I’m happy to answer any further questions you might have in the comments below. Another monster blog post, so make yourselves a nice cup of tea and strap yourselves in.. In fact, the route remains hilly until Thurso. Up there, we were removed from all the tourists of Edinburgh (though tourism is growing fast) and golfers headed to St Andrews. There is a 519 mile road route, running in a circular loop from Inverness in the east, cross country to the west, up the coast, across the northern highlands and back down the east coast from John O’Groats. I really enjoyed the north coast to John O’Groats but once we turned down the east coast, it was heavy motorway traffic and industrial farmland most of the way — not my favorite section. The Bealach Na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) boasts the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level to 626 metres over 9.1km. Ullapool was the biggest town on day one. A tractor there created a five-vehicle rush-hour queue as I stopped briefly to stock up for the night shift. Had a great time touring around the Scottish highlands, tough conditions but worth it! The Auchmuty High School Strava Club are inviting you to take on the challenge of trying to get as far round the North Coast 500 Route as you can in the rest of January. Yet while the route from Chicago to California is indeed old, it only became ‘Historic Route 66’ after it was removed from the US Highway System in 1985. North Coast 500 from North Coast 500 on Vimeo. At one point it’s a 20% gradient, but it isn’t as fierce as its reputation; taken steadily, it is a joy to ride. For those considering a ride around the North Coast 500, and I think you should, here are some tips based on what we learned along the way. But as the magnificent, steep-terraced sides of the Torridon Hills came into view, bare sandstone crowned with white quartzite, the skies darkened and a light drizzle started. I was 15. Cycling UK continues to support the UK to cycle, This remains true during this difficult period with the ongoing threat of coronavirus Covid-19, Join Cycling UK to help us change lives and communities through cycling, Membership gives you peace of mind insurance, discounts in cycle shops, rides & routes, 10% discount off cycle related products in Halfords stores, 15% off BikeRegister security marking kits, Cycling UK Incident Line - Free Cycling Related Legal Advice, 10% off when you spend £100 or more at Freewheel, Cycling UK CycleCover Travel Insurance 10% discount, 10% discount on Cycling UK training courses, £5 off boxed cycle carriage with Eurostar, 20% off of Havebike’s Collect & Return bicycle servicing, 50% off a Singletrack print and digital subscription, £75 worth of free accessories with Raleigh, Getting sponsorship to cycle for Cycling UK. It was a totally ‘on a whim’ decision. I cycled on, glancing into windows of roadside cottages looking snug and warm. Enjoyed reading your blog and glad to see that you recommended veering off the route – I think many cyclists do prefer taking the route through the ‘Heart of Sutherland’ via Lairg and Bonar Bridge to avoid the heavier traffic on the A9. We opted to complete the ride in eight days (many people do less with the record of 31 hours set by James McCallum) but looking back, I wish we would have given ourselves nine or even 10 days. We’ve put together this comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. Sheets of rain fell from a slate-grey sky. This 500-mile loop around the North Highland coast is perfect cycling country. This 500-mile loop around the North Highland coast is perfect cycling country. Plus I find it easier to get in a rhythm on a long climb whereas continuous punchy rollers sap my energy quickly. I mentally multiplied this progress and started dreaming of a sub 35-hour finish. They're community curated and backed by Strava activity data to help you choose the right roads and paths. Stopping in the evening rain, I was immediately tortured by swarming midges. Cycling 500 miles around the Scottish coastline in 7 days is a tough ride but the spectacular scenery that you will cycle past is worth every pedal stroke. The NC500 route covers a very remote section of Scotland and hotels/B&Bs/hostels are not abundant, meaning they fill up quickly. Loads of elevation gain with a fully loaded bike make for long days in the saddle, especially when you factor in weather and the rough state of the roads (apart from the EU sponsored sections, ironically). The Caledonian Sleeper gives an overnight connection from London King’s Cross. But the endless rollercoaster of egregiously steep hills that follow — thousands upon thousands of feet worth. And looking back, I may have chosen a different route out of Inverness to get to Locharron, one that takes you by Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle. Take extra care for gravel and sheep on the singletrack roads. You can go in real style, for example £400 a night at the Torridon Hotel, or go a budget and camp. I was digging deep and riding into the unknown. ), Inspiring cyclists: Cycling the North Coast 500 with Parkinson’s. I could tell he was itching for a fast ride, but loyally kept it steady for the next five hours around Wester Ross. Make the most of your run or ride with Strava Routes. We will also ask you to submit your total distance by the end of the day on the 31st of January via forms to see how many laps of the NC500 Auchmuty can do. And if you opt to camp, you can easily refrain from carrying days worth of food or even a stove unless you want it for coffee and tea in the morning. Long Skyline Loop (64 miles, 5200 feet of climbing) - take the (in)famous Redwood Gulch route up to Skyline, then head north along the ridge for great views of the bay and ocean. I guessed wrongly that I would turn east on flatter roads. Wind and rain batter our van ALL night! ... Day 5 Strava route part 1 and part 2. Covering close to 530 miles according to our GPS, the route naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-Shire. (full route below) Although fully supported, the tour has been stripped back to the essentials and as such will not have the same high level of comfort and support as our normal tours. For a shorter route, descend via Page Mill Road or Kings Mountain Road instead. Registered office: Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX. It’s the third highest road in Scotland, with a stunning Alpine-style switchback section, accentuated by the singletrack road. Alex and I chatted our way to the top, swapping recent adventures as the drone buzzed noisily overhead, capturing my favourite climb in Scotland. I barely stopped, although the Berrydale climb and subsequent gorges reduced me to a walking pace, climbing out of the saddle. A week would be better. The rugged west gave way to the calmer east: sea cliffs drop off Dunnet’s Head, mainland Britain’s most northerly point, giving a stark border to the North Sea and a horizon broken only by the outlying islands of Orkney. Staring at the road under my front wheel, hurting deeply, I was unable to think about the 200 miles that still remained. North of Lochinver, the road tapered once again to a narrow track and I faced some extraordinary terrain. This more bike-friendly course takes in smaller roads on the West Coast, that motorhomes and caravans can't go on and away from the busy A9 on the East Coast, as well as including the beautiful Black Isle. Then I stared at the ceiling until 1am, terrified. A tiny shard of glass was hidden in the tyre and I needed a knife to lever it out. Once you have a rough idea of how many days you would like to take, I highly recommend previewing your daily routes on Strava or Komoot to see the elevation gain as well as estimated ride time — again, keep in mind you will most likely be riding much slower than you do on a normal training ride at home. It took a few sleeps to feel recovered, and even longer before I could look at my bike again! We ran into one gentleman who was doing just that — he would ride as far as he felt like it for the day and then camp. Twenty-seven years later, the North Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route around Scotland’s … There’s a feeling of strength, purpose and oneness I found whilst cycling the North Coast 500 that’s hard to come by in other parts of my life. Our Community About Strava Community Standards Careers That being said, the wind seemed to change on us on a daily basis and as you constantly wind in and out of the coast, you never remain in a single direction for long. Similar to Scandinavia, you have the right to wild camp in Scotland as long as you do so responsibly by respecting people’s privacy, safety and livelihoods, and Scotland’s environment. It was four years since my last visit to Scotland, and I ended up returning in a most unexpected way.A few months ago I’d never even heard of the North Coast 500; now I’ve only gone and cycled it.. Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route around Scotland ’ s alternative national anthem I! Under my front wheel, hurting deeply, I wasn ’ t to! 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