2025 Etapes - Loch Ness (April) & Caledonia (May)

[VinSumRox]

I've parked up about an hour and a half from Inverness , so not too far to go in the morning...

 

[steverob]

Having set off from Wiltshire yesterday, stayed with friends in the Midlands last night and having driven most of today we only have a couple of hours left to get to Inverness in the morning. I might try and get a quick cycle in tomorrow.

Can highly recommend taking a ride round the Beauly Firth - that's what I did on my arrival day in Inverness a few years back. https://www.strava.com/activities/5817941447

 

[wakemalcolm]

I've parked up about an hour and a half from Inverness , so not too far to go in the morning...

Ralia, or do you have a better A9 stopover that you can share?

 

[VinSumRox]

Just one of the big laybys after Dalwhinnie
Is Ralia OK to stop in?

 

[wakemalcolm]

Just one of the big laybys after Dalwhinnie
Is Ralia OK to stop in?

We've never been moved on or had any trouble in 15 years. They've started charging for the loo's but that's fair enough. The café did once serve me up a bacon roll where by the own admission the bacon had been cooked off site so haven't eaten there for years.

 

[YMFB]

met up with the rest of our gang in a restaurant in Inverness. Early to bed as got to be up and out of the accommodation for the 0600-0620 wave

 

[VinSumRox]

met up with the rest of our gang in a restaurant in Inverness. Early to bed as got to be up and out of the accommodation for the 0600-0620 wave

Same wave here !

 

[YMFB]

4 hours 40 minutes, rode every hill without getting off. Fantastic event, well organised just sad its a two day drive.

The hill out of Fort Augustus was challenging, but not as hard as Yorkshire Dales.

 

[VinSumRox]

4 hours 40 minutes, rode every hill without getting off. Fantastic event, well organised just sad its a two day drive.

The hill out of Fort Augustus was challenging, but not as hard as Yorkshire Dales.

It is a good event, enjoyed it, the hill wasn't bad after the 1st bit. I was surprised how many people started walking it right near the start.
My skeleton jersey got a few cheers on the way round 😀

 

[YMFB]

It is a good event, enjoyed it, the hill wasn't bad after the 1st bit. I was surprised how many people started walking it right near the start.
My skeleton jersey got a few cheers on the way round 😀

I was amazed to see many people who looked a lot fitter than me, riding expensive bikes pass me and then get off and walk.

Hope the Ambulance was not really needed and was precautionary at the scene somewhere in the first ten miles.

 

[VinSumRox]

I was amazed to see many people who looked a lot fitter than me, riding expensive bikes pass me and then get off and walk.

Hope the Ambulance was not really needed and was precautionary at the scene somewhere in the first ten miles.

Yeah that looked like bad luck so soon into the ride.

 

[oxoman]

They used to have an ambulance stationed at the end of loch as a precaution at one point. As YMFB points out not as extreme as some hills in Yorkshire, personally thinking Blue bank or Greenhaugh.🥵. A lot of people jump off way to quick at the first sign of a hill. Personally I'd sooner stop recover and start again or just train harder to start with. It's a cracking route though. Tempted to do it again with a mate and call in various trail centres on the way back.

 

[YMFB]

They used to have an ambulance stationed at the end of loch as a precaution at one point. As YMFB points out not as extreme as some hills in Yorkshire, personally thinking Blue bank or Greenhaugh.🥵. A lot of people jump off way to quick at the first sign of a hill. Personally I'd sooner stop recover and start again or just train harder to start with. It's a cracking route though. Tempted to do it again with a mate and call in various trail centres on the way back.

Having driven the A82 a few times I think I’d only ride Inverness to Fort Augusta when the road is closed, like yesterday.

 

[Pblakeney]

Having driven the A82 a few times I think I’d only ride Inverness to Fort Augusta when the road is closed, like yesterday.

This.
The Caledonia Etape - Pitlochry however can be ridden year round and in early spring/late autumn is relatively car free anyway. Not tried it in winter as there is too high possibility of ice.

 

[truman sparks]

Sadly, there was a fatality - terrible news…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c175ynkjpnwo