Day 3 - Bonar Bridge to Aviemore
Distance: 75.8 miles
Elevation: 3800ft
Average speed: 11.5mph
https://www.strava.com/activities/2434060303
Ride report:
When planning this expedition and putting the route together, today was the day I was most worried about, mostly due to the amount of climbing late in the day. It was a hard day, but not as bad as I'd envisaged (i.e. we both made it with both bikes, and it was still light!). It helps that the strava route planning tool I'm using massively overestimates the climb, but I'll try to forget that at the start of each day so it's a nice surprise. Still, it's been a long day, and in writing this, it's strange to think that only this morning we were up on the Dornoch Firth!
We made an early start of it today, real shame to leave the excellent airbnb behind, but we knew we had a lot to do. The day started with a good test of the brakes, as it turned out we went down the steep stony hill from the cottage at roughly the speed we climbed it last night!
After shaking out the hands, we rolled out of Bonar Bridge just after 7.30am, then had a nice gentle 5 miles to ease the legs in before hitting the first challenge of the day. Struie Hill was a real test, and we took a couple of opportunities to admire the view on the way up (of course, nothing to do with the 8% gradient!). The firth was glassy smooth, and the day, though overcast, was mild and there was no sign of the promised headwind.
After rolling across the top of the moorland, stopping occasionally to listen to the birds (including a noisy cuckoo) and walk up a couple of steep slopes from bridges over the rivers, we got to reap the fruits of the early climb with a good descent towards Dingwall. Unfortunately, my "stay off the A9!" philosophy then meant that we had more up and down as we skirted along the Cromarty Firth.
We met Mum in the Courtyard Cafe in Dingwall (highly recommend it!) where, as we were feeling a little hobbit-ish, we had a second breakfast of coffee, bacon rolls (R&D) and a cheese scone (M).
Predictably, the next leg of the trip featured yet more uphill, as we crossed the Black Isle, which isn't actually an Isle, and looked pretty green! From the top though, we could soon see Inverness and the Kessock Bridge, so with thoughts of lunch in our heads, we followed the cycle path towards the city.
After a bone-shaking route through an industrial estate (still avoiding the A9!), we started climbing again and wove through Inverness towards a garden centre on the south side. Mum was waiting for us, having scoped out the cafe and the garden gnome display.
With some excellent sandwiches for lunch, and more coffee, we took the opportunity to charge the gadgets up and relax a bit, knowing there would be yet more uphill after lunch!!
After refilling the bottles, we set off, leaving Mum to buy the gnomes - more company in the car! With slightly leaden legs, we tackled yet more uphill - it's all somewhat blurred into one massive climb. We mostly followed the National Cycle Network route 7, following the river, trainline and A9 up into the Cairngorms.
After some more flapjack/drink/haribo stops, we reached the high point of the day, at Slochd Summit, where we stopped for yet another selfie with the sign - unfortunately it was on the wrong side of the road!
With the worst climbing of the day behind us, we headed to Carrbridge, where, having discovered that the nominated coffee shop wasn't actually open, Mum had expertly sourced us takeaway coffee and tea from a nearby pub. Had a nice break at a picnic table in the sun, knowing that it was only 8 miles more to get to Aviemore.
Reached Aviemore rather late, but were interested to see that there's still snow on the mountains - if our legs hadn't already told us, it's obvious we've come uphill!
With the local Italian restaurant booked till late and no inclination to venture further, we decided instead to have a takeout motel room picnic - excellent pasta and salad which disappeared very fast. Tired legs refuelled, I think we're all in need of a good sleep!
Today was (supposedly) the highest amount of climbing we'll do on the trip. Tomorrow, we get to the highest point, and it's also our longest ride, so we'll be making another early start. Wish us luck!
Elevation: 3800ft
Average speed: 11.5mph
https://www.strava.com/activities/2434060303
Ride report:
When planning this expedition and putting the route together, today was the day I was most worried about, mostly due to the amount of climbing late in the day. It was a hard day, but not as bad as I'd envisaged (i.e. we both made it with both bikes, and it was still light!). It helps that the strava route planning tool I'm using massively overestimates the climb, but I'll try to forget that at the start of each day so it's a nice surprise. Still, it's been a long day, and in writing this, it's strange to think that only this morning we were up on the Dornoch Firth!
 |
| Pre-ride - I think the bikes were more ready than we were! |
We made an early start of it today, real shame to leave the excellent airbnb behind, but we knew we had a lot to do. The day started with a good test of the brakes, as it turned out we went down the steep stony hill from the cottage at roughly the speed we climbed it last night!
After shaking out the hands, we rolled out of Bonar Bridge just after 7.30am, then had a nice gentle 5 miles to ease the legs in before hitting the first challenge of the day. Struie Hill was a real test, and we took a couple of opportunities to admire the view on the way up (of course, nothing to do with the 8% gradient!). The firth was glassy smooth, and the day, though overcast, was mild and there was no sign of the promised headwind.
 |
| On Struie Hill, spoiling the view! |
After rolling across the top of the moorland, stopping occasionally to listen to the birds (including a noisy cuckoo) and walk up a couple of steep slopes from bridges over the rivers, we got to reap the fruits of the early climb with a good descent towards Dingwall. Unfortunately, my "stay off the A9!" philosophy then meant that we had more up and down as we skirted along the Cromarty Firth.
We met Mum in the Courtyard Cafe in Dingwall (highly recommend it!) where, as we were feeling a little hobbit-ish, we had a second breakfast of coffee, bacon rolls (R&D) and a cheese scone (M).
 |
| Obligatory cafe stop photo - unfortunately I'd already demolished most of the bacon sandwich! |
Predictably, the next leg of the trip featured yet more uphill, as we crossed the Black Isle, which isn't actually an Isle, and looked pretty green! From the top though, we could soon see Inverness and the Kessock Bridge, so with thoughts of lunch in our heads, we followed the cycle path towards the city.
 |
| Bridge!! Or, we made it to Inverness! |
After a bone-shaking route through an industrial estate (still avoiding the A9!), we started climbing again and wove through Inverness towards a garden centre on the south side. Mum was waiting for us, having scoped out the cafe and the garden gnome display.
With some excellent sandwiches for lunch, and more coffee, we took the opportunity to charge the gadgets up and relax a bit, knowing there would be yet more uphill after lunch!!
 |
| Lunch at Simpson's Garden Centre, Inverness |
After some more flapjack/drink/haribo stops, we reached the high point of the day, at Slochd Summit, where we stopped for yet another selfie with the sign - unfortunately it was on the wrong side of the road!
 |
| Slochd Summit - 405m above sea level (Inverness) |
 |
| We woz 'ere! Or, yet another selfie! |
With the worst climbing of the day behind us, we headed to Carrbridge, where, having discovered that the nominated coffee shop wasn't actually open, Mum had expertly sourced us takeaway coffee and tea from a nearby pub. Had a nice break at a picnic table in the sun, knowing that it was only 8 miles more to get to Aviemore.
Reached Aviemore rather late, but were interested to see that there's still snow on the mountains - if our legs hadn't already told us, it's obvious we've come uphill!
 |
| Snowy Aviemore! |
With the local Italian restaurant booked till late and no inclination to venture further, we decided instead to have a takeout motel room picnic - excellent pasta and salad which disappeared very fast. Tired legs refuelled, I think we're all in need of a good sleep!
 |
| Carb-loading for tomorrow, excellent grub. |
Today was (supposedly) the highest amount of climbing we'll do on the trip. Tomorrow, we get to the highest point, and it's also our longest ride, so we'll be making another early start. Wish us luck!
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