Finally have the video of the ride from Inverness to Glasgow via Oban and the west coast from 2024. With London Alan, David the Gentle Giant and Brad the Lad. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys tour cycling. Approx 50 to 60 miles per day. Just book in advance as accommodation is difficult in this part of the world and travel before the start of June or after September to avoid the midges!
Well, finally, finally, I’ve strung together all the bits from the 2024 Invenesse to Glasgow ride via Fort William Orin and the aisle of Aaron. On this ride, we’ve got uh London Allen, uh David the Gentle Giant, and my nephew Brad the Lad. I hope you enjoy riding along with us. Right, ready, let’s go. Please excuse the overexposure. I’m trying to get used to my new Insta 360 camera. Um, it’s fixed in the next couple of minutes. Thanks. Just the start of the day. It is warm. Yeah, it’s warm, isn’t it? Still and no wind. Yeah, very calm. Slightly behind us. Hard to tell, but Well, how many feet we got to go? Uh 3,000 ft to go today. We’re just under 500 at the moment. Oh, we’re six of the way there. 500 to get out of um Ubaness. Yeah. So, are we in zone two? Am I struggling to finish my sentences? Not quite. Well, I am. You might still be in zone one. No, I’m in zone two. You’re talking to me? Yeah, but the sentences are choppy. I need a break. Yeah. I’m in zone. Sweaty fat. It’s a quick fox jumped over the zone. You inserted that. Well, what a beautiful start to the holiday. Here we are just on our way out of Invenesse. Uh heading uh south towards Avimmore. It’s a smashing day and we’ve got a tailwind. Fantastic. rope around. Yes, I know. I keep on encouraging him to uh join a cycling club because I think he’d be a really good cyclist. Yeah, but he won’t. But he likes to just uh like Mark, bang up hills to challenge him. No, just get to top of them. [Music] [Music] All good. So, getting you eating veggies? No, they’re all in there. I’m just eating a rack, a plain tortilla with a bit of pizza on it. That’ll be refreshing. Cycling in Scotland uh this time of the year in May is normally the best and I’ve been on this route several times before in the motorcycle and I definitely wanted to give it a go on the bike. You bothered about something, Brad? The road is spreading out. Yeah. Yeah. We’ll put some more air in it later. I like I like being in Scotland. Good roads, good people, good scenery. Yeah, I’ll often come up here in uh you know, late spring if I can. Keep going. He’s just behind you. Uh, we’ll just stop here maybe. Going to stop here. We’ll just keep on going and going and going something that way. Yeah. See if there’s anything up there. Okay. Don’t get lost. There might be bears in there. [Music] Where’s the lock gone? wet. Yeah, Ben Nevice. That’s as good as it gets, I guess, today. Yeah, tomorrow will probably be completely shrouded in. Yeah. So to your left is out into basically the sea, but going to your right up this uh I think Neptune staircase you get onto a canal which ultimately comes into Loch Ness and all the way through to Invenesse. Oh wow. Yeah. So basically this this stretch of water which is big enough to take reliz boats as you see kind of links the west coast to the east coast. Here endeth the history and geography lesson for today. [Music] These go up on top or Yeah, I’ll take Can you manage? Is that enough? We lost that technology points back in the day. Navigating through France with paper maps. We’re following Route 78 across Lach Lenny onto the back roads so that we keep away from the really madam busy I82. Anyway, later on today we meet David and he’s joining us for the rest of the ride which will take us down through all the way down onto the Kintire Peninsula. We then get the ferry across to Aaron and then one more ferry that brings us into the back side of Glasgow where we finish. [Music] This should be shockingly beautiful in sunshine. Heat. Heat. Oh, no worries. Uh, slippy. Thank you. [Music] [Music] Well, after having a nice uh ride on the single track um across the lock, we’re now back on the A82. A mad busy road. Um, thank God they’ve designated a cycle track along the side of it, the old pavement. And we continue on the route towards Organ. I love finding and riding along old railway infrastructure. I think it’s just a shame that it’s uh all gone. Beautiful world. Beautiful. [Music] Guys, nice to see you now then, young man. Nice to see you, David. Nice to meet you. Wow. No, I couldn’t stop. I had to keep going because the midgetes were in the trees. Oh, are they? Yeah, they’re hiding. They’re coming out. And actually, this cafe is on the main road, right? So, rather go rather than go down there. And there’s a horrendous You show us where to go. So, that might be the best option. It’s excellent. Good to see you. Are you Are you dry? Are you No, we’re all We’re all good today. It’s been a grand day. It’s been like this. Tiny bit of mizzle as we kind heading inland. Yeah. But then coming back out again around where you know you go you turn to go on the A82 and across the top. So it was just starting there a bit. Then of course we come back on the coastline. It’s all good. Good cuz I’ve had it dry the whole way. I mean the forecast was the only place in the UK bizarrely cuz down everywhere else we’re we’re in a bit of a weather window here I think. I think so. Let’s just say thank you while we’ve got it. Yeah. Yeah. Right after you, young man. See if I cuz I’ve never been in this place before. The the racer cappy was heaving. It’s absolutely jumping. You might have seen about a dozen going the other way. They were all in. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we one of old boys has fallen. So on a on an incline, steep incline, he’s obviously lost it on the incline and just come off his bike and tippled over. Anyway, Hey, how you doing? You could have stopped on the flat bit. Wheel spin. Doubt it. Nobly tires, Alen. No grip. I’ve wanted for many years to ride this route uh from Fort William to Urban, an old railway route um that generally parallels the coast but also cuts inland. Um and I think it’s a lovely route to go on a bike. It’s a really strong tidle lock this is in it David gets well pulled as well don’t it when I was going out the tide once once the tide’s gone in and it starts going out again waterfall Yeah, [Music] this is the single track back road into Orin. It keeps you off the busy a road, but going by the amount of traffic going this way, I think next time I’m sticking on the main road. back side of Orin. We Okay, fine. You Are they with us, Brad? Don’t worry. Are they with us? Yeah. Heat. letting traffic pass. It takes a few miles of cycling south from Urban before we find the quiet roads. Now, I’ve motorcycled this part of the world several times before, so I do know what the uh hills are like. It’s going to be punchy in places, tough little climbs, but you know, it’s all worth it. It’s a beautiful part of the world. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] Aeroba. Woohoo. Two more climbs for today, then we’re done. This is the main road running south from Urban to Loil Ped, which is our target for the end of today. Um, but right now we’re aiming for the cafe adv um at the marina. [Music] [Music] [Music] Instead of passing, passing wind. Yes. You don’t see many of the old horses like that around. Sky, I think it was. Yeah, I’ve I’ve stayed at the pub down here overnight. and the bed and breakfast down here I’ve stayed at. That’s why it felt important to come back again on a push bike. Buy a boat. Live here. Keep pushing. We’ll get there. Heat. Heat. Careful you speed will have a top speed. down there. Yeah. About 37. They’re all too quick. A while since I’ve been here, David. Yeah. Changed a lot. It was completely closed when it was here last time. And that’s all new. Yes. Completely new. our destination. today is over there. Okay. Yeah, we’re going to go down there to the end of the canal and come back. [Music] miles. Right. Shall we go? Yeah. It’s really nice. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. charcoal. Sorry. All that color charcoal. It will be. Yeah. Coke. Maybe maybe for that vessel there. Old steaming tug. It’s where? Sorry. [Music] [Music] [Music] Well, a few years ago, I trained as a coastal skipper on a 40 or 42 foot Bavaria off the west coast of Scotland. There’s something that kind of says to me I should have a bike on a boat and I’ll be a very happy man. [Music] No swearing allowed. No, but you can say what you want. I’m the editor as well. Thank you very much. I just want to watch that. Yeah. Be bought charter. £4,000 for 11 days. Yeah. Put eight people on it. Yeah. 11 day holiday for It’s all right, isn’t it? Keep safe. Bye. Ciao. See you next. Bye-bye. Yeah. Yeah. See you in two days time on the other end. [Music] Thank you. They gone straight on. They must have done Woohoo! get you overtaking on the hill. We’re on hill on too many power down. Gosh, I should have done that. Just in case you don’t know which is the fat man. I’m the one sweaty 700T Brad. Yeah, just over Nearly at the top. [Music] Nice, isn’t it? It’s very nice around here. Yeah. [Music] [Music] Well, a beautiful stretch of the coast here. Idyllic on a summer’s day. Well, David, yeah, looking very lightweight on that bike, my friend. Do I look like a brick [ __ ] house going uphill? I think last night’s tea and this morning’s break. You need them when you’re cycling. You do. You got to put the calories in. The damn good drinks this morning though. Yes. Really good. Okay. Yeah. Grand. Yeah. Comfortable. Fine. Yeah. There’s an attic room. So, a bit tight. But clean and nice. Okay. like the palace you stayed in. Oh yeah, we lovely. She’s a lovely ghost as well. Yeah. She No, that’s what she said to me. Did you say who is your friend? Tell him I fancy him. Did you say that you eye appointment? It’s a steep bit. That’s it. [Music] See my way off. I don’t know what the sun came up. Yeah. Felt like you. Yeah. Yeah. Cooking again. Wish I had 25y old legs. No, I don’t. Thank you. Scotland in May is the best time of year I reckon for coming up to this part of the world. And today is just getting better and better. [Music] [Music] I’ll stay left. [Music] [Music] Bradwick. Game on. Which way, Brad? Which way? Right. Watch out. I see him. recognize this place from my coastal skip training. [Music] Tophill climb at the end of the day. I’ve just seen them. Yeah, just as you lifted your head out of the football game. Watching bloody what is it? Cup final. Yep. Top of a hill on our way to Aaron. I’m surprised we’ve still got internet. It’s mad. No complaints. right here. City just scored. Sorry. City just scored. Yeah. Yeah. Seven minutes I think. There’s a good chance we will crumble in this seven minutes. A very good chance. That’s normal, is it? Yeah. Go away. [Music] I did say two-0. So, you got the two goals, right? Yeah. [Applause] Now, come on. Put your bloody, you know, cups away and let’s go get a ferry. I hope there’s only one way cuz I don’t know where I’m going. says Aaron Ferry. Aaron Ferry. Okay. Well, a beautiful evening here as we wait on the ramp for the ferry to Aaron, our destination for tonight. Oh, here we are. Aaron where the sweaters don’t come from. Yeah, that’s one. There’s the boat. Yes. Or a beautiful evening though to finish on. Amazing. Going to be wee weeing it down tomorrow. Exactly. Do we Do we strip off in your garage or something? Well, I want to do that even if it’s sunny. You know, I’m just a bit weird. So yeah, the number of things I’ve taken from bikes really last. Yeah, it is. It is what it is. And at least it’s the last day. We’ve done bloody good over these last last five days so far. So say we’ve only had one heavy rain shower. This is well like I say to the guys, you know, I come to west coast of Scotland this time of year because generally going to be the best time and especially before mid June onwards when all the little bites come out, you know. Cheers. We’ll do Go hang out out. [Music] [Music] All right. [Music] Finally, we’ve arrived in Lranza. It’s been a spectacular day and the last day actually uh of good weather. Tomorrow is going to or it’s forecast to absolutely w it down and we’re going to get wet, but it is the last day. [Music] Is that where we’re going? Yeah. Yep. [Music] relax. [Music] [Music] Go on. Go for it, lad. Well, that was a bit of a doss last night, but it’s a bed and it’s wet. [Music] Yeah, I decided to put my wallet in the pan. you. Otherwise, you’re going to end up with a very wet wallet. Camping and cycling on the west coast of any place means you’re going to get wet, and the west coast of Scotland is no exception. Beautiful weather. Oh yes, we done really well though. Yeah, I think we did the airport yesterday kind of. And this is the other on the side of it. Yeah, this is the uh hangover afterwards. Oh, I enjoyed that. I don’t remember that climb. I remember. Do you know you keep saying this little bit of the village we kind of slow up here? That was just where you stop fibbing. Say no. I don’t remember that time. We said the same thing. What? We thought it was the top and then it went up again. See actually from here on you can see all the mountains. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hear me. My testicles are numb. My hamstrings are numb. Uh oh. Camera’s on. Why not? E [Music] Well, I’ve always said it. Um, all the effort that goes into the cycling uphill um gives you just glorious downhill runs. In this case, we’re coming down or working our way across um the aisle of Aaron um on our way to the east coast to pick up the ferry to get us back onto the mainland because today we finish in Glasgow. But as you’re going to say, it’s a wet day all the way. See Not. Not with my wand. Good eye. I can’t see. Oh, I can see something over there. Yeah. Yeah. I think I’m just wet on the inside with sweat. All the All the jacket’s doing is keeping the wind up. That’s just no way to start the day. Alan. Yeah. That’s just nothing. [Music] Remind me to come here again sometime. Hot air blowing out of this vent. Wa drying off. You want to go to the toilet? Well, it is where it is. On the north coast and we we’re in we’re in rain like this. Yeah. We get to this cafe and we come in and we say, “Will you serve us?” She said, “Oh, yes.” Said, “Uh, can we sit down?” Cuz we knew we’d end up wrecking the chairs. Yeah. And she was fine about it. She said, “Yeah, sit down. Sit down.” Right on the very top course. All right. [Music] Exactly. Well, we have one rain. So, I guess last day is probably the best day. About 25 miles to go and we’ve done the inveness northern west coast. Fantastic ride. I mean really nice. You should try it. Well, lots of the final miles into Glasgow are along these disused uh railway beds. Um just aiming for David’s house in Mongai uh just north side of Glasgow. And that’s it. A wet end to a fantastic ride from Invenesse uh down to Glasgow with London Allen. Uh David the Gentle Giant and Brad the Lad. Absolutely fantastic uh having you along with me on the ride. Ciao for now. [Music] I’ve just got one thing I’ve got to do. [Music] It’s no different.