Highland Cross Training Week -4

Nicky (my wife) and I had a week in Scotland walking - and left our 'grown up' kids in charge of the house (parties). We flew to Glasgow on the Sunday, hired a car and stayed in Inverary, Glencoe, Ullapool and Golspie before returning home via Inverness airport on the Saturday. It was a great break, although pretty wet at the start of the week. It also gave my knees a rest, and the good news is I've tested them with a 22 mile ride yesterday and a 30 mile ride today and they seem ok. (There's no bad news!). We covered some of the LEJOG route from Inverary (pictured left) to Invergarry (nr Fort William), then crossed the route at Bonar Bridge. Apart from a couple of long hills north of Inverary and Fort William the route is fairly flat following coasts and lochs. We stayed at Inverary, one of the LEJOG stops and can recommend the pub and beer called "Honey Bunny".

I talked to 4 lads in their 20s on their 4th day of JOGLE north of Oban (Loch Linnhe pictured right), who were doing the trip unsupported on heavily laden hybrid bikes (some with front suspension). They were taking 12 days plus a break mid-way to climb the 3 Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales!


After staying in quite a posh hotel in Glencoe (near where a canoeist girl was drowned in floods sadly), we travelled up through Torridon and Ben Eighe and stayed 2 nights in Ullapool and climbed Stac Pollaidh in warm sunshine - like we did about 25 years ago! The views from the top and Sutherland in general were amazing (left) .



Finally we drove over to the East coast to Nicky's cousin's place between Brora and Golspie and did some nice walks on beaches, saw some seals and generally had a good time with Nick, Jan and their 5 kids. The picture right is Dornoch beach. It's an unspoilt part of Scotland - at least in the Easter hols.... before the tourists and midges pay their summer visits.

This week's diary:

• Mon - Inverary to Glencoe (stopped at Oban, cafe and Rannoch Moor)
  
• Tues - Glencoe to Ullapool via Glen Torridon and Ben Eighe
  
• Wed - Climbed Stac Pollaidh and visited beach


• Thurs - Ullapool to Brora via Dornoch - woodland walk plus long walk at Brora


• Fri - Climbed Ben Bhraggie drove to Helmsdale


• Sat - Flew home from Inverness. Cycled 22 miles in afternoon.


• Sun - Cycled 30 miles
  
  

Total cycled 52 miles. Weight 11st 7 lb