2025 Etapes - Loch Ness (April) & Caledonia (May)

[G-Zero]

Anyone else signed up for these two events ?

At 66 miles the Loch Ness ride in April should be a nice training milestone towards the 85 mile Caledonia ride in May. I’ve not done either, but looking forward to them and praying for some decent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 weather…. at least enough to see the views

 

[YMFB]

I’m signed up for Loch Ness, it’s a two day drive each way so I’m hoping for unseasonally good weather

 

[G-Zero]

I’m signed up for Loch Ness, it’s a two day drive each way so I’m hoping for unseasonally good weather

I’m a lot closer than that, but still hoping with you. I’m staying on a campsite 5 miles from the start, so will be riding a bit further on the day.

 

[VinSumRox]

I'll be there , done the Etape Caledonia a few times but not the Loch Ness, will be going up day before in the van and find somewhere to stay over.

 

[VinSumRox]

I’m a lot closer than that, but still hoping with you. I’m staying on a campsite 5 miles from the start, so will be riding a bit further on the day.

Which campsite are you using?

 

[G-Zero]

Which campsite are you using?

Sorry, just seen this……. Ardtower Campsite

 

[VinSumRox]

Well that's my last ride done until Sunday. Typically the forecast for Sunday morning in Inverness has now changed to include rain!

 

[Moodyman]

I hope you’ve been doing your hill training boys and girls. The climb out of Fort Augustus (to Glendoe) is a fecker.

I rode this yesterday as part of my Caledonia Way tour and it broke me. Granted, I had 240 miles in my legs and was camping, but still.

It’s effectively 3 climbs of >1 mile each. This was the view from about 70% of the first section, looking towards Fort Augustus.

This is the downhill from the top of Glendoe at the other side. Fast and straight, but beware of crosswinds.

 

[YMFB]

Well that's my last ride done until Sunday. Typically the forecast for Sunday morning in Inverness has now changed to include rain!

I left my bike at work yesterday so need to ride it back tomorrow then it’s resting until Saturday when I might just ride round the block. Our journey starts tomorrow afternoon when we drive to the Midlands, Friday we will drive to somewhere north of Edinburgh, leaving a shorter drive on Saturday.

 

[VinSumRox]

I left my bike at work yesterday so need to ride it back tomorrow then it’s resting until Saturday when I might just ride round the block. Our journey starts tomorrow afternoon when we drive to the Midland, Friday we will drive to somewhere north of Edinburg, leaving a shorter drive on Saturday.

I'm only going from the Borders haven't decided whether to drive up Friday evening or Saturday morning, might just split it...

 

[oxoman]

Good luck with etape loch ness folks. Yes it's lumpy on the return via Augustus, just take it steady it's got a few false summits. The first bit is fast so be careful on the bends , I've seen a few come croppers and get badly hurt. Nothing like hooking around a bend at 30mph and being confronted by a few on the deck and loads of others trying to get you to go left. I used to use a local premier inn or similar then travel back to the midlands over several days taking in various mtb trail centres, having taken my mtb as well. It's a nice ride and the last few miles are easy on your legs.

 

[rivers]

You'll know when you're close to the top of the climb- you can hear the bagpipes

 

[matticus]

Am I the last person on earth to notice the streetview icon used over Loch Ness??

 

[VinSumRox]

Am I the last person on earth to notice the streetview icon used over Loch Ness??

Am I the last person on earth to notice the streetview icon used over Loch Ness??

Yes

 

[YMFB]

Having set off from Wiltshire yesterday, stayed with friends in the Midlands last night and having driven most of today we only have a couple of hours left to get to Inverness in the morning. I might try and get a quick cycle in tomorrow.