Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) => Topic started by: Matt2matt2002 on May 14, 2021, 09:43:36 am
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Of interest to some, perhaps?
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1dduq2P2HmEnPLje_j8RXWFDNbVYkZqJJ&ll=57.46382535290093%2C-6.264180000000015&z=7
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Interesting but somewhat far from home for me.
And, roughly on-topic, Sustrans currently has a regional map sale, many of which are for Scotland https://shop.sustrans.org.uk/map-sale.
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Bit short on detail Matt, what is that? A new Sustrans Route? Another Tourist Board promotion? Someone's random holiday plans?
There's already a recognised Hebrides E2E, Hebridean Way, though the nature of the islands means to see the best there's a lot of out and back riding to do. I'm glad the above includes a trip out to Bahltos, one of my favourite roads of all time and some stunning beaches. There's some odd out and back legs on the mainland though, A87 and A830, I've ridden both to get somewhere, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so again.
Having sent me down memory lane (Flipping heck it was over ten years ago) here's a couple of photos, the first two are on that route, but nothing Scotland has to offer IMO beats the beauty of Iona which isn't.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51181591295_eac495a1d0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYK2Xe)5 Shelter (https://flic.kr/p/2kYK2Xe) by Paul (https://www.flickr.com/photos/phbike/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51179815272_00bf8f1863_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYzW19)12 and more sand (https://flic.kr/p/2kYzW19) by Paul (https://www.flickr.com/photos/phbike/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5303/5592712391_3bfdf73c22_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/9wd7xH)Deserted Beech on Iona (https://flic.kr/p/9wd7xH) by Paul (https://www.flickr.com/photos/phbike/), on Flickr
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What's new about it?
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It was new to me.
And I thought it might have been of interest to some other folk here.
Back in your box, Matt.
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It was new to me.
And I thought it might have been of interest to some other folk here.
Back in your box, Matt.
;D ;D ;D ;D
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And I thought it might have been of interest to some other folk here.
It's of interest to me.
I'm just asking what it is, so far it's just a line on a map.
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And I thought it might have been of interest to some other folk here.
It's of interest to me.
I'm just asking what it is, so far it's just a line on a map.
Sorry. Crossed wires. It popped up on another cycle forum last week.
Perhaps CTC.
The OP said it was an alternative ( and perhaps less busy ) to the N500. I didn't get the impression it's official with a Council stamp of approval. Yet 😉.
Apologies for lack of further details. I'll make sure I have complete info when I next post.
I've done around half of it at different times.
Living in Aberdeenshire, I'm half way there!
Best
Matt
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Let's hope they don't ruin it the way they did with the road around the north coast by creating the North Coast 500 then.
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Let's hope they don't ruin it the way they did with the road around the north coast by creating the North Coast 500 then.
If I'm not mistaken, a fair chunk of that is the NC500, joined up with the Hebridean Way and possibly some of the NCN78.
I think I've ridden most of it at one time or another, but I haven't seen anything to suggest it intended to be a recognised route.
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Let's hope they don't ruin it the way they did with the road around the north coast by creating the North Coast 500 then.
Agreed. As soon as a name is linked to a route it's flooded.
A month or so ago, I saw one within the N500. Circular and tagged N250.
Yes, a lovely area, the islands. I hope to be back in a month or so, bike packing on my Raven with a tent and midge net.
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If I'm not mistaken, a fair chunk of that is the NC500, joined up with the Hebridean Way and possibly some of the NCN78.
Only the section from Ullapool to Lochcarron is part of the NC500
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If I'm not mistaken, a fair chunk of that is the NC500, joined up with the Hebridean Way and possibly some of the NCN78.
Only the section from Ullapool to Lochcarron is part of the NC500
Quite correct.
Here's a link to a trip I managed last year covering a short section of the N500.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1mr&page_id=606097&v=50
Although only 10 months ago, it feels three times as long due to our err.... eventful times.
Best
Matt
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If I'm not mistaken, a fair chunk of that is the NC500, joined up with the Hebridean Way and possibly some of the NCN78.
Only the section from Ullapool to Lochcarron is part of the NC500
Is that not a "fair chunk"? It certainly felt that way when I rode it ;)
I'm going to bow out of this thread now, if this is a new route I'll look out for the guide book and publicity, those might explain some of the oddities on it.
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Lochcarron to Ullapool 68 miles.
I guess a 'fair chunk' is subjective.
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A beautiful part of the world. I say that from the tropical misery of Far North Queensland. The cooler air of my old stomping grounds hold considerable appeal when it’s hitting 30C+ here and the humidity is high.
Thanks for the share Matt. Sparked my muse and put another ‘must do’ on the bucket list.
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Lochcarron to Ullapool 68 miles.
I guess a 'fair chunk' is subjective.
It's a wee bit more than 68 miles if you take the coastal route via Gairloch and Torridon.
Incidentally that part of the route which is on the A832 is known as the Destitution Road. By the 1840s the highland population had become dependant on the potato as a staple of their diet and just as in Ireland successive crop failures due to potato blight led to widespread famine. Various relief rations were available mostly in return for labour. Around 1848 the government introduced the so called “destitution test” whereby men had to work for a minimum eight hours a day, six days a week, in return for their meagre oatmeal rations. They were employed on various public works including road building.
The road between Braemore and Gairloch is one of the most well known of the destitution roads and is well worth doing. I cycled it some years ago as part of a tour of the Hebrides and west coast of Scotland, very similar to Matt's route. It begins by climbing the Corrieshalloch Gorge before crossing remote moorland surrounded by distant peaks and descending through woodland to the shores of Little Loch Broome. It then mostly follows the coast, including Gruinard Bay and the offshore Gruinard Island, location of the infamous WW2 anthrax experiments.
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Thanks B cereus.
Always good to learn more about the history of this area.
Before my time (😉) but in many ways, so recent.
The social injustices of the era make me weep.