Scotland : The Highlands bealach na ba & B&B

[Louch]

been discussed many times since I have joined here, and taking inspiration from the successful tour that has recently taken place, I am taking it upon myself to start pulling ideas together.

my initial thoughts are....

• Late April to avoid Snow and Midges
• arrive the Friday, cycle the saturday, stay the Saturday night for some social time/ recovery
• Travel home the Sunday

given the poor transport north, suggest car pooling from central belt northwards , with sharing of costs for fuel

This is a very hard route, its the highest road in Scotland and looks very technical, do not confuse it with the usual CC Ecosse rides as being gentle. I highly expect to be massively dropped on the climb.

Once I have an idea of numbers I will look at accommodation costs

anyone in?

 

[Donger]

been discussed many times since I have joined here, and taking inspiration from the successful tour that has recently taken place, I am taking it upon myself to start pulling ideas together.

my initial thoughts are....

• Late April to avoid Snow and Midges
• arrive the Friday, cycle the saturday, stay the Saturday night for some social time/ recovery
• Travel home the Sunday

given the poor transport north, suggest car pooling from central belt northwards , with sharing of costs for fuel

This is a very hard route, its the highest road in Scotland and looks very technical, do not confuse it with the usual CC Ecosse rides as being gentle. I highly expect to be massively dropped on the climb.

Once I have an idea of numbers I will look at accommodation costs

anyone in?

Good luck to you. I hope you get something going. I live much too far away to join in, but I'd have been sorely tempted otherwise. I'm aiming to get up Bealach na ba myself while on holiday in Inverinate in a few weeks time. I tell myself that if you can get up that, you can get up anything. Even if I don't make it to the top, I know it will be a great ride with fantastic views. (Aim for the stars and you might reach the moon). By the way, I've ridden around there a few times before - always in September, and have never had a problem with midges.

 

[ShooglyDougie]

Mibby, and what's wrong with a tent ya big Jessie.

 

[Louch]

With the amount of time my ass will be seated in car and saddle I want a comfy bed!

 

[Rasmus]

I live much too far away to join in, but I'd have been sorely tempted otherwise.

The scotrail sleeper goes to Inverness, you know. Just sayin'...

 

[Louch]

The scotrail sleeper goes to Inverness, you know. Just sayin'...

Your ass better be on it!

 

[ColinJ]

Surely there could still be snow up there at the end of April?

A mate did a little bike tour up there and loved the loop over Bealach na Ba and through Applecross.

 

[Edwardoka]

Yeah, April too far away/early in the year. How about next month?

 

[ColinJ]

There were a lot of sub-zero temperatures up there in April 2013 - LINK!

2011 was a lot better though.

 

[edindave]

Surely there could still be snow up there at the end of April?

A mate did a little bike tour up there and loved the loop over Bealach na Ba and through Applecross.

Last year the Lecht road was closed at the end of May - 2 days before the Snow Roads Audax. 2 days later it was 27 deg C on the climb.

 

[Col5632]

Sounds like a great idea, I'm up for it if im allowed

 

[ColinJ]

A mate has just got back from up there. He managed to time his visit to avoid all that lovely sunshine and instead encountered torrential rain on the mainland, day after day! He ended up on Skye, where the weather seemed to be slightly better, and had a great time there.

 

[Sunny Portrush]

There`s a sportive on April 18th organised by locals - weather better be good as i`m going!

 

[ColinJ]

There`s a sportive on April 18th organised by locals - weather better be good as i`m going!

I just watched Winter Road Rescue which featured the crews out clearing snow from Bealach na Ba - that is some climb!

LINK TO SHOW (available until 17th April 2015).

 

[Sunny Portrush]

I just watched Winter Road Rescue which featured the crews out clearing snow from Bealach na Ba - that is some climb!

LINK TO SHOW (available until 17th April 2015).

I know the area well as the Shieldaig used to be a field station in a previous job - never saw the Bealach like that before, we were only there in the summer time lol