be great.
Where are you on Awe? We are at Torran Bay hostel for the night.
I've unpicked some of the Wild About Argyll trail
http://bikepackingscotland.com/argyll/
Then popped it back into ridewithgps to plan ours.
Similar to you - middle_oab with be on shiny new Boardman CX bike, me on Marin HT with 120mm forks and semislicks...We are aiming for forest tracks and roads less travelled, although down the coast we don't have much choice apart from main road in a couple of bits...
Decision made – and hostel accommodation in Ford booked
Just back from that neck of the woods, even the local B-roads would qualify as gravel!
Ford - Timber road - Taynuilt - Glen Lonan - Oban & back towards Ford would be a good albeit challenging loop. Great cafe at Dalavich if you get a chance to visit. Also some great gravel on the Southern side of Loch Awe
Link to the Timber Road in case you've not read about it
Reminds me - anyone done Musdale to Bragleenbeg (Loch Scammadale).
The classic 'How bad can 1km of Argyll be?'....
Looks like Musdale farm to ruins on edge of forest is open field (so short walk with bike).
Ruins to path or track in forest...hmmmmm
Geograph and google reveal little....
This spot - from the farmhouse in the middle distance, to the forest (that may even be forest track on the right low).
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1838571
fao Newroddob - re The blue loop from Crinnan looks perfect if it isn’t proper off road.
if you mean the " ardnoe and faery isles loop" then its a forestry/logging track on the N and small public road(tar) on the S side and as I recall you could do most in a car with some bits a v.v.slow speed, also recommend (if you want a flat bimble net to a canal - so very easy off road - ?so presumbly would suit the missus - facilities at Criban basin) doing Ardrishaig to Crinan on the canal(esp early am) as the views can be stunning (I've had blazing sunshine, also rolling morning mist as well a black and rainy .....) the other roads down the peninsula to the S were quiet and pleasant.
also found this - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jeJZOsNmtd8C&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=lochn+buic+cycle+route&source=bl&ots=F2COs1vvGV&sig=d5xoaOIBo4qaudLgI22FkLWGz1Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOruWhmuLaAhXDLcAKHf2_AyYQ6AEIVzAF#v=onepage&q=lochn%20buic%20cycle%20route&f=false which is just S or Crinan canal/E of the other route but hav never done it
Not done the other routes on the leaflet but ime** of forestry leaflets they' be 'green or blue at most' ((**I've been wrong before though )