ScotRoutes wrote:Don't even think about crossing the Parbh by bike. It's trackless heatheriness between the road to Cape Wrath and Sandwood Bay.

I think we had this discussion a wee while back Colin however since then I've spoken to someone whose walked it and reckons it would go. He knows hee haw about fat biking and you are undoubtedly right, however that route has become an itch I'm going to have to scratch...... the way I look at it, even if it turns out to be a push from start to finish, the coastal scenery would be worth it. Or something....

htrider wrote: that route has become an itch I'm going to have to scratch...... the way I look at it, even if it turns out to be a push from start to finish, the coastal scenery would be worth it. Or something....

I was looking at the Cape Wrath Trail last night, formulating a plan for some time in the next few years or something. Too many things on the bucket list though...

htrider wrote:

ScotRoutes wrote:Don't even think about crossing the Parbh by bike. It's trackless heatheriness between the road to Cape Wrath and Sandwood Bay.

I think we had this discussion a wee while back Colin however since then I've spoken to someone whose walked it and reckons it would go. He knows hee haw about fat biking and you are undoubtedly right, however that route has become an itch I'm going to have to scratch...... the way I look at it, even if it turns out to be a push from start to finish, the coastal scenery would be worth it. Or something....

The most direct/flattest/easiest route doesn't even follow the coast. I know what you mean about scratching itches though - I've been through the Lairig Ghru with a bike....

Were they on 'gravel bikes', by any chance?

Are such cycles frowned upon in the alpine borderlands of Beds and Bucks?

They (Pannier) may be Londoners but have had the good sense to move to Sheffield I believe.
They did 260+Km over 3 nights/days.
Looks a nice trip.

They (Pannier) may be Londoners but have had the good sense to move to Sheffield I believe.

Indeed. Stefan (who runs Pannier) spends a lot of time riding in the Peak District. I met him last year at a (fantastic) weekend event he organised just outside of Hathersage, involving camping, riding, talks, pizzas and a beer tipi. He's a nice guy, on a mission to get a new generation into going places on bikes (my words, not his). That's what Pannier is all about.

Stef moved to the east side of the Peak District earlier this year. I think Jordan (also in the film) lives in Manchester.

I've never met Will from Brother Cycles, but I wonder if he's the same member of Brother Cycles who did the Tour Divide.

http://www.brothercycles.com/blog/2016/ ... r-journey/

@ScotRoutes – if you're interested in finding out where they went I'm sure Stef will be happy to share the route. He's easy to get hold of.

The route's on the Pannier site - or is the mapping not detailed enough?

gma wrote:
I've never met Will from Brother Cycles, but I wonder if he's the same member of Brother Cycles who did the Tour Divide.

It is. He scratched after 800 miles.

Sorry to hijack the thread. I've been fancying doing the Cape wrath trail on bike as I'd definitely not manage to back pack it.

Found this variation on a route that avoids going in from sandy bay, but I've not plotted it.

https://www.photoblog.com/ealdhain/2016 ... ike-trail/

http://www.cycloscot.co.uk/cape-wrath

Will may start a thread on routes for those of us who are interested...

Day 3: Struy - Contin - Aultguish
Lots of climbing today as we really get into the heart of the remote Highland landscape. The climb from the Struy valley up to the uplands of the Erchless Forest. We follow the Hydro Roads to the dams at Loch Orrin. We cross these remote dams for a long exciting descent into the wide Strath Connan valley and Tomatin village -famous for its strong whisky.

That'll be Strath Conon and Contin - which doesn't even have a pub, let alone a distillery....

There are a few other typos too but the route is basically the HT550 from FA to Gobernuisgach Lodge and also lies on some of the route that IanFitz was proposing for the UK Watershed Route.

boxelder wrote:

Were they on 'gravel bikes', by any chance?

Are such cycles frowned upon in the alpine borderlands of Beds and Bucks?

.
Absolutely: it's just mud and concrete around here. Not very alpine at all.
They're just racers with knobby tyres, anyway.