Bikepacking Out and back to Corrour Station...

 

After 5 days and 3 nights we drove down to Roybridge and a campsite gave us a nice hot shower and we changed our basic cycling kit for stuff in the car and then next day drove the short distance along to park at Ersit, where we again uploaded and packed the bikes for what would be a fantastic gravel road cycle if 18- 20 miles to Corrour Station past Loch Ossian - The most remote train station in Scotland...

The views through Corrour Estate are as good as it gets!, absolutely stunning scenery...

We arrived at the Station after an approx 18 miles of gravel road and we were ready for a coffee at the Cafe which today was quiet with no trains today and only people who were staying at the nearby Loch Ossian Youth Hostel...

The views at this station may be familiar if you watched a famous 1990`s Scottish Movie...

This was the where the station scene was filmed for Trainspotting...

Up early next morning we were packed and ready by the time the cafe opened and we enjoyed filled rolls and large coffees and G bought a Corrour Staion fridge magnet as a momento,  and then we did some fun filming which you will need to watch to see at the end of the film...

We returned along the south side of Loch Ossian which is slightly rougher and shorter then we were soon back on that super gravel highway which for the most was a slight downhill a lot of the way back to Ersit...

Film of a fantastic 2 days, not being a hard cycle this is a must for folk to do who want a fun couple of days cycling through spectacular scenery and an Estate that opens its doors to visitors on foot or bike, everyone we met were real friendly and all routes are signed, you can free camp if you use the cafe and there is also a Youth Hostel nearby at the head of Loch Ossian...

Songs are by Boards Of Canada songs for big sky vistas;  `Olson` Orange Romeda` `Skyliner`

More soon...

Bikepacking; Day 4 of a 4 day ride...

 We were up early and Paul was already up packing his tent away as he had a longer day than we had today with 50+ miles planned, he left before us and we waved him off and were soon also packed and ready to go...

Straight out onto the track and climb climb climb!, 

A descent to an Army Baily Bridge then another descent to the old original bridge now not in use are the only rest points before the climbing continues...

a series of false summits disappoint as the track goes on and on, but once past a concrete square hut your nearly there and a second square hut confirms the climbing is over and blood can return to your legs!

Over the summit and ahead the infamous switch backs down around 13 bends

Soon we were down to Melgarve again and passing its Bothy and the loop completed we descended down to stop at Garve Bridge where we got the stove out for some coffee as we had plenty time...

Film of another ace day cycling!, Songs again by Boards Of Canada; ``Split Your Infinites` New Seeds` and `Cold Earth`

More soon...

BikePacking; Day 3 of a 4 day ride...

 

Next morning we were up early and cooked breakfast under a clearing sky, this morning we just had a few miles along the former old railway line to Fort Augustus where we would spend some time with a cafe stop and restock any food we would need before starting the ascent up the Corrieyairack Pass...

Second breakfast/brunch!

The Corrieyairack Pass is the jewel in the Military Roads constructed by General George Wade after 1745 and the Scottish defeat at Culloden Moor, these roads were constructed by the English troops to join the English forts and try pacify the Scottish Clans... it worked.. for a little while...

THE Scots being absorbed into the British Army was the making of still some of the finest British Regiments today... a tribute to the Scots...

Up and up we climbed as behind a lovely view down Loch Ness

Hike a bike up the northern side hairpin bends, designed to allow horse drawn gun carriages and supply wagons to transverse the steep mountainsides safely....

On and on it goes...

Then in a level area a small building appears...

Blackburn Bothy was our stop over for this evening...

Odd wall art.... maybe someone driven crazy by midge bites...

It had been a day of more climbing than miles in the legs and it was good to get there late afternoon and spend some time chilling out and we chatted with another arrival who camped outside - Paul from Sunderland who was cycling the Badger Divide route from Inverness to Glasgow...

Some film of the ride to the Bothy, Songs again by Boards Of Canada; `Sick Times` `Sea Later` and `2014`

More soon...

Bikepacking; Day 2 of a 4 day ride...

 

Up early next morning we were soon packed up and under way after breakfast of porridge and coffees and said goodbye to our Bothie neighbours and were soon rolling along undulating landrover track that took us through spectacular scenic countryside through Leckroy to Turret Bridge and Glenroy where the famous Parallel Roads can be viewed - a Geological ice age signature on this Glen that was scientifically documented by Charles Darwin - and the pictures on an iPhone do not do the scenic views of cycling up though this magnificent Glen ...

From the view point we joined the Public Road and freewheeled down past crofts into Roybridge with closed cafe and this great roadside sign for axe throwing! maybe next visit we will stop and have a go!...

We cycled on a few miles on the normally busy road - quiet being Sunday Morning to Open Bridge and a much needed cafe stop - which would be a full burger and chips... then it was back on the bikes and cycled up the climb to the infamous commando Memorial - located in the heart of the area of the rugged highlands where during WW2 The Commando Units trained and perfected a new type of enemy attack warfare that would make them famous towards the final victory of WW 2 which tradition is still carried on to this day in the now British Royal Marine Commandos...

Having paid our respects in the memorial garden we descended to Gairlochy where we cycled along the loch side to Clunes through and past reminders of WW2 Commando training which took place at Achnacarry Castle House...

On the roadside the remains of a training Landing craft - the use of landing craft was a new concept of attack and soldiers trained using these then Landing crafts were used on the loch shores for training...

A new detour which looks recently finished was surfaced with the finest gravel...

We were soon at Laggan Locks on the canal...

Passing the Invergarry railway project we started to look for a suitable campsite to pull off the trail and pitch up for the night before the forecasted 7pm rain showers...

A good idea as the rain was soon on and between the showers we sat and cooked dinner as the midges tried their best to feast on us...

It was a good call to pitch up and save pitching in the rain/midges made for us wearing dry kit and a dry tent inside ready for bed...

Here is film from todays ace cycle, Songs are again by Boards Of Canada, tracks are; `Oscar See Through Red Eye` `Hey Saturday Sun` `Orange Romeda`  and  `Open The Light` 

More soon...