The fourth issue of The Bikepacking Journal hit mailboxes this spring. A truly magical place that’s well worth the effort to get to. Feeling refreshed we took a few tourist pics and cracked on back along the route we had came back towards the bothy at Kearvaig. The tracks were quite reasonable and the climbs all doable at a casual pace. Here I met two separate riders going the other way, the first people I’d met on the trails all day. To Mason Cycles for loaning me the über-capable InSearchOf; truly a bike for all terrain (and I checked this was true over the weekend!). When faced with hardship and no reward for enduring, what is there to spur you on to succeed? BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Within a couple of miles, a strange building appeared through the mist in the distance. Surely the turn onto the path that would lead us down to Kearvaig Bothy was close! In her spare time, Naomi loves to take off and explore the wilds by bike. Trust me. What is Bikepacking? In a sense, at least. High up (Ullapool / Cape Wrath) or lower (Glasgow/Fort William)? It didn’t fail to live up to its expectations. Rocky Mountains Horses Travel Paths Destinations Horse Trips Traveling Words Despite her attempt to set the new fastest time on Scotland’s An Turas Mór being invalidated before she could even start pedaling, Naomi Freireich recently set out for a solo time trial from Cape Wrath to Glasgow. The ride back to the ferry was just stunning. Trust me. With stunning drone shots and a voiceover by Lee, the short film depicts an adventure with a twist. On the way home, we both made a promise that we would be back again the following year. I stopped for lunch with Charlie after the second of these descents, the climb to which had been on an old and very rocky military road. Mindset. Exposure lights for their excellent bike lights keeping me safe on the roads and on the right path off them. However, you can step on the Caledonian Sleeper train in London Euston one evening and arrive to wild, breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands from your cabin window the following morning. When you live on the south coast, Scotland seems an awful long way away. As the night rolled on, we kept the fire going with driftwood and some slow burning firelogs. Try one. As soon as you start from the Durness side, you are straight into a steep climb. I like to keep track of what gear worked and what didn’t on my backpacking trips for future reference. Stretching approximately 230 miles (370 km) from the Highland hub of Fort William to the remote lighthouse of Cape Wrath, it is an unmarked and sometimes trailless route that passes through the wild and spectacular landscapes of northwestern Scotland. Chris and Jelle tour the very north-west of Scotland by bike - to Sandwood Bay with flippers, surf boards and wetsuits in tow, before bikepacking the famed road to Cape Wrath... Chris McClean & Jelle Mul I ring the bell but it takes her an age to arrive at the food window. It’s not actually a trail though, but a route. For the support, the selfless gift of his time and patience, and for the stunning photographs by which to remember a truly unforgettable weekend. I’d ridden it once before with Charlie a couple of years ago and knew what was ahead of me. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Just the faint sound of the sea and wind and the crackling of the fire. Cape Wrath Trail Backpacking Gear List, Explained Philip Werner Gear Lists, Scotland The Cape Wrath Trail travels up the west coast of Scotland, beginning in Fort William, and ending at Cape Wrath which is the northernmost point of Britain. I could imagine the views would be stunning had the cloud not been so low. Arriving late in the evening, I met up with my biking buddy, Jack Kirkbride. Add to that the low-lying clouds I was to pass through and that whole section of the trip was shrouded in the air of mystery and wonder. Crammed into a long weekend, this would be tight, with work sandwiching either side, plus the intricacies of the route itself. This day I knew would be tough, with three big climbs before I even got to the biggest of the route, and the highest road pass in Scotland, the Corrieyairack Pass. Thankfully, the first climb started with a smooth hydro access path. And to see the Gallery lit up in all its glory was properly emotional. Fast and fun. Why did it have to be an FKT to be worth doing? Visiting Kearvaig and Cape Wrath had been on my bucket list for a long time. We got the bikes packed up and headed out to the pickup point for the ferry. From the end of the West Highland Way in Milngavie, the section along the rural parts of the Kelvin was definitely experimental, and the combination of mud, fallen trees, and giant hogweed could have really destroyed my calm were it not for the knowledge that I was mere teens of kilometres from the end. Then, on arrival, the weather scuppering our chance of a ferry crossing from Durness (the only means to reach Cape Wrath) meant I would be starting, not from one end, but with 20km unridden and unrideable by me. A great overnight trip to the Ruigh Aiteachain bothy on the Glenfeshie estate to celebrate a couple of phat boys birthdays. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. One after another after another. Fast and fun. The Cape Wrath Trail runs from Fort William to Cape Wrath on Scotland’s northwest coast, for approximately 280 miles. Having that positivity to push on when the only reason to do so is that mindset itself; it’s a life skill that doesn’t come naturally to most. Thankfully the track has been partially tarmacked thanks to a heavy MOD presence in the area. Once on the other side of the water, the midges instantly swarmed on us like a cloud, so the decision was promptly made to get under way and out from the swarms of nibblers. Accidentally switching off my alarm meant my morning routine was condensed to 15 minutes of mad panic. Yum. We had a ferry to catch, so had a fairly strict time plan to keep to. Surely the turn onto the path that would lead us down to Kearvaig Bothy was close! By the time I popped out in Aberfoyle the dusk was creeping in and I had around 80km to go until the end. Click the link below to find out how to start. Okay, the use of the word official might not be solidly defined, but here are *most* of the recognised long distance bikepacking across England, Scotland and Wales. The bikes were soon back on the roof and we started the long drive back home to Grantown. Cape Wrath Home Blog Bikepacking Cape Wrath. Click the link below to learn about each. And aiming for the fastest time over the route is the ambition that spurs me on, but if the possibility of completing it is dashed from the offset, what drive is there to suffer anyway? The Killin to Callander cycle path gave me some easy, flattish kilometres, albeit into a headwind before hitting the three lochs route from Loch Venachar. What looked like a short distance ended up taking a good hour and a half through overgrown paths, and by the time I met up with my husband Charlie in the trailhead car park, I was famished. I really worried that I wouldn’t be able to ride. It didn’t seem to hold me back though, and I made it through the Ardverikie estate in record time and was heading up to Loch Ossian. At the time of researching the route, the most information I had was someone thinking the record was around three days. At 9am, the wee boat turned up and helped us load the bikes for the short crossing. An Turas Mor: Cape Wrath to Glasgow by Bike - BIKEPACKING.com Naomi Freireich set out for a solo time trial from Cape Wrath to Glasgow on Scotland's An … Standing there in the wind and rain, I knew the old me would have been making my excuses already, but in that moment I knew I was ready for this, and I also knew just what completing the journey no matter what now would mean to me. Little of the north of Scotland is inhabited, either through its unsuitability or because of the devastating Highland clearances of the 1700s. To ride to the end of the trail past my old University haunts, along the Kelvin cycle path, past Maryhill, the Botanical Gardens, and through Kelvingrove beneath Glasgow University felt like such a fitting way to end my ride. We parked up the van next to Ceannabeinne Beach, which was utterly breathtaking. Simply put, bikepacking is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping; it evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. We rose with the light, enjoyed a tasty breakfast with our view, and headed to the ferry point, the closest I could get to the end to begin my journey. I awoke early next day. The vast uninhabited highlands have been really opened up for riding by the hydroelectric industry, with the access roads reaching high up into the hills where the dams, turbines, and solar generate 90% of the energy consumed in Scotland. This would be among the most beautiful places I passed through on the ride. Located in Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland, Cape Wrath is the most northwestern point of the UK. We walked on the sand at low tide, climbed rocks, ate dinner with a view, and after a good night’s rest, woke with the sunrise over the bay. My Achilles tendon at my left heel was really painful and the climbing of the day before was evident in my legs. And not done it all at the same time. Climb three was comparatively easy, which was good because I needed everything I had for the Corrieyairack. Nothing my bike couldn’t handle. Set it up for XC race speed and a trail centre slayer or set it up for all-day comfort loaded with bags and ride rugged country, bothy trips to Cape Wrath and beyond. Seeing the remote remains of former settlements really brought home just how much this period changed the landscape of Scotland both physically and emotionally for those families forced out of their homes. Learn More, As important as it is to have a reliable bike and pack as light as you can, choosing the right route is perhaps the key to your enjoyment. View The Map, There are some routes that are made classic by their sheer perfection, and others by races. About. After checking in with Charlie and deciding on a camping spot for the night, one final small climb of the day was all that remained. 1. Arriving late in the evening, I met up with my biking buddy, Jack Kirkbride. The drizzle turned into rain and we were both getting fairly soaked by this point. The further on we progressed, the more the bad weather came in. I woke late on day three. Thankfully, everything was packed from the day before and that surge of adrenaline meant I wasn’t thinking about the pain. Dinner was a one pot masterpiece of chicken curry and rice. Day two was all about climbing. This part is a single room separate from the rest of the bothy with a sleeping platform for two or three and its own fire place. There ware many stops along the way to take in the sites of the MOD buildings and abandoned homes. Designed to be ridden over a leisurely eight days, its inauguration was a race event, which saw the record time being set at just over four days. Laura's packs. Multi-activity 29er for fast, flowy trails, hurtling over (EU) Multi-activity 29er for fast, flowy trails, hurtling over (US) An Turas Mor: Cape Wrath to Glasgow by Bike - BIKEPACKING.com For 70 years, Cycling UK’s Cape Wrath Fellowship has put cyclists to the test. So much history is attached to these roads, and to be able to ride them still is pretty mind-blowing. Day 3 stats: 225km and 3478m of climbing. This was the hardest section of the ride and I was through it. Cape Wrath by Fatbike and Packraft - BIKEPACKING.com A film with a twist about a fat bike and packraft journey to the most northwesterly point on the UK mainland, Cape Wrath. As you descend the track, the stunning views of the bothy open up with an expanse of golden sanded beach wrapped up out the harsh winds by towering cliffs and hills all around. It was Cape Wrath (Scotland’s most Northernly point on the mainland) and the remote café was open for business (as it is 24 hours a day 365 days a year). Beyond the damn, however, the paths became rough and loose and at times very boggy. Join Stefan, Will, Luke and Jordan - the guys behind the film Beulah - as they discuss the ever-popular pursuit of bikepacking, various bike and kit setups, their trip to Cape Wrath, and the experiences of filming by bike. It didn’t take long to drift off that night! She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with her husband, two children and two step children, where she works as an IT Project manager. Hardtail trail centre mountain bike compatible with 27.5+ or 29 inch wheels. And despite the pain and fatigue I felt, the joy of being there and knowing my body was capable of powering me to the top kept me pushing on and kept me smiling. All in, 175km and 3,281m of climbing. 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