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Hi guys. I've got a lift back from Skye area on Sunday so thought I'd do a 300+ on Saturday - I'm gonna get an early train to Glasgow and then ride up the coast. Current plan is this route:
http://goo.gl/maps/qa09Q
Anyone got any suggestions on how to change this about to make it a better ride?
Is this going to be rubbish?
Anyone ridden this area before?
Let me know!
Why not take A85 at Crainlarich towards Oban, then cross the Connel Ferry Bridge and up coast of Loch Linnhe. That avoids the traffic between Crianlarich and Fort William.
Apart from that it looks for a beautiful and challenging ride!
Looks like a great ride. I think kaputnik's on the money with the A85 tip. Might borrow this route for a DIY 300 sometime.
Don't forget the midgie lotion!
Err that route up the east side of Loch Lomond?? Thats the West Highland Way! Now I've not been up there in over 10 years but it was no where near cycleable when I did it and its a footpath, for walkers not a level path. I know a few MTB riders who planned to ride MTBs up to Fort Bill along the WHW and only got as far as Tyndrum in 15 hours!! before stopping and getting a train back (they set off very early.
The A84/A85 is a very fast road, and used to be part of the Daylight 400 Audax but is no longer run as the traffic from Stirling to Ballachulish which runs up and down that road is fast and dangerous to cyclists.
I would take this route:
Head through the centre of Dumbarton to avoid the dual carriageway. Once through Dumbarton, up through Alexandria. Head north then to take the MODs new (Haul Road or A817) (~15 yrs old) road to Faslane and then up the east side of Loch Long. Much quieter!! with less traffic. Once at Arrochar head over the Rest and Be Thankful and down to Inverary. Then north to Loch Awe to join the A85 into Oban. This route is much quieter and avoids the Calender to Tyndrum road! Its much safer than the A84/85 lower down, especially as it avoid the route up Loch Lubnaig with its lethal sharp bends, where you're liable to be squashed by HGVs!! Trust me!! I have see empty flatbed articulated HGVs carrying out illegal and down ride dangerous blind corner overtaking manoeuvres on that stretch from Callander to Loch Earn Head!! Seriously avoid that A84 and A85 stretch like the Plague!
From the North of Loch Awe, take the nice route to Oban (the route along the North of Loch Awe is on stilts where that train was derailed a couple of years ago. Traffic can be fast along there but not as bad as lower down from Callander to Loch Earn Head) Then head north of Oban, out over the Bridge (used to be a railway bridge!) to pick up the new cyclepath to Ballachulish. Its recently been tarmaced and is very flat and smooth. From Ballachulish, avoid the A82 to Fort Bill, its flat straightish but with quite a few bends after Corran and has fast traffic aiming for Fort Bill, who won't be looking out for cyclists! Instead take the free ferry over at Corran. There is a burger stand on the east side and a pub on the west side. Head north round Loch Linnhe and then head to Mallaig. From there take the ferry to Skye and a nice quiet road to Kyle.
This route avoids the main traffic routes and takes flat lochside routes with little or no traffic (on the Oban to Ballahulish railway line). It looks more remote but in truth has plenty of stopping food points along the way. The route you planned from Fort Augustus to Kyle is very fast as tourists use it to get to Skye, and is very remote from Augustus to Kyle! There is one Inn at Loch Cluanie and a small hamlet at Loch Druich! This route I have suggested has only three climbs of note, Haul Road to Faslane, The Rest and Be Thankful and Glen Aray. Non of these climbs above 200m from sea level.
Dave C
Err that route up the east side of Loch Lomond?? Thats the West Highland Way! Now I've not been up there in over 10 years but it was no where near cycleable when I did it and its a footpath, for walkers not a level path.
This! I've walked it 3 years ago so don't know how I missed it! Agree with Dave it's only suitable for walkers or a real MTB nut (who would carry the bike most of the way anyway, path here is little more than a sheep trail).
I'm not convinced about the Rest and Be Thankful, all the traffic heading west in direction of Inveraray, Campbletown and Lochgilphead (and ferries to the inner Hebrides) is on that road. A lot of lorries, caravans, coaches.
It's a bit of a bind though because the only roads East-West here are the A83 Rest and Be Thankful or A85 Killin to Oban. I've only cycled the latter and have to say it was fine, rolling to flat and a wide road with good sightlines and had no trouble doing a good 16-17mph even with a bike full of touring gear. However you wan't to completely avoid the A82 up Loch Lomond. It's a fast, busy road but twisting and turning so a lot of impatience for overtakes, especially considering volume of lorries and coaches on it.
Back to DaveC's route, my alternative to the A83 would be cycle out to Greenock, Ferry to Dunoon (regular, fast service) then A815 in direction of Inveraray, much quieter. Join back on the suggested route at Ardkinglas and then you've got a short, flat section of A83 into Inveraray (great stop for lunch).
Then the rest of the route is good.
I agree, the ferry at Greenock is also good and has nice quiet traffic free roads to Inverary.
I have passed over The Rest and Be Thankfull a few times and agree it carries the bulk of traffic heading towards Campbelltown, but its not got any tight bends traffic might be at risk of hitting you.
Kappers route avoids the climb though, and you can rest on the ferrys.
New route: http://goo.gl/maps/JpiUF
Looks longer, but remember the ferry journeys are included in the distance.
Looking good! Timetabling the Mallaig - Skye ferry might be difficult?
What a superb route.. Hope you have time to admire it as you crank up those miles!
This is no help to the OP (too many ferries to timetable!) but if anyone else fancies riding from Glasgow to Skye and isn't doing it in one day, here's my ideal route...
Me me me !!!! Give me a heads up Dave, I'd love to join you on a cycle camp exped!
Cool, didn't know about that Drimnin to Kilchoan ferry option.
Heading west up the Rest and Be Thankful, presumably it should now be possible to use the old road, which has been resurfaced as an emergency route to be used by traffic when the next inevitable landslip occurs.
I think the west side of Loch Lomond has a cycle path for most of the distance to Tarbet. Not sure what the quality is like, but could well be faster than going up Loch Long.
Pretty poor that Google routes you up the east side of Loch Lomond!
Anyone mentioned the Glenelg Ferry?
Very short crossing, but with seals, otters and white-tailed eagles. Gives you a cracking climb up from Kylerhea on the Skye side (given I know you like climbs... blinkin' nutter).
Wow lovely clip, I wish I'd watched more of this series now.
I have dived a mine layer a little further up from there. It lies on its starboard side in ~25m after it cought fire and then went to run aground but sank 30 - 40m off shore.
Hmm wonders if I could get away to join Rob on Sunday....
And an even bigger climb over from Ratagan on the mainland side to get there.
Ok - so my new bike hasn't come to pass yet (it was meant to be with me yesterday, then today ARRRGH) however I might be able to get it tomorrow. This changes stuff somewhat however I think I'm still going to use this route at some point this month so thanks for the advice. Can't believe I almost ended up riding some goat path - whoops.
So new plan is a 100km tomorrow AM. Home to see if the bike has arrived. If it has then I might head off for another 100km in the afternoon (maybe around the forth I think) then on sunday do coastal path up towards aberdeen and swing back across to pitlochry and get picked up from there by my buddy some time in the afternoon after some fun playing in the hills there. Cheers for this guys - the hive brain is incredible!
16 spokes on the front?!?! Are you using this wheel for the LEL lol !!
Fenix Classic, nice!
I'll be switching out the front wheel - don't worry I'm aware it's not a traditional audax bike - however you may have noticed I'm not a traditional audaxer ;)
dopplepost
It will look grand once you get the mudguards, Brooks saddle and Carradice on it :)
@kaputnik - haha I know! It's gonna be a bit strange looking. However if it delivers a sub 80 hour LEL I'll be a happy man. Plus it'll be my road bike for next years forray into road racing.
@Dave
You got a GPX file for that? Looks like a great bit of cycling and camping.
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