Forgive my complete ignorance of this route, as I only had the thought of doing it last night. I'm thinking of doing it in March/April, but, I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to be walking or MTBing it. If the missus wants to come I will most certainly be walking. I was up in Loch Lomond canoeing recently and also walked up Ben Lomond which is a particularly easy route; what can I expect for the rest of the route?
How long can I expect it to take at a steady pace (walking or cycling)?
My missus won't be up for roughing it either (I haven't persuaded her as yet), so are there many opportunities for decent accommodation on route?
Also, has anyone cycled it and what are your experiences of it?
I've biked it a couple of times. The worst section is going along the side of Loch Lomond north of Inversnaid as it ends up being a bit of a carry for a while. The rest is pretty much all rideable apart from ascending the Devil's Staircase and going up from Kinlochleven. It's a really good ride.
How long it takes depends on what you call a steady pace. I rode it fairly steadily and it took 12.5 hours.
On a related theme, does anyone know if the West Highland Way-Great Glen Way link up has been ridden in a day? Thinking of having a crack at this next year.
Thanks Dave. I won't be rushing it as I am doing a field study for a degree course, that's what gave me the idea/excuse to get up there. If I bike it I will do it over four or five days, both ways i.e. north-south and back again.
There and back would be good. I've only done it south to north, before getting pished and dossing in the woods next to Fort William and taking the train back. Riding back would be a lot better, although you'd have the grim section along Loch Lomond near the end of the ride. When you do your ride, it's a good idea to start fairly early, otherwise you'll find the trail mobbed with German walkers!
One of the times I rode it, I started from central Glasgow and received loads of encouragement from boozy revellers still on the lash from the night before! Later on along Loch Lomond, I passed a small beach with a few tents. There was about six lads comatose around a still smouldering fire, surrounded by a heap of empty Tennents tins and Buckfast bottles. Oh how jealous I was!
These sleepy boozers were a good bit north of Rowardennan, so had a reasonable walk to get to their beach. I know what you mean about the merry revelry around the south of the Loch. I was once there for a piss-up and crawled out of the tent about 9am. There was a couple of families next to us with young kids happily splashing in the loch, while all four of the parents were still drinking Tennents having not yet gone to bed from the night before. I kid you not, one of the fellas greeted me with, 'fancy a can big man?' Now much as I like to take a drink, I was still buckled from the night before, and the last thing I fancied was another peeve after just waking up. You've got to admire their commitment to the rock n' roll lifestyle! Nobody lives the dream like the Weegies!
Why do Outdoor magic folk think you're crazy for wanting to ride the WHW?
I can only guess that the OM folk have either not walked the WHW themselves, or think that everyone still rides penny farthings. As you'll maybe know, loads of the route is based on former drove roads, ie, for walking herds of cattle. This means that much of the way is on land drover type tracks, so is easy pedalling. There are a few footpath type trails, but again these are fine to ride. Only a few push/carries that I mentioned before.
DK, lots of gates from Strathblane to Croftamie but then it gets better. And like Dave said, it should a cracking ride specially in April time. Not sure what you will do those 4 days though . If you want you can easily add couple of ecxtra loops on a way. Plenty to do in the area.
Dave, WHW in 12,5 hours? then you should have no issue doing Great Glen Way and WHW in a day. I would do it from Inverness to Fort Bill and then continue back to Glasgow. The ride has no technical sections and lot's of it is on a forest road or tow path. Specially the last bit.
PS, I didn't think there was any technical sections on the Great Glen Way, so nice to have it confirmed. I was planning on doing it Glasgow to Inverness, so that after the Fort, it would just be a case of head down and burl. Going the other way I'd have technical stuff later on in the ride which would be harder for the head and the legs. However, as I live in Milngavie, it would have the advantage of having a bed to fall into.
PS - No, I don't ride with the Glasgow MTB club. I'm going out for a ride tonight though. Do you ride with them? I take it you mean the club that meet in the church hall in Milngavie?
yes, that's the one. Tue, Wed and Sun rides. I live in Anniesland area so Mugdock is normally where I ride in the evenings. Most likely seen you out before....
I sometimes see the Glasgow crew when I'm out riding, so I'll look out for you. I also rode with them a few times about 5 years ago, but never got round to joining. I seem to remember the rider in chief was called Sanny or something like that?
. If you want you can easily add couple of ecxtra loops on a way. Plenty to do in the area.
