Solo 23-Day Bike Tour: Essex to Golspie, Scotland – Heavy Bike, Fasting, and Keto Lessons

Including the Hummingbird Hawk Moth.

Solo bike tour from Grays, Essex to Golspie, Scotland over 23 days (Aug 22 – Sep 13, one rain rest day). Heavy adapted racing bike (~46kg loaded), mixed roads/off-road, big hills in Peak District/Lake District/Highlands. Intermittent fasting all trip, tried keto but slipped on carbs/alcohol – learned a lot about energy, recovery & metabolic health. Highlights: Lake Windermere, Arthur's Seat, Forth Bridge, deer in heather fields. Full write-up with photos here: https://www.bookshelving.co.uk/A1-Health/my-bike-trip-to-golspie.html

Quick Overview

• Distance/Duration: Not total km listed, but long days (up to ~70 miles on good ones from past trips); 23 riding days.
• Style: Solo, mostly camping (campsites + some wild), hostels/B&Bs occasionally. Pannier touring on "Bob" (racing bike with drilled forks for bags).
• Route Highlights: Grays → Cambridge → Nottingham → Peak District → Manchester/Blackpool → Lake District (Windermere/Ambleside) → Carlisle → Moffat → Edinburgh (Arthur's Seat climb) → Forth Road Bridge → Pitlochry → Highlands → Golspie. Then train/taxi from Inverness.
• Terrain: Quiet roads, steep climbs (pushing uphill often), some off-road paths, downhills for relief. Rain/flooding forced a rest day in Perth.

Daily Vibes & Standouts (condensed from the write-up)

• Early days: Flatter to Cambridge/Nottingham, wildlife (hawk moth!), puncture drama.
• Peak District: Brutal hills, basic campsites, kind stranger (Father Michael) hospitality.
• Blackpool detour: Ferry crossing + "Cycle the Lights" event – fun break.
• Lake District: Stunning views from Ambleside, YHA stay, boat on Windermere.
• Scotland entry: Long climbs, Grey Mare's Tail reserve, rainy Edinburgh (Chinese meal aftermath), epic Forth Bridge crossing.
• Highlands finale: Heather, bridges, deer sightings – magical but tough on tired legs.

Gear & Setup

• Bike: Racing frame adapted for panniers, super responsive but wobbly at speed with load.
• Essentials: Garmin 530 (steep routes galore), solar panel charger, tent, supplements (BCAAs, creatine, vitamins for recovery).
• Cleats: Great for pedaling, nightmare for pushing bike uphill!

Health/Fasting Angle (big theme of the trip)
Rode while intermittent fasting, aimed for keto but carbs/alcohol crept in → energy slumps, leg aches (fixed with supps), blurry eyesight after MSG takeaway. Alcohol blocked fat/glycogen use – big lesson on metabolic flexibility. No major illness, though ticks in tent & weather woes. Proved resilience beats perfect prep!

Challenges & Lessons

• Heavy bike + poor training (only 6 rides, some hungover) = lots of pushing/wobbling.
• Rain, flooding, thunder – Scotland delivered!
• Takeaways: Strict keto/fasting = better endurance; avoid alcohol/additives for real health gains; kind people make it worthwhile.

Would love to hear your Scotland touring tips – best wild camp spots? Midges survival? NC500 thoughts? Or experiences mixing fasting/keto with long rides? Ask me anything about the route, gear tweaks, or health side!

Full story + daily photos: https://www.bookshelving.co.uk/A1-Health/my-bike-trip-to-golspie.html

🚴‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿#bicycletouring #cycletour #scotland #solotour #tripreport #fasting #ketotouring