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Scottish Cycling Adventure

Sustrans National Cycle Route 7

Sun, 08/10/2006 - 18:54 — CmdrGravy

The Lochs & Glens cycle route North ( otherwise known as Sustrans NN7C ) stretches 214 miles from Glasgow to Inverness traversing some of the most beautiful highland scenery in the country.

Phil and myself decided to follow this route for our cycling holiday in the summer of 2006. Neither of us are practiced cyclists ( myself especially having only been out my bike twice in the year leading up to this holiday ) and hadn't been on any cycling holidays before so we decided to follow the Sustrans guidelines and split the journey into 8 days where we would cover between 20 - 30 miles each day. We were both fairly confident this distance wouldn't kill us and allow sufficient time for sightseeing and stopping off at any interesting diversions we came across.

Carrbridge To Inverness

Sun, 08/10/2006 - 14:34 — CmdrGravy

Route Facts: 30 miles, 2 miles traffic free
Profile: A long climb to Slochd summit and then a succession of downhills into Inverness

Route

Sustrans offer another recommended off-road route from Carrbridge to Slochd and this is the route which I took. The route begins with a short ride down a B road before turning off onto a gravel path which heads upwards through a small wood and onwards through heather clad moorland.

You cross the Dulnain river over the ancient Sluggan bridge and face some very steep ( but short lived ) climbs up a very loose gravel surface. I found some of these hills to be simply too much for my luggage laden bike and had no choice but to get off and push.

Dalnacardoch to Kingaussie

Fri, 06/10/2006 - 16:30 — CmdrGravy

Route Facts: 24 miles, 16 traffic free
Profile: A climb to the top of the Drumochter pass and then downhill into Kingaussie

Route

I recommend that you combine this leg of the journey with the previous one since accomdation and food can be hard to come around Dalnacardoch which is just a lonely farmhouse.

The climb levels off in steepness above Dalnacardoch lodge and the path is a gravel track sandwiched between the A9 and the River Garry and railway line. The top of the pass is a largely treeless and exposed plateau running between the peaks of A'Bhuideanach Bheag and The Boar Of Badenoch. On this plateau you are at the mercy of the elements, the wind being the main one to watch out for.

Strathtay to Dalnacardoch

Sun, 10/09/2006 - 21:49 — CmdrGravy

Route Facts: 28 miles, 0 traffic free
Profile: A steady climb to the top of the Drumochter Pass

Route

You leave Strathtay on a nice B road running alongside the river Tay, from Logierait the route climbs over the shoulder of Dunfallandy hill through Logierait wood into Pitlochry.

The route from Pitlochry is fairly flat with only a very short climb through Killiecrankie, through Blair Atholl the route sticks closely to the railway line and the river Garry which you follow through Calvine to begin the climb up to the pass.

Initially you begin climbing between pine trees on the old A road until eventually the trees give way to a wide pass between Meall Dubg-ghlas and Meal a Chathaidh. From here the path slowly deteriorates to a narrower gravel track and you are at the mercy of the winds which seem to be channelled through the pass.

Scottish Cycle Adventure: My Account

Fri, 25/08/2006 - 11:12 — CmdrGravy

Phil and I cycled around Scotland.

Loch Tay to Strathtay

Thu, 29/06/2006 - 19:32 — CmdrGravy

Route Facts: 25 miles, 0 traffic free
Profile: Quiet backroads with some steep climbs

Route

The route begins leaving Killin and following the East side of the Loch down a fairly quiet, but by all accounts fairly hilly road.

There are a few small settlements we will pass through en-route which should be able to keep us supplied with cups of tea and cakes. Somewhere between Ardtainaig and Acharn is the cave used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail although its exact location is hard to determine on the web it may be worth a quick look around for.

At the head of loch we pass through Kenmore and follow the river Tay past Aberfeldy into Strathtay where we finish for the day.

Loch Venachar To Loch Tay

Mon, 13/03/2006 - 15:15 — CmdrGravy

Route Facts: 30 miles, 20 traffic free
Profile: Fairly steep climb through the Achray forest into Killin

Route

Passing through Callander and the falls of Leny the trail climbs gently on wooded forestry commission roads above the Western side of Loch Lubnaig into Strathyre and then on into Balquhidder along the river Balvaig flowing out from Loch Voil.

From Balquhidder we head along the cycle path towards Lochearnhead and Loch Earn before a steep climb and a long descent into Killin past the Falls of Dochart to the banks of Loch Tay.

Glasgow To Inverness Cycle Adventure

Thu, 02/02/2006 - 11:21 — CmdrGravy

At the moment it's cold, miserable and dark. Things will change though, in a few months time it will be warm and sunny and perfect for a nice holiday.

It's important not to miss opportunities for a good holiday so here is an idea for a cheap and healthy holiday which will provide unparalled opportunities for experiencing the clear, fresh air of the countryside and the thrill and excitement of travelling through magnificent scenery and homely, inviting villages and towns where fine, hearty meals can be obtained and refreshing, alcholic drinks can be drunk.

This would be a cycling holiday, so anyone who doesn't like excercise should look away now, through some of the best scenery the UK has to offer following the Sustrans route number 7 from Inverness to Glasgow. In total this is a journey of 214 miles, a third of which is on purpose built cycle tracks and the rest of which aims to stick to small, low traffic B Roads where possible. In theory this should take around a week to complete but at a nice leisurley pace and with time to stop off and take detours to interesting places would probably take more like a week and a half - you could for example take a detour down the side of Loch Ness which would probably take and extra day or two.

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