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West Highland Way

Posted: 10 Sep 2008, 8:42pm
by sjl
Any planning to do this over three days on a rigid MTB with panniers - can anybody tell me what the terrain is like - is it OK for a (good) rigid MTB or should I be taking my full susser - problem is I want to camp and then need to take my panniers for all the gear?

THanks

Re: West Highland Way

Posted: 10 Sep 2008, 9:43pm
by cranky
sjl wrote:Any planning to do this over three days on a rigid MTB with panniers - can anybody tell me what the terrain is like - is it OK for a (good) rigid MTB or should I be taking my full susser - problem is I want to camp and then need to take my panniers for all the gear?

THanks


I think you'll find the route is for walkers only. Parts of it (at least) may not be cycled legally.

Posted: 10 Sep 2008, 10:38pm
by bikely-challenged
According to their web site you can cycle it, although it is designed for walkers.

Never been there, so can't help you I'm afraid - but do try the web site. There's a lot of info available:

http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/ww_faq.asp#q1

Posted: 12 Sep 2008, 6:37pm
by Moldo
I just did a large part of it on my off-road Jogle and it was very hard work!

If you're going to do it I would recommend:

1. No panniers
2. A full suspension bike
3. Be prepared to carry your bike a lot!

There was even a diversion on part of the route which meant more carrying than normal.

Check out Days 05 & 06 of the gallery:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bloodsweatandtyres

video podcast:

http://www.bloodsweatandtyres.co.uk/podcast.asp

and blog:

http://bloodsweatandtyres.blogspot.com/

Re: West Highland Way

Posted: 23 Sep 2008, 9:07pm
by fancy a brew?
sjl wrote:Any planning to do this over three days on a rigid MTB with panniers - can anybody tell me what the terrain is like - is it OK for a (good) rigid MTB or should I be taking my full susser - problem is I want to camp and then need to take my panniers for all the gear?

THanks


I did about 2/3 of the whw this summer on a rigid with panniers. I started at 2pm in Fort William and took 5 hours to get to Kinlochleven, next day I did Kinlochleven to Crianlarich. On the last day I was planning to do the rest, but the section between Inveranan and Inversnaid was very slow going with a lot of bike carrying on a narrow path along the loch side. It was no fun at all, and I bailed out when I got to the Invesnaid hotel after covering 7 miles in 4 hours!

Don't worry about being busted by the path police, the countryside access legislation lets us use footpaths as long we're responsible.

Posted: 25 Sep 2008, 12:47pm
by lloyd
I've done the top half from Tyndrum northwards to FW a couple of times and it's a great ride that's for sure. I've done it on a rigid and Hard Tail and to be honest you'll be fine on a rigid.

Panniers will be ok, but ask yourself do you need that much luggage. Both times I've combined at as a circular route - 1st time I'd taken the train to Blair Atholl and cycled to Rannoch station, then train to Tyndrum and biked to Tyndrum, then FW the next day followed by finishing with Great Glen Way stopping at Drumnadrochit (sorry spelling is sure to be wrong) then through to Inverness.
2nd time FW along GGW as far as Fort Augustus then Corrieyack pass through to Laggan. Next day was off road again by Ben Alder and across to Rannoch station again, train again to Bridge of Orchy and then WHW again.

Great rides both, but enjoyed the second more carrying less gear - simply a small backpack.

Like the other posters I'd question the enjoyment of the southern half below Crianlarich - it will be unrideable along Loch Lomond.

Posted: 25 Sep 2008, 7:21pm
by fancy a brew?
Cranky,

You can take your bike, or even your tank anywhere you like in the Scottish countryside thanks to the Land Reform(Scotland) Act 2003.

However you must do it responsibly, as outlined here-

1) A person has access rights only if they are exercised responsibly.

(2) In determining whether access rights are exercised responsibly a person is to be presumed to be exercising access rights responsibly if they are exercised so as not to cause unreasonable interference with any of the rights (whether access rights, rights associated with the ownership of land or any others) of any other person

Posted: 25 Sep 2008, 7:34pm
by cranky
And here's me just been reading the Land Reform (Scotland) Act, 2003. in a bid to reduce my ignorance of same and a very nice bit of legislation it is, too.

Yes you can cycle, I see that they've made provision for that and you can also ride your horse (excellent stuff) but I'm afraid I'll have to leave the tank in the drive because it's for non-motorised access only. :)

I'm glad I read through it, it's why I deleted my previous post, I didn't want to leave misleading info on the board. It certainly goes a long way beyond the 2000 legislation.

Posted: 25 Sep 2008, 7:59pm
by fancy a brew?
Sorry for the bum steer on the tank, I read the legislation when it first came into force and must have skimmed the bit about track laying vehicles a bit too quickly!

Posted: 25 Sep 2008, 8:24pm
by cranky
fancy a brew? wrote:Sorry for the bum steer on the tank, I read the legislation when it first came into force and must have skimmed the bit about track laying vehicles a bit too quickly!


No worries, it's only 1:8 scale I'll take it to the beach and play on the dunes :)