This guidebook describes a 528-mile cycling route in northern Scotland. Starting and finishing in the highland capital Inverness, the circular route passes through the ancient counties and districts of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross and the Black Isle and is suitable for mountain, touring and road bikes: the going is entirely on asphalt-surfaced roads, though many are quiet with little traffic. The circuit can be comfortably completed in a fortnight. Featuring clear and concise route description, together with 1:150,000 mapping, gradient profiles, suggested schedules and invaluable practical information - including complete lists of all hostel/bunkhouse accommodation, official campsites and services for cyclists and advice on other accommodation and refreshment opportunities, this guidebook provides all the information needed to plan and execute a terrific cycle tour. Alternative routes are provided in case you should wish to avoid the steep ascent of Bealach na Ba or the undulating Assynt peninsula, or to include the busier A9 east coast road. The route boasts stunning scenery and rich historical interest and cyclists will be treated to mile upon mile of unspoilt wilderness. The journey takes in varied landscapes of craggy mountains, verdant glens, rolling peat moorland dotted with lochs and wild rugged coastlines - and if the scenery isn't enough, there are many distilleries and micro-breweries on or near the route guaranteed to entice. With notes on history, geology, wildlife and local points of interest, the guide offers a perfect way to get to know Scotland's captivating far north.
Mike Wells has been a keen cyclist for over 20 years. After completing various UK Sustrans routes, such as Lon Las Cymru in Wales and the C2C route across northern England, he then moved on to cycling long-distance routes in continental Europe and beyond. These include cycling both the Camino and Ruta de la Plata to Santiago de la Compostela, a traverse of Cuba from end to end, a circumnavigation of Iceland and a trip across Lapland to the North Cape. He has written a series of cycling guides for Cicerone following the great rivers of Europe.
Map key Overview map Route summary table Suggested schedules Introduction Background The route Natural environment Preparation Getting there and back Navigation and information Accommodation Food and drink Amenities and services What to take Safety and emergencies About this guide The route Stage 1 Inverness to Garve Stage 2 Garve to Lochcarron Stage 3 Lochcarron to Shieldaig (direct route) Stage 3A Lochcarron to Shieldaig (via Applecross) Stage 4 Shieldaig to Gairloch Stage 5 Gairloch to Ullapool Stage 6 Ullapool to Lochinver Stage 7 Lochinver to Kylesku Stage 8 Kylesku to Durness Stage 9 Durness to Tongue Stage 10 Tongue to Melvich Stage 11 Melvich to John o' Groats (coastal route) Stage 12 John o' Groats to Melvich (inland route) Stage 13 Melvich to Altnaharra Stage 14 Altnaharra to Tain Stage 12A John o' Groats to Lybster Stage 13A Lybster to Brora Stage 14A Brora to Tain Stage 15 Tain to Nigg (for Cromarty ferry) Stage 16 Cromarty to Inverness Stage 15A Tain to Dingwall Stage 16A Dingwall to Inverness Appendix A Facilities summary table Appendix B Tourist information Appendix C Hostels and bunkhouses Appendix D Campsites Appendix E Cycle shops and cycle hire Appendix F Munros near route (mountains over 914m) Appendix G Distilleries en route Appendix H Useful contacts
