http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Aviemore - Fort Ugustus - Glasgy MTBing en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:00:13 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-169138 Thu, 23 Oct 2014 08:50:37 +0000 DaveC 169138@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for sharing Colin. Nice write up and brought back memories of the ride I did on Friday. I left from Aviemore and the road to Laggan didn't take as long as I thought on my mtb. I lpst the light at Fort William and opted tp ride put of Fort William on the road up to where it meets the whw after the climg out of Glen Nevis in the dark. I didn't expect that bit to be as long, as I hadn't done my home work. Still, great route and something to think about for next time.</p> <p>Dave C </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-169093 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 20:40:09 +0000 SRD 169093@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's an amazing picture </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-169092 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 20:33:33 +0000 druidh 169092@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi folks. </p> <p>No longer frequenting this site as I've moved to the wilds of Aviemore but I tracked back a link from my blog.</p> <p>I thought some might be interested in this, more recent, trip too<br /> <a href="http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2014/04/count-me-out.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2014/04/count-me-out.html</a></p> <p><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePX4weg17xA/U1hXwYkDqlI/AAAAAAAAFLE/zEXhRAx1RC0/s1600/P1010195.JPG"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-169027 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:42:38 +0000 I were right about that saddle 169027@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@DaveC</p> <p>"to ski tour the Plateau of Monadhliath Mountains"</p> <p>Excellent project. The 'plateau' is actually like the Somme <em>ca</em> 1919. I was astonished at the amount of clambering required to cross it South-North. It is a truly wild place though. You meet no-one, even in high summer. The eagles give you puzzled looks rather than avoiding you.</p> <p>You may well find my waterproof trousers on Carn Odhar....sat on them to have lunch and forgot when we got moving again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-169025 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:35:52 +0000 DaveC 169025@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fimm typed "Do you have plans for something else similar? (I could make suggestions...) "</p> <p>I have plans to cycle to Inverie from Fort William next summer. Over the winter I would like to ski tour the Plateau of Monadhliath Mountains.</p> <p>Please do! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168996 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 09:51:32 +0000 cb 168996@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>All this chat of the Corrieyairack Pass reminded me of this blog post (part 2 of 4 actually - see the other links in the right hand pane).</p> <p>A good read as I recall. By druidh who used to frequent these pages.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2011/09/c2c-part-2-sound-from-open-hostel.html">http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2011/09/c2c-part-2-sound-from-open-hostel.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168987 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 08:25:27 +0000 fimm 168987@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good effort DaveC. (I Were Right About That Track, though :-) ). I'd forgotten about the Beauly - Denny power line work in that area. Do you have plans for something else similar? (I could make suggestions...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168986 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 08:10:09 +0000 DaveC 168986@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I thought I would be camping on the north edge of the woods on the whw but after I got back I looked at satellite pics and the wood has been cut down in the last few years. Just as well I didn't carry on looking for shelter in the missing wood. :0) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168981 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 23:00:20 +0000 Cyclingmollie 168981@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've walked the WHW and sections of the Mamore Forest around where you camped. I can't imagine what it would be like in a storm at night. Chapeau. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168965 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 21:27:31 +0000 LaidBack 168965@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycled the Kingussie to The Fort with family years ago (an early tandem epic for our daughter).<br /> Never ventured off above Laggan road though - just as well!<br /> Good effort DaveC though. Scenery up beyond Creag Meaghaidh over Corrieyairack would be amazing. Share some pics.</p> <p>Also intrigued by Iwrats 'ghost' reference...(!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168943 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:25:52 +0000 DaveC 168943@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is a bothy? I didn't know. There was one Landrover up the track at the first house on the left as you ascend the track from the closed gate after the bridge. I assumed it was a farmer, there was his collie outside. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168942 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:24:56 +0000 minus six 168942@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Its single track, is it cycleable?</em></p> <p>Mostly, but not all. A bit of bog trotting here and there.</p> <p>It gets easier as it goes on, but a few fords in the mix, so you'd want the weather to be reasonable.</p> <p>By the time you hit the bothy (Luib Chonnal), you'll be ready for a rest </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168940 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:19:59 +0000 I were right about that saddle 168940@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Melgarve bothy is excellent, one down, two-up room arrangement. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168938 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:18:04 +0000 cb 168938@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I wonder what the track is like over the head of the Spey?"</p> <p>Geograph covergae is sparse. Couple of photos show singletrack which looks reasonably rideable:</p> <p><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1346448">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1346448</a><br /> <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1346461">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1346461</a></p> <p>Tracks either side of the watershed look good:</p> <p><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3073824">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3073824</a><br /> <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1555741">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1555741</a></p> <p>There is an MBA bothy at either end - Melgarve and Luib-chonnal. I've never been through that way or stayed at either bothy. Not even been over General Wade's road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168936 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:06:20 +0000 DaveC 168936@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bax,</p> <p>Looks interesting,I wonder what the track is like over the head of the Spey? Its single track, is it cycleable? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578&page=2#post-168933 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:46:59 +0000 minus six 168933@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another classic from Melgarve environs is to take the rough path WSW and end up at the bothy at the top of Glen Roy.</p> <p>Next day its a glorious freewheel down scenic Glen Roy culminating in a hearty breakfast at Little Chef Spean Bridge.</p> <p>Although I gather its closed down now ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168931 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:44:42 +0000 I were right about that saddle 168931@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@DaveC</p> <p>I'm fond of Fort Augustus. Only place I've ever been chased by, and outrun, the police. We were staying overnight at the Abbey School when I was seventeen and we slipped out for high-jincks. Presumably the cops thought we'd escaped the attentions of the priests and were trying to return us to their beds. We saw an actual ghost as we broke back into the dormitory. I realised last summer that I was camped on the hockey pitch I'd played on that time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168928 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:35:50 +0000 DaveC 168928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well it was sunny, with nice shops on the south east side of the locks and lots of people walking around. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168921 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:47:27 +0000 I were right about that saddle 168921@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice work @DaveC!</p> <p>"I came to civilisation at Fort Augustus"</p> <p>You know you've been in the wilds when Fort Aggie looks civilised. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168910 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:21:15 +0000 DaveC 168910@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Here is thr ride on Strava.</p> <p><a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/209199012" rel="nofollow">http://www.strava.com/activities/209199012</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168908 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:20:31 +0000 DaveC 168908@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aviemore - Corrieyairack Pass - Ft Augustua - Fort William (&amp; beyond)</p> <p>I rode this route on Friday 17th October. I stayed with a friend on Thursday night in Aviemore and set off just after 8am on Fri morning. I rode the easy route down the B970 to Kingussie. I'd stupidly forgotten my two bottles, leaving Aviemore, but speaking to two another riders I passed, I was directed to a small bike repair shop on Newtonmore, The Bike Shed. It has very few spares and I guess operates as a repair place essentially, I had the only two dusty bottle he had in the window! From Newtonmore I continues down the A86 to Laggan where the small road to the Corrieyairack Pass starts. Its nice smooth tarmac for ~10 miles until the road ends and the dirt track starts at Melgarve. The track is ~8ft wide for most of its course having been re-enforced by Balfour Beaty who are in the final stages of replacing the Electric Transmission Towers. They have a parrallel road (non tarmac) for much of General Wade's Road but its use is restricted (at least I didn't rry it, but saw contractor traffic on it). The route it quite good and rides from Melgarve (a couple half derelict buildings now) up to a mile before the zigzags where it befome a little narrower but still usable by a tracked vehicle (from what I saw of the track marks). The old and new transmission towers run side by side with the newer towers to the south. There are gullies which cross the track as it climbs (which further up have fence feet placed in to smooth them out a little) to direct water off the track. These are a large step down into the gullie where the rider rides out up a ramp. It takes it out of the bike, and my bagman holding my carradice Nelson broke half way up. From the zigzags (carrying my rucksac on my back with tent, sleeping bag, rollmat, warm clother &amp; food etc..) I pushed the mtb up the switchback of which there are ~7. The track then straightens out and starts to level off and top out at around 708m, having climbed from Laggan at ~250m. The top is quite spoiled by the two lines of transmission towers and old concertite weather station, but the veiws from the top are worth it. The track starts to descend less steeply on the west side and strangly has the parrallel contractor's smoother wider track. As I was comming off the top I saw a Mitsibishi L200 climbing with child in the passenger seat (school holidays) gawping and pointing at me :O) The descent to Fort Augustus wasn't all down hill but mostly and my brakes (hydrolic) took a battering as I got used to the descending (I'm predominantly a road cyclist). There is loose stone and fine grit resurfacing the track up and down which is loose in places. Finally towards the lower climbs I came to civilasation at Fort Augustus, I found the canal steps and water at a local garage.</p> <p>From Fort Augustus I rode first along the canal path to Loch Oich where the tracks follows the south side next to an old disused railway line, grass and gravel, but is heavily rooted in places. Finally it goes onto the railway path where it meets Laggan Locks and then routes into the forrest tracks on the north side of Loch Lochy. Rising and falling a few times the track runs through the forrest where trees provide shelter from the wind up the Great Glen before the rider arrives at Clunes and tarmac. A couple of miles SW at Gairlochy I picked up the canal again for a further 6.5 miles to Neptunes Staircase. I then followed the cycle signs to Morrison's in Fort William a couple of miles on from the Staircase. There I sussed out train times and food from Morrison's. The train station has showers. I then decided to see how I felt at my planned campsite, on the West Highland Way ~10km south of Fort William. I over looked just how far, and steep this road was climbing and falling and climbing again to ~250m. The camping site (not actually a campsite) was quite sparse and I eventuaslly found grass I could pitch on behind the WHW sign on a small hill. By now the light had long gone, and the wind was begining to get up! Slight rain showers were also starting. I pitched the tent, ate and settled down for the night, and what a night! Heavy rain for much of it and battering winds had my Wild Country Zephros nearly flattened at times and I had to check the pegs and guys were secure a few times through the night, where the tent was near blown flat on to me! Knackered I guess I got to sleep (broken) around 10pm and woke and rose at 5am having pollished off the family triffle I had bought, for breakfast, from Morrison's the night before. With the skattered showers and wind/gails constant through the night, I didn't fancy a head wind to Kinlochleven. I has originally planned to ride the top 1/2 of the WHW and across to Callender from Crianlarich on Saturday and then home (Edinburgh) on Sunday. Having packed up, I descended, climbed and descended again back to Fort William where I arrived at 06:30 for the 07:40 train to Glasgow.</p> <p>The trip was fab, but longer than I had hoped on the first day. The train views despite rain and dark clouds to Glasgow were great, past Corrour and Rannoch. Having walked the WHW years ago I don't feel the need to try to ride it again but I may plan something for next summer. One lasting effect from my MTB's grips is the limited functionality of my left litle finger. I can grip and flex it but it would move side to side?? (think going from a fingers wide to making a chopping hand, but with the pinky hanging out on its own....)</p> <p>I'll try and upload pictures when I can. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168379 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:20:06 +0000 Ed1 168379@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lade Inn at Kilmahog “and 3 of its own beers” Yes they have 3 beers, lade back, lade out, and lade up I think.</p> <p>I opted for lade back and lade out and very good it was too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168316 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:02:59 +0000 DaveC 168316@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Here is the route... ish.. 330km Aviemore over Corrieyairack Pass to Ft Augustus, down the Canal to Ft William and 1/2 West Highland Way to Crianlarich over to the Callender cycle path then Doune, Stirling, Alloa and Dunfermline.</p> <p> <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6280939" rel="nofollow">http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6280939</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168295 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:45:33 +0000 paddyirish 168295@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>superb sounding route.</p> <p>Lade Inn at Kilmahog in Between Strathyre and Callander is a great stop - 100yds from the cycle path, bike friendly, great food and coffees with petits fours and 3 of its own beers, brewed on site. Next door is a bottle shop which claims it sells every beer brewed in Scotland.</p> <p>Not that I'd recommend cycling after drinking... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168292 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:32:14 +0000 Cyclingmollie 168292@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think you are right to leave the WHW before the top end of Loch Lomond. That part would be awful on a bike as others have said - the path crosses lots of boulders and tree stumps. I'm very envious. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168291 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:23:01 +0000 kaputnik 168291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I plan to bug out at Crianlarich and hed east along the awefully fast road toward Killin, but picking up the disused railway line where I can and heading south to Calender. From there I will take back roads to Doune, Bridge of Allen and the Alloa cycle path to Dunfermline and home just beyond.</em></p> <p>You will enjoy the ride from Killin south for sure. It starts off a bit MTBish, muddy old railway and then forestry tracks. The Glen Ogle part is spectacular, then there's back roads around Balquidder village and then old railway again from Strathyre south to Calendar. There's a forestry commission section you will be fortunate to go down, where the path leaves the trackbed. I remember pushing the fully loaded tourer up it, my shoes sliding in the gravel of the path, cursing Sustrans all the way for claiming it to be a cycle route.</p> <p>You could always try heading east along the south shore of Loch Earn, for St Fillans, then to Comrie. There's various back roads and bits of path marked on Opencyclemap. From there you go to Crieff and in striking distance of home in Fife.</p> <p><em>I happily grind up for hours (as a fit commuter)</em></p> <p>Ahem. As a fit Audaxer! I've noted how many miles (sorry, kilometres) you've been doing this year! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168288 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:14:02 +0000 fimm 168288@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh, make sure you stock up well in Tyndrum because .... edited on seeing Dave's post about leaving the Way at Crianlairich.</p> <p>Instead I'll add that the railway line cycle track down Glen Ogle is supposed to be good although I don't know what the surface is like. Shouldn't be a problem on a MTB anyway.</p> <p>I hope you have a great trip! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168286 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:11:03 +0000 DaveC 168286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cheers Biketrain. I plan to bug out at Crianlarich and hed east along the awefully fast road toward Killin, but picking up the disused railway line where I can and heading south to Calender. From there I will take back roads to Doune, Bridge of Allen and the Alloa cycle path to Dunfermline and home just beyond.</p> <p>I'd love to cycle the whole way off road but unfortunaley that isn't possible. I'll recaiord my ride on my GPS and post the Strava and somepictures if my phone battery holds out, when I get back.</p> <p>@Nelly, thanks for the offer. I imagine apart from hospitalisation, finger crossed, NOT. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168268 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:45:26 +0000 biketrain 168268@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A buddy and I cycled the Northern section West Highland way a few years back.<br /> With full sus xc mtbs (Orange sub 5s, I think) it took 12 hrs. to cycle and push from Glen Nevis to Tyndrum. I think this section is 72km and has about 1700 of ascent.<br /> The route from Glen Nevis to Kinlochleven was mostly ride-able, watch the steep descent into village my buddy managed to bend a chain ring on a rock.<br /> From Kinlochleven the old military road in very steep in places so we did a lot of pushing.<br /> Felt it was taking less energy to push than try to cycle and balance bike. Surface had a lot of lose stones to traction a challenge at times. Descent of Devil's staircase is fast if you can bunny hop the gaps in the path where in crosses the streams. Basically the path is made of specially laid stones, however every time you get to a stream there is a gap and drop to the stream bed. Easy enough for walkers to stride across but not ride-able. I had to get off and lift bike over every gap. The rest of the route is pretty much all ride-able except the bit between Inveroran Hotel and bridge of Orchy which may require a bit of pushing. Whatever happens, it will be an adventure. Food stops at Kinlochleven, Kings house on A82 Glencoe, Inveroran Hotel, Bridge of Orchy, Tyndrum.<br /> Not tried the whw section south of Tyndrum as I hear that some parts are not ride-able. I will be interested to hear how you get on.<br /> @DaveC Good luck. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13578#post-168258 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:00:19 +0000 fimm 168258@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@biketrain Dave says "<em>pick up the West Highland Way and cycle south to Glasgow.</em>" so I think the answer to your question is yes.</p> <p>Which reminds me to add; watch out for the northern end of Loch Lomond but be encouraged that it gets easier after the Inversnaid hotel. </p>