Day 4 bikepacking solo and unsupported from Glasgow, Scotland to the north coast. Following An Turas Mor, a mostly off-road route through remote parts of the highlands; this day includes Lochs Ossian, Ghuilbinn and Lagggan, the River Spey, and General Wade’s Military Road over Corrieyairack Pass.
Day 1: https://youtu.be/wOHqu4v9mtc
Day 2: https://youtu.be/z3z64OMpYhg
Day 3: https://youtu.be/Q_1Uvdgdf_Y
Day 4: https://youtu.be/OqyIVZzREYY
This was a bit of a ‘stretch’ adventure for me: my longest, in days and miles; the most challenging surfaces and terrain I’ve ridden, and the most isolated. I spent a lot of time reconnecting with myself too – after some mental health difficulties this solo immersion in the changing landscape gave me some time and space to reflect and heal.
I also rode this in aid of Centrepoint, an amazing charity for homeless young people in the UK. They support more than 10,000 homeless 16-25 year olds into a home and a job every year; if you enjoy this series and would like to donate you can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/riding-glasgow-to-north-coast-for-homelessness/
It is a privilege (or many) to be able to do bike tours like this, and in particular I owe gratitude to my boys mother for taking care of them while I was away. Thank you.
If you like the music used in this series there is a playlist here: https://share.epidemicsound.com/1o5phw/?playlist=xgzuavq8c89emdb6qe9r41khrq3gok0v and all tracks individually credited below.
– Credits –
Cody Francis / Mountain Air / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Sum Wave / Friendship / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Dylan Sitts / Purchase / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
River Sam / Beautiful Day / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Roots and Recognition / Path of Patience / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Official route website https://www.anturasmor.co.uk/about
Amatic font copyright (c) 2011 by Vernon Adams (vern@newtypography.co.uk)
Map imagery © OpenStreetMap contributors (https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright)
Email: cyclobobs AT gmail DOT com
https://www.instagram.com/cyclobobs/
https://havebike.net
[Music] hi and welcome back to my bike packing Journey from the city of Glasgow to Cape wrath the Northwestern tip of Mainland Scotland this is the fourth day and so far I’ve had just a taste of the isolation and Beauty to be found in the Ms and mountains here I’ve just packed up camp above the lonely ran mall and today I’m continuing north towards the highest point on my route the notorious corar pass [Music] I set off about a mile back uh I’ve been absolutely Savaged by the midges this morning there were just so many of them and I’ve run out of water but I don’t really want to stop I really hope that I can find a campsite this evening that’s not covered in cuz I’m not sure I can stand three nights of that in a row anyway it’s a beautiful day maybe 3 miles to a Station Cafe fingers crossed it’s already open [Music] here it is Coro station I think it’s the only station in the country tree it doesn’t have a road connection to it you can only get here on foot or bike or obviously by train they have a well recommended Cafe and I am so thirsty now fortunately there’s been a bit of wind and it’s not been too hard some nice fast gr [Applause] sections cor Station Cafe Boys in absolute godsend lovely food lovely people scenery to Die For in uh 25 miles I hit the notorious corer pass which is a pretty huge climb but I’m hoping to make it up and over today um ideally to stop at the Bobby uh a bit of a way down the other side and I’m hoping there aren’t going to be too many cuz this morning was terrific and I could do without that again today um next 15 20 miles though I think is uh pretty level uh descending off the malls eventually um hopefully quite a nice easy ride to warm me up for the big F later [Music] [Music] he [Music] w [Music] go oh these looks smell so good oh this is that here [Music] yes so you’re in a hurry well you better calm down we’re all friends around you just join the fun if you’re in a hurry you’re missing the point should enjoy the fruits of Life instead of chasing coins go [Music] oh it’s beautiful day [Music] is I’m just approaching corar pass heading at the valley corar Pur is going to take me from I think 350 M up to 750 down the other side of little way is a body which if I’m lucky well either be empty or at least have some space left so I can have a guaranteed midf free night it is roasting today so I just uh had a bit of a rinse in a pool was lovely get all the sweat and dirt off ready to climb up and get myself all dirty again [Music] I’m on the purse now the gradient pretty gentle at the moment I steepened up now just pass 400 m going up ahead where the pylons are and then following them up through the p just upen to the left pleasingly there’s a good Breeze here so at least I’m not overheating there the last part of this climb was pretty tough the surface got really Steep and wet and became either too slippery or too bouldery to ride even pushing the bike was tricky after 11 switchbacks and the last 18 de kicker I finally reached the top that was the toughest climb I have ever done less I think because of the height and just the surface was absolutely grueling some of it was unraidable it was so loose and Steep and so I just I alternated between pushing and riding sometimes just a 10 m at a time and I am exhausted but there is where I’ve come from all the way Di and distant down in that Valley and over there is what’s yet to come there’s a bit of a breeze I haven’t seen midges yet but they oh no there are midges around this is the thing I think um I don’t think anyone told the midges around here that they’re not supposed to like being up high in the Sun or in the wind so uh it’s just midges everywhere really I am now at the B uh I was slightly afraid of it being full but there’s actually no one here it’s just me um going to top up my water because there’s a handy little stream next door and then I’m going to go and eat and eat quite a lot because corar path oh my God that was seriously tough really tiring day um cycled about 50 Mi um and climbed 3,800 ft um which is pretty big for a day for me um so yeah pretty tired ready for some food and a rest but happy happy it’s been a good day hard but good all right I need to escape these so see you
1 Comment
Brilliant Rob. Looking forward to Day 5.