Cheers!

i will travel around scotland starting next saturday for 8 days. I will have a gravelbike with 27.5/42 tires.
During my research i read that you have to cross two deer fences (quite high) if you go from Dalwhinnie to Ben Alder Cottage and it sounded hard for a solo traveller to cross that.
Is there a way around or like a gate somewhere to cross? It will be my birthday and i will drink the fine whisky of dalwhinnie at the boothy :)

My longer version (i think it will be too hard for 8 days)
https://www.komoot.com/tour/47474198?ref=wtd

My stripped version, the last 2 days need a correction for a sleeping spot
https://www.komoot.com/tour/47476892?ref=wtd

Thanks for reply! Lovely people in a lovely forum!
Best regards
Thomas

my trips so far: http://mastho.cc

masthocc wrote:Cheers!


During my research i read that you have to cross two deer fences (quite high) if you go from Dalwhinnie to Ben Alder Cottage and it sounded hard for a solo traveller to cross that.

This is incorrect. However, you do have the not inconsiderable climb up the Bealach Dubh before descending to Ben Alder Cottage.

FWIW, I cannot view your route without logging in to that site, so I cannot help further.

ScotRoutes wrote: FWIW, I cannot view your route without logging in to that site, so I cannot help further.

you need to scroll down, there it should be available :)

OK (what a rubbish site)

You DO NOT want to take the marked path along the side of Loch Ericht once you pass the lodge.

Trust me.

You are also in for some other major carries/pushes: From Loch Pattack up over to Lochan na h-earba would be one, Loch Lomondside is another (that would make a deer fence look simple).

I would also avoid the A82 between Spean Bridge and Corran. A better route is to take forest tracks to Fort William, then a small boat across Loch Linnhe to Camusnagaul, ride down to Corran and take the ferry there back to the A82 where it now has a cycle track parallel.

Thanks for advice!

i changed to route (for the short version) https://www.komoot.com/tour/47476892?ref=wtd regarding to this report https://www.trailscotland.co.uk/ben-ald ... lach-dubh/ which looks ok for me.

i also thought that the track to fort william will be.. hard. in fact of time i will ride directly more south which looks on the profile better.

masthocc wrote:Thanks for advice!

i changed to route (for the short version) https://www.komoot.com/tour/47476892?ref=wtd regarding to this report https://www.trailscotland.co.uk/ben-ald ... lach-dubh/ which looks ok for me.

i also thought that the track to fort william will be.. hard. in fact of time i will ride directly more north which looks on the profile better.

I missed that write up on Trail Scotland - Often wondered what the Loch Ericht shore path would be like, despite being thoroughly warned off it! I'd have a punt of it based on that....

That said, Thomas, I think you'd be better on the Bealach Dubh on your gravel bike. That write up was done in July, it will now be very boggy whereas Beacha dubh is all on a well drained gravel path (albeit with a fair few rocks and drainage channels).

Re the rest of your route (the short one) - Looks like you are doing the Capel mounth from Glen Doll to Glen muik and staying in the bothy and then doing the single track past Lochnagarr.... err don't, really, trust me on this (at least not on a gravel bike!) From Glen muik I'd follow the gravel road right out to Ballater then the back road to Balmoral and a good track to Braemar. The feshie geldie will be a swamp so a gravel bike will be no hindrance - prepare for a long wet walk however.

Next up, I'd actually miss out Ben Alder and head from Ericht lodge up by loch pattack across to Lochan earba and then up strath Ossian and over the road to the isles to loch Rannoch - this is all top gravel bike stuff. The bit from Rannoch station to Kingshouse is a no-no - it will be a complete bog fest, actually dodgy given how wet things are just now. Instead from the south side of loch Rannoch hop over the Lairig gallabhaich to Glen lyon and then up past loch lyon and over to the West Highland Way and back to tyndrum (This is the Highland Trail route in reverse from Loch Rannoch) The West Highland Way south of tyndrum is truly horrible - lots of hike a bike (so maybe a gravel bike is your best bet!) if you do do this and exit at Inversnaid, mind and do all of the forest roads in Queen Elizabeth forest park, instead of your road route to Aberfoyle.

Your route out of Aberfoyle is another death march - instead follow Sustrans NCN 7 north over to loch venechar and to Callander - this is a great route. From Dunblane, to Bridge of Allan follow the NCN (can't remember the number - 74 maybe?) before picking up NCN 76. NCN76 is more scenic on the north side of the Forth, ie don't cross the Kincardine bridge, keep on to the Forth bridge (and visit Fife!)

Ordnance survey maps on bing.com/maps should enable to you to suss out this little lot - good luck!

Thanks a lot htrider and ScotRoutes !!!

i replanned the tour and now it looks realistic for me
https://www.komoot.com/tour/47598064?ref=wtd

all went different

But i will come back next year for a tour! Scotland is vaguely exciting!

Cool. Where did you go and did you get some photos?

@ScotRoutes i wrote some words and pictures https://www.mastho.cc/scotland-to-the-highlands/