West Highland Way - Page 3

Cycle Route Forum > Scotland Forum >
<< < 2 3
skiier 09 Oct 17:20  

Joined: 09 Sep 2008

Posts: 2

Bike:

Hi, Anyone cycled the West Highland Way? I am looking do it next spring but unsure of how dificult it would be, any advice would be fantastic, thanks

Stevie0350 06 Jul 02:41  

Joined: 06 Jul 2011

Posts: 1

Bike:

Hi tonytucci,

Im also looking for someone to join me on this route.
Ive only completed it by foot before but that was almost 10 years ago now.

Please get in touch if you want to get organising.

Rgds,

Stevie


Jim Jong Ill 27 Sep 13:59  

Joined: 27 Sep 2011

Posts: 1

Bike:

The WHW is a superb, challenging, super-XC route. The interesting bits (from a XC mountain biking perspective) are all north of Loch Lommond so it's as well to miss out the southern sections or at least read the other posts ref trees, ladders etc. If you've got the legs for it and travel light weight the northern sections (beyond Inverannan/Ardlui) can be done in a day (with a bit of managed risk) I advise doing it in mid summer when you'll have a few extra hours of daylight on your side just in case. One way of achieving it in a day is to catch the sleeper to Fort Willliam. The train journey over Rannoch Moor is supposed to be one of the most scenic in the UK in any case. The train gets to Ft Bill at about ten'ish so you need to get your skates on. In the past I've aimed to have a biggish lunch in Kinlochleven before taking on the back side of the Devil's Staircase, it's v-steep and v-rough and some of the upper sections are a bit too technical to ride. Once you're at the summit I've always considered it home and dry because it's an easy escape to anyone of the train stations.


amduk25 08 Jan 09:19  

Joined: 08 Jan 2012

Posts: 2

Bike:

hello i will like to do this on this june can give me loads of info and advice please also we r deaf too i can look in www.sdmtb.co.uk we will like try to West Highland Way

and we will done this march MBLA - mountaion bike leader award course one of this said need to more then 6 hours so thou will be good link with this course

hope you will give us advice and info if you dont mind thank you.

from chris whitehouse

email is cwhitehouse1980@googlemail.com


amduk25 08 Jan 09:19  

Joined: 08 Jan 2012

Posts: 2

Bike:

hello i will like to do this on this june can give me loads of info and advice please also we r deaf too you can look in www.sdmtb.co.uk we will like try to West Highland Way

and we will done this march MBLA - mountaion bike leader award course one of this said need to more then 6 hours so thou will be good link with this course

hope you will give us advice and info if you dont mind thank you.

from chris whitehouse

email is cwhitehouse1980@googlemail.com


desperadok 08 Jan 17:24  

Joined: 29 Mar 2009

Posts: 4

Bike:

6 hours is almost impossible to do the complete route. Some of the technical stuff is time consuming !! I did it over 2 days tho 1 of my riding companions was a bit on the unfit side ! plan to do it again this spring over 2 days again, taking in a bit of scenery.


BigBadBenson 14 Apr 19:44  

Joined: 14 Apr 2012

Posts: 1

Bike:

just finished the Ft Bill to Loch Lomond section. I'm not very fit and it took a day and a half. First day was Ft Bill to Bridge of Orchy. Without doubt the downhill into Kinlochleven is the most exhilerating biking I have ever done. Quite technical but brilliant. Left out Loch Lomond after the other posts here alerted me to it being more carrying & pushing than biking. Fantastic experience. Bunk houses in Ft Bill (Chase the Wild Goose - £15) and Bridge of Orchy (£18 - b'fast in Tyndrum -close and quite quick to get to) were good value and not booked in advance over easter. Plenty of space it seems.

Between two we had... 5 punctures, one write off tyre, one broken hanger, one broken spoke and two badly dented rims - bring plenty of spares.

Good luck and enjoy.


milnek 22 Apr 17:35  

Joined: 22 Apr 2012

Posts: 2

Bike:

Hi - I haven't done it yet, but planning to do Fort William to Milngavie at the end of May. I'm doing it over 4 days/3nights. Starting with 5.30am train Glasgow to Fort William (gets in about 9.50am)and will do the following stages:

Day 1: Fort William - Kinlochleven (16miles)
Kinlochleve to Kinghouse Hotel (9 miles, overnight there) - total 25 miles

day 2: Kinshouse - Inveroran (10 miles)
Inveroran - Tyndrum - 9 miles
Tyndrum - Inverarnan - 12 miles (Overnight at The Drovers Inn)- Total 31 miles

day 3: Inverarnan - Rowardennan (14 miles - overnight at Youth Hostel - kind of a rest day. I'm not doing the rough section - taking the ferry!

day 4: Rowardennan - Milngavie (29 miles) and then the train to Glasgow City Centre

I reckon that this is an enjoyable way of doing it, rather than an endurance test (for me anyway) of 2 days - I'm not that fit at the moment and will be 50 in May, so taking it easy. I'm meeting my wife in Tyndrum for lunch (Real Food cafe for fish and chips - best in Scotland) and then the Drovers (luxury jacuzzi suite for 2) on the 2nd day.

I did the `extra' section from Glasgow City centre to Milngavie yesterday - it is called the Allander Way (was thinking about doing this bit at the end the other way round). The pathway was vague from the West end to Maryhill - I spent an hour in Maryhill (mmm!!) riding in circles trying to find the Allander Way - finally got directed by friendly cyclists - would never have found it and I have a good sense of direction (and had an OS map too). The path was really nice through Kelvinbride area up to Maryhill - the section from Maryhill to Milngavie follows the river Allander along a narrow mud and grass path (about 1 to 2 feet wide and lots of fallen storm damaged trees and about 6 styles that you have to carry the back over. I took the Milgavie train back to Glasgow City Centre and then biked it back to Shawlands (my start point) - Shawlands to Milngavie was about 29 miles - total mileage was 31 and it took me between 11am and 3pm to Milngavie.

For anyone who has done it North to South, what was the Devil's staircase like on the way down? Also, anyone know rought timings between sections?

Keith


<< < 2 3