Touring up North

Share your rides with us.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

Post Reply
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Touring up North

Post by fatbikephil »

As usual my week off work promised to be the worst for a while with thunderstorms forecast for most of the country. The exception was the far north so I guess that's where we are going then. A fairly lengthy car journey followed thanks to mega tourist traffic and the sodding NC500..... Leaving Lairg at 6 lead to much relaxation on the road ride east. I'd had various ideas for a tour but focused on a couple of trails that would hopefully go. I'd done minimal research, just a map appraisal and a squint at aerial photos to determine that the path did actually exist.
Image
Heading for the hills. My chosen area for the first part of the ride was Ben Armine Forest. First up a length gravel road to the lodge itself.
Image
Looking north - this looks a bit gloomy but it was nice and dry, warm and breezy.
Image
The lodge - a somewhat remote spot to live. Beyond here the track quickly deteriorated to a grassy trail that clearly saw little use. The good news was that everything was bone dry. After a bit of this I figured that 9pm was late enough and stopped to bivvy by the river.
Image
Nigh on perfect - level, grassy and breezy enough to keep the midges at bay. I had a good night but woke at dawn to light rain and low cloud. I zonked out again in the hope it would lift later. 7 am seemed enough of a lie in so I made breakfast and got going. The rain was off but the cloud still down until I set out and suddenly it lifted away from me and a few breaks were revealed.
Image
Mandatory trail shot. As far as I can figure, what would have been a typical stalkers path built in the victorian era had been upgraded to an argo cat width around twenty years ago. This has now grown over heavily. I did see another bike track but after a few k the argo and quad tracks all turned off on another such track and it was just me and the tussocks thereafter. Fortunately I was on the destroyer of tussocks so all was well.
Image
The view (especially for Reg) After a hint of the cloud lifting it didn't and I climbed up into it. Bugger, the views should have been amazing.

My route would take me out of this glen (actually called the Strath na seilge) on another trail. This was a lot vaguer and even more overgrown. As I approached the summit the rain inevitably came on - a cold blatter that had me into full waterproofs. However, as I started on the decent, the cloud suddenly lifted, the rain went off and a view was revealed.... Then it all went pete tong. First up was a locked gate (why, why oh why!) but fortunately I accidentally smashed the ancient and totally siezed padlock with a large rock. Then I came across this.....
Image

Going back wasn't an option so I ploughed on through. It wasn't very long but ended at another locked gate! This does my nut in. Annoyingly the padlock was rock proof but siezed to a point that it would never unlock again. I think I need some carbon fiber handled bolt cutters.... After heaving my bike over this I joined a well used track out to the loch.
Image
The beach! Its been yonks since I hit the sand. Various argo cat tracks stuck to the shore to avoid the first of two foot bridges. The burn crossing looked a bit dubious so I figured the bridge would be a better bet.
Image
Blimey this was very dodgy. All the planks were well rotted with several missing. I stepped very lightly across, aware of the depth of the river below me....

The next bridge was avoided as the river was shallow at the mouth into the loch. It's a shame as they are two fine structures which the estate will very likely have no interest in fixing. I wish our useless government would stop fannying about with road improvements and throw some dosh at getting such things fixed and maintained, for us the great unwashed.

Finally I hit a fine stony track on the north shore of the loch. This is on a lengthy route from the Crask Inn on the A833 to the B871 at Banaloch lodge. The Great North Trail actually shows this as an option but you really wouldn't want to take a gravel bike along here. I got up the climb clean (gears!!) and finally got some views.
Image
The descent was a nice singletrack but the roll out to the road was a lengthy traverse of another argo cat / stalking path that under normal (wet) circumstances would be a schlep. Today it was totally and utterly dry. I've passed the Crask Inn loads of times by motorcycle but never stopped. I was hungry after all of that lot so waited 5 minutes for it to open and dived in for cheap but cheerful food. Of course I also had to have a pint of Orkney Gold. More people arrived as I finished up, including two pairs of cycle tourists. It seems to be a popular spot for them being on NCN 1 and various bikepacking routes.

As I headed north the sky was clearing. There was even a hint of sun!
Image
Clouds boiling over Ben Klibreck
Image
One of several new windfarm schemes going up. Anyone who thinks this is 'green' energy needs to see the environmental destruction these things cause and the gear needed to build them. It's not as if they generate much electricity either!

Fully half a dozen cars passed me on the run up to Altnaharra. I've always wanted to cycle these roads and in the strengthening sun it was most pleasant. The landscape is much less dramatic than the west but the wide open views are glorious. At Altnaharra I turned left on the Ben Hope road. I was now in full sunshine but with a stiff following breeze.

As I approached the turn off to Loch Merkland I could actually see the Highland Trail route. I reflected on the contrast between todays weather and the weather in May....
Image
Gobernuisgach Lodge. A certain well know 24 hour racer bivved in the hut next to the oil tanks on HT 2015. It was full of dead deer carcasses apparently.....

I occurred to me to do the Horn route given the weather and dry trails. I had also thought of doing the direct route west to Lone. I could see it climbing steeply up the glen so had a dose of CBA. Instead I twiddled up the track finally being here when it wasn't early morning or raining or both.

Image
The pass to Loch Merkland.

Riding down the road I noted the climb over to Glen Cassley, my next destination. It looked huge!
Image
From the top. I took it slowly so actually got up in good order, despite the hugeness of my tyres. I hammered the descent then took stock. Next up was another big climb and another tough trail over the southern flanks of Ben More Assynt which also looked like it would go (its actually on google streetview - part of the Central Sutherland Crater Walk). Given the dryness of everything and the weather I should really crack on but I'd been going for 9 hours at this point and I was on holiday. I've three times passed the Dam at the top of Glen Cassley and noted the near perfect bivvy spot just below it. It was sunny, breezy and I'd done enough. So I pitched up, went for a wander and generally lazed around.
Image
Hydro electric dam and gear. Far less environmental impact than stupid wind turbines and lots of power.

Oh well, you can't have everything. As I started to make tea the wind dropped and the midges appeared. Not the horrendous storm I'd faced a year ago but bad enough to have me scampering about the place. I dived into the tent and relaxed with whisky as the little bleeders battered fruitlessly at the mesh. The wind got up later allowing further wanderings. But when I woke in the early hours to go to the loo it was still again. I was in and out sharpish but a while later I became aware of numerous itchy bits (!) switching on my headtorch revealed your worst nightmare (well not really but you know what I mean) - a cloud of the swines above me, inside the tent!! Arrrgghhhh how did that happen. The door was firmly shut so they must have sneaked in with me. I spent twenty minutes swatting every one of them before finally crashing out again.

The morning brought much wind and more low cloud. As I'd predicted I had a further failure of motivation to tackle a high level trail as I wanted the views. I figured on a return when the weather was better and instead had a lazy cruise down the glen. I checked out a few good bivvy spots, another dodgy bridge and Achness Waterfalls.
Image
Thereafter a steady climb and descent back to Lairg.
Image
Most of this route was actually on road. The fatbike was ace however rolling through all in its path without any fuss. I didn't even bother pumping the tyres up for the road sections but the rolling resistance was of no issue and it was super comfy.

There then followed a tale of full campsites, full hotels, more NC500 cursing, gorges, Glaswegian Neds, the beach, barbies and tussocks; finishing with a fast drive down the A939 / A93 with no other traffic on the roads.
Last edited by fatbikephil on Sun Jul 11, 2021 4:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
benp1
Posts: 4051
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:36 pm
Location: South Downs

Re: Touring up North

Post by benp1 »

Nice trip and write up!
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9007
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by RIP »

Yeah, compliments on taking the trouble to do a detailed write-up, reading it is almost as good as being there! During the midges-sneaked-into-shelter scene I was in there with you, flailing at the little sods.

Some lovely situations there. Put me in the mind of a Monty Python film, particularly the remote lodge ("it's a Mr Death or something... one of the little men from the village..."), and the dodgy bridge ("what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow..."). I'd have been asking myself the questions three as I crossed it :smile: .

As you say, proper weather too. Some reports on Here seem to have suspiciously good weather :wink: .
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
boxelder
Posts: 1525
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:05 pm

Re: Touring up North

Post by boxelder »

That was a great Sunday breakfast, wistful 'Wish I was there' read.
I've three times passed the Dam at the top of Glen Cassley and noted the near perfect bivvy spot just below it.
- the exact spot I camped in 2015 (at least it was after I'd given up the slight shelter and concrete floor at the building in the background.
User avatar
Borderer
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:59 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by Borderer »

Enjoyed that Phil - nice to recognise some bits too. I wouldn't have dared try to kip at that lodge - it looks like the sort of place they would set the hounds on you!

Well done for facilitating access - carbon fibre bolt cutters - now there's an idea...
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9007
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by RIP »

Borderer wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:39 am facilitating access
:lol:

"enabling unimpeded journey continuity" and many other euphemisms....
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
boxelder
Posts: 1525
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:05 pm

Re: Touring up North

Post by boxelder »

The way ahead is plastic explosive, with dynamo powered detonator.
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by fatbikephil »

Cheers all, plenty more to do up there so watch this space....
Borderer wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:39 am Enjoyed that Phil - nice to recognise some bits too. I wouldn't have dared try to kip at that lodge - it looks like the sort of place they would set the hounds on you!
Nah I stopped a k or so up from the lodge and on the other side of the burn from the track so the dogs wouldn't have found me.....
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Touring up North

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Smashing that Phil - a lack of planning always makes things better :-bd
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
Charliecres
Posts: 1453
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:28 pm

Re: Touring up North

Post by Charliecres »

Enjoyed that, thanks :-bd
User avatar
Borderer
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:59 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by Borderer »

RIP wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:19 am
Borderer wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:39 am facilitating access
:lol:

"enabling unimpeded journey continuity" and many other euphemisms....
There have been other incidents in that area recently so it's possible that it's the same landlowner. The gate above Cashel Dhu was locked in May but by happy accident it spontaneously jumped off its hinges shortly after.
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by fatbikephil »

Borderer wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 11:32 am
There have been other incidents in that area recently so it's possible that it's the same landlowner. The gate above Cashel Dhu was locked in May but by happy accident it spontaneously jumped off its hinges shortly after.
Thats funny, I've seen exactly the same thing happen right in front of me!
User avatar
Borderer
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:59 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by Borderer »

htrider wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:33 pm
Borderer wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 11:32 am
There have been other incidents in that area recently so it's possible that it's the same landlowner. The gate above Cashel Dhu was locked in May but by happy accident it spontaneously jumped off its hinges shortly after.
Thats funny, I've seen exactly the same thing happen right in front of me!
:lol:
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Touring up North

Post by ScotRoutes »

Excellent. The Loch Choire to Crask bit is on a planned (#gradventourer) route. Your description hasn't yet put me totally off it.
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Touring up North

Post by fatbikephil »

ScotRoutes wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 3:36 pm Excellent. The Loch Choire to Crask bit is on a planned (#gradventourer) route. Your description hasn't yet put me totally off it.
Some additional trail pics....

Image
Image

Best if you can get up when its dry....
Post Reply