I … 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. ), Inspiring cyclists: Cycling the North Coast 500 with Parkinson’s. The North Coast 500 or NC500 was created in 2015 by North Highland Initiative in an effort to develop sustainable economic growth across the North Highlands. On the contrary, I reassured them, I wasn’t speeding anywhere, having already pedalled for 24 hours. It took a few sleeps to feel recovered, and even longer before I could look at my bike again! I would strongly advise planning your own ride around Scotland’s beautiful north coast, but take a week and enjoy the views and hospitality. I guessed wrongly that I would turn east on flatter roads. I actually enjoyed the 2000-foot climb up Bealach na Bà as although crazy steep near the top, the views offered much distraction from the pain. Conditions: Be prepared for all weather conditions and four seasons in a day. 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. Day 6: Tongue to Inverness. You might think that America’s Route 66 has existed for generations. Never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland's finest coastal scenery are just a few things you can expect along the North Coast 500.Strap yourself in for the road trip of a lifetime. Make the most of your run or ride with Strava Routes. BRUTAL. The North East 250 explores everything for which Scotland is famous in a unique Scottish road trip taking you through the whisky distilleries of Speyside, the spectacular mountain passes of the Cairngorms National Park, the famous castles of Royal Deeside, the Granite City of Aberdeen, the rugged North Sea coastline to the east, and the picturesque seaside villages of the Moray Firth Coast. 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. All Rights Reserved, Our site uses cookies. "Spare a thought for me," said Alex with a smile, as we reached the Kinlochewe T-junction in the now pouring rain. Most B&Bs don’t serve breakfast until 8:00 am, making it tough to get an early start even though the sun comes up well before 5:00 am this time of year. After 37 hours 58 minutes, I climbed for the final time to Inverness Castle, with a police escort, to a welcome by the Lord Provost and a good crowd. The mixture of Celtic and Viking heritage is evident in the mountains that I pedalled past, with names like Ben Loyal, Ben Hope, Stac Pollaidh and Suilven. This slightly alternative North Coast 500 was made in collaboration with the people behind the official driving route, to make an official NC500 Cycle Route. And a beautiful route at that. What I hadn’t accounted for was the scale of public support. Best ridden in June or July to make the most of the long daylight hours. A tractor there created a five-vehicle rush-hour queue as I stopped briefly to stock up for the night shift. Getting to Inverness with a bike is easiest by train. Cycling the NC500 _____ There are several superb routes throughout the main NC500 route to explore and discover.. In every village, and in spite of the weather, locals and tourists alike lined the roadside, cheering me through. The NC500 has ever-changing scenery, and whilst the road down the east coast is bigger and relatively busier, it has its own beauty. Within a mile, we all took a wrong turn. In fact, the route remains hilly until Thurso. 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. Strava athletes know the best places to ride and run, and with 50 million of you in total, that's a whole lot of routes – not just the world's must-do roads and trails, but also the easiest ways to get around town and the most bang-for-the-buck workouts from almost anywhere. 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. This detailed day-by-day 1 week North Coast 500 road trip itinerary covers all the basic details (mileage, general route) and sightseeing highlights along the approximately 500 mile route. Alas, just as a marathon is a lot more than twice as hard as a half marathon, riding 500 miles non-stop is many times tougher than ten 50-mile rides! We will be following the official NC500 route as far as Melvich but for a number of safety reasons have chosen not to continue with the official route past this point as it takes us on the very busy A9 dual carriageway. I chose early May for a few reasons — the heavy tourist season was yet to start and supposedly May offers one of the more stable weather months in Scotland. Our Community About Strava Community Standards Careers Pros on Strava Follow Blog Facebook Instagram I was 15. Up there, we were removed from all the tourists of Edinburgh (though tourism is growing fast) and golfers headed to St Andrews. Video from bikepacking the North Coast 500 in Scotland last week. Its name, meaning Southern Land, is a tad confusing. As the hours passed, these windows also went dark and I was left with only the pool of my own headlight. Copyright ©2019, TheGearCaster. Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery in the far north of Scotland, the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. It’s simply magical. Back in the daylight and dry, with the tough stretch behind me, I drifted into the mental doldrums. I’ll have more details about all our gear in my post tomorrow, but in general, we could have gotten away with a lot less than we brought. I stopped and chatted to the first few well-wishers, but soon realised this level of sociability could seriously slow progress. A mighty 500 miles in just 3 days all around the coast of Scotland, with Mark Beaumont, the Round The World by bike World Record Holder? British Airways flies into Inverness Airport. Regardless, scrutinize the necessity of absolutely everything in your bike bags. Why did you decide to tackle Scotland's NC500 cycle route? North Coast 500. The north feels like a place still waiting to be discovered, which makes for the perfect bike adventure. And I was soon feeling optimistic – the first 50 miles passed quickly as I started through relatively flat farmland and then alongside the first lochs and forests as I reached the rugged west coast. We’ve put together this comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. Meet like-minded cyclists before you make your way along the North Coast 500! One of the benefits of riding clockwise, however, is that you get the major climbing over with during the first few days when your legs are relatively fresh. 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. Sutherland has 2.2 people per km2, making the Lake District look like a hive of activity with 18.4 and London looking unfathomably packed with over 1,500 people per km2. Cycling Quimby Road; Climbing Quimby Road; Climbing Quimby Road by bike; Biking Quimby Road; Riding Quimby Road. Twenty-seven years later, the North Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route around Scotland’s … The NC500 is first and foremost a driving route, evidenced by the abundance of Porsche, Land Rover, motorcycle, and camper van packs that passed us on a daily basis. Hong Kong Cycling Routes ... From Strava: Head over the infamous 'Beast' pass for a roller coaster ride of constant ascending and descending, visiting a giant buddha, a stilted fishing village stuck in time, and the odd water buffalo or two! The trail passes castle ruins, endless beaches, mountain ranges and natural wonders like the 'Smoo Cave', a mystical limestone sea cave, which displays a spectacular cascading waterfall in wet weather. The 7 Day “Tourer” challenge is suitable for sportive riders who want to challenge themselves over a 7 day cycling touring adventure around the stunning North Coast 500 route. I was riding the same bike that I pedalled from Cairo to Cape Town earlier in the year, chosen ahead of my road bikes for its more comfortable geometry. I had gone to bed at 8pm, needing every ounce of rest. Strava Cycling Route NC500 Strava Routes. Not ideal. ‘GO MARK’ read the homemade signs. But the endless rollercoaster of egregiously steep hills that follow — thousands upon thousands of feet worth. Back in the zone, with high spirits, it was unexpected and annoying to get a front puncture. 92.35 miles - 4196 ft - 4120 cal. This is the most favoured direction as the prevailing winds in the region are south-westerly. Looking at the map of the far north of the country, it’s curiously empty, with just a few roads and a series of small villages. 843.17km. If you are camping, this is much easier. Reaching Durness, Scotland’s northwest corner, was a huge and long-awaited relief. It was a lovely moment to return 17 years later. I turned left, alone again, and climbed steadily up and over to Gairloch. 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. They're community curated and backed by Strava activity data to help you choose the right roads and paths. registered in England no: 25185. You can go in real style, for example £400 a night at the Torridon Hotel, or go a budget and camp. But I reminded him straight away that today was not for any Strava KOMs, as I would still be on my bike the following evening. Plus, springtime in Scotland is arguably one of the most beautiful times to be there, with blankets of yellow flowering gorse that fill the crisp, clean air with the scent of vanilla and almond, and the cuckoo bird whose call punctuates the bleating of the hundreds of lambs running around the fields or pestering their mothers for milk. The North Coast 500 route has been ‘created’ and marketed in the hope it too becomes a pilgrimage. Earlier this month, Terry and I packed up our bikes and bikepacking gear and headed to northern Scotland. I’m glad I had: A GPS tracker so people could see my progress on social media and come out to join me for sections. Another monster blog post, so make yourselves a nice cup of tea and strap yourselves in.. The light faded long before sunset due to the heavy skies. The Applecross Peninsula remains constantly undulating, often steep and twisting, and for a few hours we were spoilt with sunshine and views around to the sleepy village of Shieldaig. I barely stopped, although the Berrydale climb and subsequent gorges reduced me to a walking pace, climbing out of the saddle. I had never attempted 500 miles non-stop. "I have 40 miles back to my car!". There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and shops along the route to restock or even eat all your meals out — just takes a bit of planning. All downhill now, right? Moreover, their conversations were a very welcome break from my own thoughts. 11,644m. A local postman and his teacher wife joined me for about 20 miles, cheerily storytelling about the area and explaining how, as a couple from the Midlands, they ended up falling in love with and moving to these remote parts. 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 … The roads around Scotland’s North Highland coast are older still. Starting your NC500 adventure: Rather than take the main NC500 driving route – you may wish to take the head to Contin via the Sustrans National Cycle Route (more info here) North Coast 500 Cycle Route Strava Routes. The North Coast 500, often described as Scotland’s Route 66, take in some of Scotland’s most impressive wild places, from the mountains and lochs of Wester Ross … Elevation Gain. Then I stared at the ceiling until 1am, terrified. The entire coastal route around Sutherland and Caithness is scattered with evidence of yesteryear, now mainly vast Highland estates. North Coast 500 from North Coast 500 on Vimeo. Ride Type. This part of Britain was irreversibly changed after the failed Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and the ensuing Highland Clearances. ... Day 5 Strava route part 1 and part 2. However, in the spring, the area usually experiences northerly or easterly winds so use the weather forecasts to help you choose the direction of your trip. Staring at the road under my front wheel, hurting deeply, I was unable to think about the 200 miles that still remained. Check out the North Coast 500 website for tons of information on the route, what to see and do, as well as accommodation. It is worth looking ahead and booking accommodation along the route, especially during peak holiday season, as there are some big gaps by bike if you turn up somewhere and there are no vacancies! I was deeply grateful, but aware that my conversation was scarce. Men and women who embark on this epic journey will encounter towering redwood trees, quiet roads, switchback climbs, the tranquil coast, and the opportunity to stop at excellent coffee shops and eateries along the way. 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. Most Scots and visitors alike are guilty of exploring only as far north as Inverness, if they escape the bright lights of Edinburgh and Glasgow at all. The vast open landscape, also known as the flow country, is rich in archaeological remnants of a bygone age. Further info: The North Coast 500 website. Alex and I chatted our way to the top, swapping recent adventures as the drone buzzed noisily overhead, capturing my favourite climb in Scotland. View Our NC500 Cycling Tours. Bike used: Koga Durano with Dura Ace Di2, hydraulic disc brakes, Pro tri-bars. Fully supported with experienced ride guide and support car - come join us on our next NC500 Cycling Challenge. My every thought was on the road ahead, counting down the miles to Inverness. It was not a promising start. Make the most of your run or ride with Strava Routes. For a shorter route, descend via Page Mill Road or Kings Mountain Road instead. There's nothing quite like the freedom of the long open road. The North Scotland 500 is a cycle friendly route that closely follows Scotland's famous North Coast 500, starting from Inverness. Your plan may have to change to fit in with available accomodation if you don’t book early — we ended up having to do hours of extra miles on the bike some days just to reach a place that had an open bed. Scotland’s west coast is anything but steady terrain; my average speed was falling as quickly as my sense of humour. Mark Beaumont's North Coast 500. A week would be better. However, by the village of Tongue, dawn had at least brought a break in the weather. I’m not just saying that to give my record a chance of surviving, as I am sure it won’t take long before someone else has a crack! The Highway 92 descent can have a lot of traffic, but a skilled rider can usually keep up. Don’t be afraid to veer from the official route when planning your tour, even taking advice from locals on the day. By Henry M. Created on February 9, 2015. Road. Eager to free myself from them, I rushed the repair and sped on triumphantly. Local endurance hard man Alex Glasgow holds the course record for the infamous Applecross Sportive (Bealach Mor) and was the first winner of the legendary Celtman triathlon. The drone wouldn’t fly for long as the weather started rolling in from the Atlantic. This route has been recently branded the “North Coast 500” and has been a … 6am, Monday 10 August, Inverness Castle: I chatted nervously to the local press, who had fallen out of bed early to witness the start of this madness. Those who cycle the North Coast 500 route are light travellers. The seafood along this route is worth pedalling many miles for; my personal favourite is a pint of langoustine at the Applecross Inn.