I had been reading about the Caledonian Way for a while. A section of the NCN 78 from Oban to Inverness following the Great Glen across a mixture of cycle track, forest roads and canal tow path.
This in mind when my mate Tony asked for a suggestion for this years summer trip this is what I suggested.....with a twist. We cycle to Oban as well from Ayrshire.We stayed in Youth Hostels all the way there and appeared (at 37) to be the most youthful in every one.
Day 1 we were dropped off at the ferry terminal at Ardrossan for the hop over to Arran to start our cycle in Brodick. I wanted to start from home but given Tony hasn't done much cycling this year owing to a house move and new child I though asking him to push a 110 mile day was a bit much.
We cycled of from Brodick and headed north over the Bouglie to Lochranza and then back to mainland with the mini ferry to Cloinag.
The route from there on to Oban was a mixture of many short but sharp climbs with the odd shower thrown in (and a stop for macaroni in Lochgilphead). For what was to prove the rest of our journey over the 3 days we were helped along by a nice tailwind so the showeres were deemed acceptable under the circumstances.
Day 2 - Oban to Glen Nevis
Day 2 took us on cycle track for the vast majority of the day from Oban to the Corran ferry. It was nice to be off the main road but this part of the journey wasnt the most exciting. Maybe it was the cloudy, drizzily day but the scenery wasnt as inspiring as the Highlands can be.
Once at Corran we took the very short ferry journey over Loch Linnhe to avoid the A82. We continued west to what we hoped would be the passenger ferry back over and into Fort William. When we got there however the ferry wasnt due for another 2 hours. Faced with waiting in the middle of nowhere for 2 hours or cycle round the top of the loch to Fort William for 2 hours we chose the latter........and got heavily heavily rained on meaning we arrived at Geln Nevis youth hostel soaking and miserable. This was fixed with hot shower and a burger from the local inn (full of fellwo wet hikers and campers).
Day 3 Glen Nevis - Inverness
Day 3 provided us with a great tailwind and a sunny weather window which followed us all the way to Inverness.
We started by climbing and cycling along the towpath from Fort William at Neptunes staircase on the Caledonian Canal. When it reached Loch Lochy we then had to follow a forest track road round its edge (although still part of the NCN 78) which was rough and had a few challenging climbs.
At its end the relief of smooth tarmac was palpable although we shortly rejoined the canal path along the banks of Loich Oich and then onwards alongside the canal again to Fort Augustus where we rewarded ourselves with coffee and macaroni pies.
The fuel was going to be needed shortly. We headed out onto the road which leaves the A82 and goes south of Loch Ness into Inverness. The climb which started this road was the hardest thing I have done on a bike. It was steep, long and with laden panniers was hard hard work.
An hour later at then top we were rewarded with no scenery at all as we were actually in the clouds however the reward did come with the decent back to the loch side.
We followed the singletrack road all the way into the suburbs of Inverness and worked our way to the hostel, the nicest of the trip and a well deserved rest.
Day 4 - Inverness - Home
Day 4 we caught the train home to Glasgow central. It was pleasant to sit in a soft seat for a few hours and read some magazines.
Upon arrival in Central station Tony and I parted company. He opted for a lift home in the car and I opted to cycle from Glasgow back home to Darvel.
I loved every bit of this journey, wind, rain, hills and all but it's always nice to come home especially when youve racked up 400km in the legs over 4 days.
