Scottish Highlands & the A9

[Stig-OT-Dump]

From the off, I just want to state that I have cycled NCN 7 from Carlisle to Balloch, and Logierait to Inverness; I've ridden from Evanton to Tain along NCN 1 and along the B9176 (one of the most beautiful roads I've ridden). From Logierait north, much of the route tracks - but avoids - the A9. I drive the A9 on a regular basis because of work, and am amazed at the amount of touring bikes I see.

Now don't get me wrong. I know these cyclists are entitle to be there, but I am staggered that someone would choose to cycle, laden with panniers, along the main arterial route from Perth to Wick / Thurso and all points in between when there are some beautiful, less travelled roads available.

The A9 has been referred to as the Highway of Death. It had more deaths over a 5 year period that any other road in Scotland, with at least 2 in the last week. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7354031.stm).

When I've been driving my van up and down the road, the change from 60+mph to less than 10mph has caused some hairy moments. When I've been on my bike, the journey along the old road / some of the back roads, has been beautiful, littered with deer, birds of prey, interesting fungus and all sorts - not the sort of stuff I'd have seen sticking to the trunk road.

So why do I seem to be the only one sticking to the backroads? OK, so some of the surfaces aren't toptastic, but if your wheels are rugged enough for paniers, they'd be good enough for those surfaces. Do people not take and read maps? Or do they prefer mixing it up with HGVs and speeding drivers?

 

[HJ]

From the off, I just want to state that I have cycled NCN 7 from Carlisle to Balloch, and Logierait to Inverness; I've ridden from Evanton to Tain along NCN 1 and along the B9176 (one of the most beautiful roads I've ridden). From Logierait north, much of the route tracks - but avoids - the A9. I drive the A9 on a regular basis because of work, and am amazed at the amount of touring bikes I see.

Now don't get me wrong. I know these cyclists are entitle to be there, but I am staggered that someone would choose to cycle, laden with panniers, along the main arterial route from Perth to Wick / Thurso and all points in between when there are some beautiful, less travelled roads available.

The A9 has been referred to as the Highway of Death. It had more deaths over a 5 year period that any other road in Scotland, with at least 2 in the last week. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7354031.stm).

When I've been driving my van up and down the road, the change from 60+mph to less than 10mph has caused some hairy moments. When I've been on my bike, the journey along the old road / some of the back roads, has been beautiful, littered with deer, birds of prey, interesting fungus and all sorts - not the sort of stuff I'd have seen sticking to the trunk road.

So why do I seem to be the only one sticking to the backroads? OK, so some of the surfaces aren't toptastic, but if your wheels are rugged enough for paniers, they'd be good enough for those surfaces. Do people not take and read maps? Or do they prefer mixing it up with HGVs and speeding drivers?

Aye, just use the old road, it mostly quite, but can be a bit of a rat run for the locals is there is an accident on the new road. I don't think a lot of the long distance tourers ken it's there though. The A9 it's self is in desperate need of average speed cameras, they did start to experiment with then but it has not been fully implemented.

 

[snorri]

Or do they prefer mixing it up with HGVs and speeding drivers?

Yes, I think they do, but I can't understand it. Perhaps the concept of silence and fresh air is alien, they need to hear the roar of motor traffic and smell the fumes to stay within their comfort zone.

There is a thread on the CTC forum referring to the suitability for cycling of the A9 between Inverness and Tain, some of the comments from people who have probably only cycled it once bear little relation to my own views of that road having used it many times.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=40816&start=15

Many cyclists using the A9 are end to enders who regard LEJOG as a race or endurance event rather than a tour. They want the shortest route and have little appreciation or interest in the countryside they are passing through, but just want to complete the route within their own target time.

Incidentally I was at a council/transport meeting yesterday when a councillor was appealing for help from a high ranking policeman to find a way of banning cyclists from using parts of the A9. Of course the police man put him right as did several others.

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

Hi Snorri - I never did do the TTs, didn't have the time, but there's always next year so thanks for the contacts. There are so many scenic and beautiful roads up yopur way (I went out to Dublin last night, and then onto Scotsburn before heading back to Alness).

Anyway - back to the point - I'd have thought a LEJOGer would be much better off sticking to NCN 1 & 7 than doing the A9 - I saw 2 accidents on it on Monday - both nasty.

 

[aberal]

I've driven the A9 loads of times and often wondered about this myself. Apart from being busy and frankly dangerous, there's a large chunk of it between Pitlochry to Newtonmore that isn't particularly attractive. The only explanation I can think of is simply that anyone looking at a road map of Scotland the A9 appears to be an obvious direct route due north. They haven't done their homework and don't know any better.

 

[HLaB]

Thankfully I've not driven (or cycled) much on the A9. On the bike I've always been able to find parallel roads which might be a bit slower or go 1/2 a mile longer but it is more enjoyable. A few weeks ago I went up the Old Roman Road from Kinkell Bridge after 6 or 7 miles, I thinking its great hardly any traffic, etc a couple of miles later though it joins the A9 just west of Perth (I should have looked at a map ) I decided to backtrack

 

[Ticktockmy]

From the off, I just want to state that I have cycled NCN 7 from Carlisle to Balloch, and Logierait to Inverness; I've ridden from Evanton to Tain along NCN 1 and along the B9176 (one of the most beautiful roads I've ridden). From Logierait north, much of the route tracks - but avoids - the A9. I drive the A9 on a regular basis because of work, and am amazed at the amount of touring bikes I see.

Now don't get me wrong. I know these cyclists are entitle to be there, but I am staggered that someone would choose to cycle, laden with panniers, along the main arterial route from Perth to Wick / Thurso and all points in between when there are some beautiful, less travelled roads available.

The A9 has been referred to as the Highway of Death. It had more deaths over a 5 year period that any other road in Scotland, with at least 2 in the last week. (http://news.bbc.co.u...ral/7354031.stm).

When I've been driving my van up and down the road, the change from 60+mph to less than 10mph has caused some hairy moments. When I've been on my bike, the journey along the old road / some of the back roads, has been beautiful, littered with deer, birds of prey, interesting fungus and all sorts - not the sort of stuff I'd have seen sticking to the trunk road.

So why do I seem to be the only one sticking to the backroads? OK, so some of the surfaces aren't toptastic, but if your wheels are rugged enough for paniers, they'd be good enough for those surfaces. Do people not take and read maps? Or do they prefer mixing it up with HGVs and speeding drivers?

Interesting comment, anyone who has read my proposed Durness to Dover ride, will note in part I intend to cycle South in using the following route which from the map I gather uses the old A9 NCN7, as a southerner, I can only look at the map and or ask questions on this forum, something a lot of guys cannot do as they do not belong or may not want to belong to any internet forum.

...........................................................snip

Sect. 6. Inverness NCN1 to Leanach, NCN 7 to Tomatin, Carrbridge, NCN Coylumbridge. (42 Miles)



Sect 7. Coylumbridge NCN 7 to Drumguish Here I have thoughts if the weather is ok, to take the road and Land rover/single-track through Glen Tromie and the Gaick pass to the Dalnacardoch Lodge to rejoin NCN/A9 then Wades road to Trinafour to Trummel bridge (49 Miles).



Sect. 8. Trummel Bridge, Kenmore, Corrymuckloch, Crief, Dunblane and Stirling. (52 miles)

---------------------------------------------------------Snip

The above is a cut and paste from my Durness post, would in light of your posting, be you able to give me any advice as to what to change.

 

[rualexander]

If I was going from Perth to Inverness on a tour I would go via Glenshee, the Lecht, Tomintoul, Grantown-on-Spey etc. But if going for shortest in a Lejog attempt then I would go the Drumochter route on the cycle route not the main A9. Having said that, I think the Glenshee route is only about 20 miles longer, so ther's not much in it.

 

[Ticktockmy]

If I was going from Perth to Inverness on a tour I would go via Glenshee, the Lecht, Tomintoul, Grantown-on-Spey etc. But if going for shortest in a Lejog attempt then I would go the Drumochter route on the cycle route not the main A9. Having said that, I think the Glenshee route is only about 20 miles longer, so ther's not much in it.

Thank you for that idea, I have in part changed my route slightly now thanks to your advice. After leaving the tourist trap that is Culloden, I will pickup the NCN 1 and follow it to Little Urchany, then turn South onto a minor road to Highland Boath, then follow the old Military road to its junction with the B9007, then follow that until the junction with the A938, then to Carrbridge to pick up the NCN7 and back to my old route. Looking at the profiles for my old route and the revised route there is not much in it hight or distance.

I had not planned to go to Perth, but had planned to leave the A9/NCN7 at Dalnacardoch lodge and follow minor roads to Tummel Bridge-Grief -Stirling.


Thank again for your advice

 

[aberal]

If I was going from Perth to Inverness on a tour I would go via Glenshee, the Lecht, Tomintoul, Grantown-on-Spey etc. But if going for shortest in a Lejog attempt then I would go the Drumochter route on the cycle route not the main A9. Having said that, I think the Glenshee route is only about 20 miles longer, so ther's not much in it.

I would too - but anyone not knowing the route should be made aware the the climb up to and over the Lecht and the hills around the Bridge of Brown are incredibly steep.

 

[Ticktockmy]

I would too - but anyone not knowing the route should be made aware the the climb up to and over the Lecht and the hills around the Bridge of Brown are incredibly steep.

I did look at rualexander suggested route, but when I looked at the hight the road went to 644 Metre's, bugger that for a game of soldiers. I decided to just use part of it. hee hee I though he was wanting to give me a heart attack..lol

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

I've done Glen Tromie to just short of Gaick Lodge and it has been / remains my intention to complete the route and to do the Minigaig.

I like the area around Trinafour / Kinloch Rannoch and Tummel Bridge (found a lovely bothy in the Trinafour area by chance when out on my mountain bike).

I still don't think there's anything wrong with NCN 7, but when I see people riding on the dual carriageway by Dalnaspidal - when there is a segregated old road / cycleway within spitting distance - it makes my wonder.

 

[rualexander]

Ok, there are a couple of hills, but think of the descents!
Yes, if you are aiming for Stirling then your route via Crieff is more sensible.
I assume if you have an aversion to hills you are going via Aberfeldy and the A826? If you fancy a real hill, take the minor road from Kenmore over to Amulree via Glen Quaich!

 

[Scoosh]

On OT, a lot of people just don't know about alternative routes to the A9. I've met a few foreign tourers who only knew about the A9 route and didn't know there was any other option.

It's probably as much about the CTC, Sustrans, all international touring bodies etc getting the info out there that there is no need to use the A9 and it is much safer not so to do.

 

[Ticktockmy]

I've done Glen Tromie to just short of Gaick Lodge and it has been / remains my intention to complete the route and to do the Minigaig.

I like the area around Trinafour / Kinloch Rannoch and Tummel Bridge (found a lovely bothy in the Trinafour area by chance when out on my mountain bike).

I still don't think there's anything wrong with NCN 7, but when I see people riding on the dual carriageway by Dalnaspidal - when there is a segregated old road / cycleway within spitting distance - it makes my wonder.

I do worry that having got deep in to the glen only to find the river is uncrossable, would be a right bummer, having read some riders stories about trying to ford the river when it is in spate, I can only consider then to be mad, but then with age come wisdom.

I have seen pictures of riders pushing there pannier laden bike along the singletrack bit. So if I do decide to do it, I think if push come to shove, I can always wild camp the night and retrace my route back to the main road next day, thats if the river is uncrossable. One guy who log I read reakoned when the river was uncrossable, it was easier to wade across the top end of the loch..Brrrrrrrrrr