CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:42:08 +0000 I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-298852 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 14:57:48 +0000 I were right about that saddle 298852@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @Iain McR Much better. The Corrieyairrick only has layer 3 (big stones) in place for much of its length , but this has layer 2 (small stones) and even traces of layer 1 (gravel). You could ride most of it on a touring bicycle. dessert rat on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-298850 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 14:51:57 +0000 dessert rat 298850@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I hope they're in better condition than the Wade road that's part of the Fort W to Monstrose C2C - as that resembled a rockslide which had stopped sliding - totally not rideable, the desire line path was parallel for a few kms. I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-298848 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 14:35:01 +0000 I were right about that saddle 298848@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Also the gorse on the rideable section will be cut back in the spring. I learned this after notifying the Cooncil about the locked gates. I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-298834 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 11:26:24 +0000 I were right about that saddle 298834@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Ahoy rough riders! I checked at new year and the Wade road south out of Inverness to Strathnairn is totally rideable and passes through some incredibly beautiful country. So nice I have sworn to camp there in summer if there are summers post-Brexit. There are two locked gates (I shall complain to the Cooncil) and about 100m which is steep and grassy but otherwise hybrid and MTB compatible. The Wade road continues south towards the Findhorn but vanishes into a gravel quarry, emerges into gorse, reappears and then goes under the present A9. There are some fine forest/windfarm/hydro roads though and I think there is a way south. I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297445 Tue, 11 Dec 2018 10:12:24 +0000 I were right about that saddle 297445@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I have not cycled the south side of Loch Ness A road cycling paradise. Stratherrick is a plateau accessed by climbing from Abertarff to the south or Strathnairn from the north. It was a bit of an enclave historically and highly sympathetic to the Stuart cause. I attended Catholic mass there last year and found an actual Jacobite in the congregation. Besides Tulyar's points we also have; 1) The Inverfarigaig corkscrew - an old coffin road now tarmacked as a series of alpine switchbacks. There is an informal MTB track goes straight down the middle for the brave. Astonishing and little know climb up Glen Farigaig. 2) The Pass of Inverfarigaig to Errogie. Possibly my favourite road climb on this island. You could do Dalcrag-Foyers-Inverfarrigaig-Errogie every day for a year and not get bored. 3) The Dores-Achnabat-Croachy climb beloved of Sneckie's drop-bar crew. 4) The Farr-Garbole road. Ninth highest pass through land controlled by evil persons. 5) If you like a bit of hybrid riding (I don't) then the off-road climb over from Loch Ruthven to Loch Duntelchaig by Loch a Choire and return by Dunlichity and Brin is a lovely loop. The military roads there are not as early as you might think. Loch Ness was so intractable the Fort Augustus-Fort George (Inverness Castle at the time, not the modern one) link was by a rowed galley before the road up and over Stratherrick was built. The stretch blasted into the rock at loch-side level was a late addition to avoid snow and the course of the high road was changed many times before that was done. As a result there are still off-road sections extant including the remains of a Kings House. Tulyar on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297442 Tue, 11 Dec 2018 09:31:08 +0000 Tulyar 297442@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ The climb up to Loch Tarff is serious stuff - I went through when they were filming the opening 'dead bunny' scene for Local Hero on a 175 CZ, and like to think this might have inspired the lingering presence of a 2-stroke trials bike in various scenes. From Loch Tarff still gentle climb to Whitebridge then the original 1726? Wade road is a flattish blast along the top. We were bashing along at up to 40mph on one round the Loch in under 6 hours rides. You then get to the junction for via Dores/via Farr == Inverness 9 miles AND 10 miles (almost as bad as signs to Rothesay on Bute) The other option is to cut back to the Lochside and the 1732 Wade road which required blasting out from the rock. This is more of a switchback, with a scenic cut-off via Glen Lia that by-passes Foyers, and has a link to the high route at Inverfarrigaig (where a Wade bridge is cut-off from rebuilt road - in the woods) In 1899 there was an outcry concerning the Hydro-Electric scheme and its impact on tourism/environment at Foyers with the gamed Falls of Foyers - so much history.... DaveC on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297404 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 13:25:36 +0000 DaveC 297404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Or how about the Caledonian way to Fort Augustus and the Corrieyairick Pass to Lagan?" Jeepers thast is one High pass!! Funnily enough I looked at both ways from Inverness to Craggie and they both have 810 climbing and 269 descending. I have not cycled the south side of Loch Ness, and fancy it now... gembo on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297388 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 08:07:38 +0000 gembo 297388@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Excellent falafels in Findhorn. And the Lord spoke to Betty saying Ye shall open a caravan park for hippies and make them the good falafels. unhurt on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297387 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 02:12:33 +0000 unhurt 297387@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I may now be overwhelmed with options, but I am grateful nonetheless. the ninth highest pass in Greater England and has one bit too steep to stop on and I will tell you a secret about it. Is the secret that I might die on the way up? Because that sounds sort of likely... I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297365 Sun, 09 Dec 2018 14:54:12 +0000 I were right about that saddle 297365@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Or how about the Caledonian way to Fort Augustus and the Corrieyairick Pass to Lagan? That keeps you well off any dual carriageways. Bonus points for taking the actual military road over the pass and not the old pylon access road which has mysteriously been scheduled in its place by HES's predecessors. I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297363 Sun, 09 Dec 2018 13:52:47 +0000 I were right about that saddle 297363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Also, have you considered the B861 from the Asda at Slackbuie over the hill to Inverarnie, then the B851 towards the A9 which, <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.411727,-4.1391765,3a,75y,40.7h,82.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfZ-ncuMa8PfD5wA6b0-ZYg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">if you dive off here</a> actually goes underneath the motorway leading you to the old A9 and Moy etc? I were right about that saddle on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297353 Sun, 09 Dec 2018 11:25:51 +0000 I were right about that saddle 297353@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @unhurt You know me and rivers and watersheds and stuff. That stretch is there because the Nairn has so few modern bridges. But if you like a little bit of absurdity the Wade road to Dunkeld is still there to the west of that view. Old Edinburgh Road south outta Sneckie then plough through a forest and you come to the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.41393,-4.1458038,3a,75y,12.2h,75.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNw5O5Br4yr2k12LNsgyEYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">actual Wade bridge</a>. From there you can take the Garbole road of @Tulyar's tale (no capercaillie I'm afraid but some blackcock) to the Findhorn. It is the ninth highest pass in Greater England and has one bit too steep to stop on and I will tell you a secret about it. Tulyar on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297347 Sun, 09 Dec 2018 09:55:42 +0000 Tulyar 297347@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I recall one fine round the loch trip which we did back around 1980, that I extended with a loop out to Tomatin via Farr and a gated road, almost colliding with a capercaillie take off flight path enjoyed route (Think 747 vs Spitfire in agility) The upshot was to eschew the turn at Daviot & tank it down the A9. This turned out to be the fastest I've ever travelled on a bike. Down Drumossie Brae hill, spun-out in 124 inch top gear, & cars slowly going past in outside lane at 70mph as the occupants stared at me... and I overtook an HGV. It was a bit scary though, & a major struggle to look back at that speed. Not sure how NCN gets you to Clava Cairns just now but on 1995 proving ride, we went South on a back road that tracked the railway route over Crubenmore summit & into Strath Findhorn joining the Old new A9 just North of Moy unhurt on "WHAt the - Route 7 south from Inverness" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19324#post-297344 Sun, 09 Dec 2018 01:46:47 +0000 unhurt 297344@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Previously, when heading north, I've always ended up going via Clava Cairns - does the more direct route REALLY make you ride 4km on the actual A9? WHy. Why. Why? I mean, of course it does, because why should I expect any better? <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/uRqqVt95auL2">This is a world of NOPE</a> - I don't even like driving this bit of road - and I am not impressed at adding ten plus miles to what was going to be a gentle back-coddling trundle down to Insh Watersports Centre after a morning with my Inversneckie relatives. I can go round the other way (west side) but I still end up back on the A9 proper for a bit from <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/BiUupZZBCoN2">here</a>. Less a question than a rant. Still.