Sunday Ride Out - includes some off road (RIDE OUT: FULLY BOOKED)
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:30 pm
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THIS RIDE OUT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
Name of lead Rider – AustinW
Name of Tail End Charlie – TBC on the day
Type of ride – Mixed – approximately 30miles of Highland Estate stalkers tracks and paths with approx 80miles of highland tarmac.
Max number willing to lead.- approx 12 in total
Approx time of ride departure – 10.00 to 10.30am
Approx mileage of ride – 130-140miles
Approx time of return – 6pm – stress the approx bit of this timing
Suggested ride details – see special section below. I cannot issue details of the route in advance.
Technical level of Ride – Advanced
Special Sections – I have negotiated access to three highland estates so we can ride along stalkers footpaths and estate roads. This will get us to places where you would never normally get to on a bike with scenery to match that privilige. I have not been on any of the routes myself but from what I can tell from maps and photos available on the internet the tracks are rough enough to add some spice to the day, but not so rough as to intimidate. Nevertheless I suggest that unless you have already taken your bike off road before and therefore understand it's and your capabilities, this is not a ride for you.
The first route is an out and back route along a minor path. I understand a local does use his motorcycle along this track frequently but from what I can tell it is narrow, steep in places, exposed, and includes mountain and sea scenery. Refreshments and lunch will be available at the turn-around point – which is an interesting location with a lot of history. This route starts approx 30miles from Ullapool and is about 12 miles out and back
The second route is a further 30 or so miles and links 2 estates. The start/finish of this route will be straightforward metalled estate road but thereafter it cuts across one of the most remote highland mountain areas in Scotland. The route is popular with walkers and mountain bikers so should be well within the capabilities of an adventure bike. This route is about 18miles from public road to public road.
It is then about 50 miles back to Ullapool.
I am not willing to reveal the exact route on a public forum as we don’t want others taking advantage or abusing the permission we have been given. I have also given certain undertakings to the estates about our behaviour and the way in which we will ride our bikes and numbers of participants. This is not carte-blanche access to the estates and this is not an enduro or a race. The ride will be conducted safari style, ie everyone will follow me at the pace I dictate and only on the paths and tracks that I go along. Excessively noisy bikes will not be allowed – sorry but that was one of the concerns, so put your baffles in and keep the revs down. Good behaviour and leaving the tracks more or less in the condition that we find them should mean we get to go again next year.
Space is limited to about 12: That’s me, my son – Charlie – coz he has helped organise and plan;Largewayround - coz he is in charge of the rally; SteveT – for being an all round helpful guy.
And 8 others: the first 8 people to get their names down here and who are also listed as rally attendees get to go. Note the finish time on SUNDAY before committing to come if you also need to be back home for monday morning.
Photo of part of the route
Please check out my other thread about an adventure en-route to the Hoghland rally.
