Off to climb the big one

Today’s the day to climb the big one, bike’s loaded on the car and we’re on our way to Loch Carron, where I’ll be getting back in the saddle to climb from sea level to 626m, up the Bealch Na Ba. Not sure if I’ll be turning the pedals all...

Ride Day Eight: Golspie to Strathpeffer

And we finished (well sort of), today was the last leg of our main coastal tour round the North of Scotland. 49 miles of easier, rolling riding through countryside much more like ours in Warwickshire, with fields of crops, hedges and dry stone walling. The mountains in the background, however, and the sea by our side, ensured we didn’t forget where we were.

Ride Day Seven: Wick to Golspie

It seemed a gentler day’s ride to begin with, hardly any wind and the gradient not too severe. But that all changed when we got to Berriedale, a steep drop down, with some very battered looking barricades where a local coach only just avoided dropping 15 metres into the river the week before!

Ride Day Six: Reay to John O Groats to Wick

Starting with the view over to Doonreay reactor on our left, we set off towards John O Groats. The wind at our backs again and over terrain that was not quite as hilly meant our average speed was noticeably higher today.

Ride Day Five: Loch Eriboll to Reay

The scenery today has continued to be spectacular with wild moorlands, a view of deer again at the side of the road, and crossing the causeway at Tongue. We’ve finished up our ride at Reay, famous for the fast breeder reactor.

Ride Day Four: Scourie to Durness to Loch Eriboll

An easier day’s ride with only a couple of steep climbs and a pleasant gentle descent down into Durness, we even finally enjoyed the wind behind us as we turned back away from the North Coast to go down the side of Loch Eriboll to Glenaladale B&b in Laid...