Snow - could be anything really. Most likely places for remaining patches are the top of the Bealach Dubh descent and the top of Corrieyairick. The latter would be soft as although it's high, it's south facing. Cath and I did the southern loop in late April one year and there were small patches on Bealach Dubh and a very small one of wet snow on Corrieyairick

Time-frame - Bikepacking.com have fourteen days for touring pace which seems a little slow, I think ten days would let you stop in bothies most nights. The thing with any schedule is hitting resupply points when they are open.

Fisherfield - I like the Postie path, it was my favourite part of the route (but then I may be weird ) I've walked the Poolewe to Carnmore path when climbing at Carnmore but not done the Tollie path. Phil would be your man for the latter.

'eff all snow on the route, just on a few corrie rims above 900m. High point on the route is 800. Keep an eye on the SAIS Creag Meagaidh blog as it covers Ben Alder and Corrieairyack - https://meagaidhblog.sais.gov.uk/2025/0 ... y-at-best/

Postie path for me every time as it misses a chunk of road. That said it was getting well worn in by 2019 but I wonder if it's gotten a bit overgrown again. Should be fine an April though.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 6:45 pm 'eff all snow on the route, just on a few corrie rims above 900m. High point on the route is 800. Keep an eye on the SAIS Creag Meagaidh blog as it covers Ben Alder and Corrieairyack - https://meagaidhblog.sais.gov.uk/2025/0 ... y-at-best/

Postie path for me every time as it misses a chunk of road. That said it was getting well worn in by 2019 but I wonder if it's gotten a bit overgrown again. Should be fine an April though.

Perfect, cheers


I agree, had forgotten the road along Maree. Didn't like it either, so must have left my memory soon

https://trackleaders.com/highland25

Looking like no other route changes so should be one of the easier editions (Cue horrendous weather which we are due TBH)

Widespread frosts tonight and tomorrow night so hopefully not too many midges....

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:29 pm Looking like no other route changes so should be one of the easier editions (Cue horrendous weather which we are due TBH)

If I do get round, please can we agree that it was the toughest ever? And that if I don’t, that it was even tougher!

Alan did show me a 575 mile variation of the route!
It's always hard Pete, even when the weather and trail conditions are perfect as per 2021...

The Midge Forecast is back up and running.

Blimey that's looking a bit fierce for this time of year. Hard frosts Saturday and Sunday night too....

Dispatches from an Easter trip around the Northern Loop:

Stephen and Wendy are still running the excellent Drumbeg stores but have actually found a buyer and then will be retiring - still in the village. They will still be there at the end of May to support the race for one last time. Stephen also mentioned that he will be encouraging the new owners to continue the support.

A lot could change in the 5 weeks from Easter to HT week, but the ground was very dry. Ticks were out earlier than I can ever remember and plenty of reports of midgies already.

the new climb from Gobby Lodge to Lone is fantastic (I did do it on a gorgeous day, mind!). I rode it with full bikepacking kit, although admittedly, with fresh legs and found I could ride the majority of the 360m height gain to the Bealach. The short stretches of HAB are pleasant and last a few minutes, rather than whole chunks of time (Bealach Horn). I think this route change will chop 2 hrs off a 4 day pace. FYI even with fresh legs, that long drag out of Achfary is still a push, despite being a fairly decent gravel track!

In April, I passed both Oykel Bridge and Achness Hotel at Rosehall. People with a history of riding in this area will know of the dubious (and exorbitantly priced) hospitality begrudgingly offered by the OB. I found this year to be no different and interpreted the price quoted for a cooked breakfast to be a strong deterrent to my custom; Eileen at Achness Hotel, Rosehall couldn't have been more friendly and I would encourage riders to support this hotel - just 6kms further along the road.
There is also a shop/cafe open in Rosehall on your left as you come into the village and before you reach the hotel. Sharon, the owner is open most days, but worth checking.

Finally, if your race schedule permits, the 20km Glencanisp traverse is significantly less traumatic at midday, as oppose to midnight! Pleased to have had the opportunity to finally exorcise that ghost this Easter.
Good Luck!

Tah for the intel. I reckoned about a 1.5 - 2 hour saving on the northern loop based on my previous timings round it. This puts the Ullapool Tescos in scope for Monday night....
Alan had mentioned Stephen and Wendy are retiring - well earned from what they were saying about the pandemic and its aftermath.

I see the weather is set to break the week before....*sigh*

I always preferred Achness Hotel vibe, big into their fishing and had loads of locals dropping in.
I got in their good books by picking up a box of flies from the road, the barman recognised then as belonging to the local Ghillie
I just wish I had taken a photo of the contents to refer back to.

Aye they did us right in 2023 and cheap too (£10 for a cup of soup and a pasta thing) so may just decant straight to there. May be tempted by a pint in the OBH on Monday eve though if Tescos isn't on.

A couple of ITTers on route, let the dot watching begin

https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/ ... =8&b=0&p=0

For those watching I have bailed at Poolewe. Bit off pace ( plus cleat bolt failure, interesting noises from BB and shoes falling to bits - just stuff) and no way I was doing the next bit in 48 hours as that’s our deadline to get the boat home.sooooo a couple of days to relax in this extreme heat. If the weather breaks before the group start it may take a whir to soften the ground. Meanwhile it’s bloody hot in them hills. But hey, got to cycle the Fisherfield crossing (as opposed to wading across with bike held aloft), which was nice. Ankle height at its deepest point!

I was on Bealach Horn yesterday - everything is so dry, a local said it had hardly rained since March. Careful with stoves please. Also as a result multiple streams I have used before had no water in them at all.

Hard Luck Mr G, you've done the worst bits!

Looking somewhat damp for the whole week of the group start so the watercourses will soon fill up again....

Thanks for the condition updates, both.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 8:47 pm Looking somewhat damp for the whole week of the group start so the watercourses will soon fill up again....

I'm jumping between and refreshing all the forecasts like 'owt at the mo, Phil. Still a bit of uncertainty and mixed, but looking wetter fo' sure.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 8:47 pm Hard Luck Mr G, you've done the worst bits!

Looking somewhat damp for the whole week of the group start so the watercourses will soon fill up again....

Not a worry, with 2 completions under my belt I’m quite relaxed about it. Fingers crossed for the mass start as weather starting to look a bit more typical!!!

Weather should make for some interesting dot watching. Rain, more rain, showers, gales, rain, snow on high. https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/scott ... -highlands

Hoping things don't work out as bad as forecast...

https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of- ... l-550-2025
Looking at what kit some are taking, I hope they check out the above forecast and re-consider...

Don't worry Phil - you're 10 years older and wiser
How early can you book a room at Strathcarron?

"Looking at what kit some are taking, ....." - the folk giving a 'cap number' seem to be the ones skimping on kit. Is this a TCR thing??

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 9:39 pm https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of- ... l-550-2025
Looking at what kit some are taking, I hope they check out the above forecast and re-consider...

What with the weather being as it has, it's been really tricky thinking of the reality of the Highlands in late May: Might be one for the tent rather than Gatewood Cape after all.

boxelder wrote: ↑Thu May 22, 2025 9:45 pm - the folk giving a 'cap number' seem to be the ones skimping on kit. Is this a TCR thing??

It was a field on the Dotwatcher 'bikes of' submission form. Wasn't a required one, mind.

BBC is more optimistic, I think, Phil. Still not great. I've been keeping an eye on it as I'm up that way tomorrow.

Good luck, mate. I'm hoping to camp around Blackburn Bothy tomorrow evening, so I might see some of the riders around there? Both sure how long It'll take People to get there, but I might pass a few at some point on the Corrieyairack Pass.

Good luck to you too, Hyppy!

Oh man, imagine being a rider enjoying weeks of sun and hearing about the dry, perfect conditions up there, then it turns just before the start

Well I guess that's what the HT is all about Good luck to everyone riding, I'm looking forward to some dot-watching.