Hi
I am thinking about a 3 day ride over the Xmas hols.
I am in the SE so it'd be good if it could be a loop or something where the start/end points can be linked by train.
Is this going to work in December, will it just be too snowy or outright silly as the weather could causes problems. There is also the fact that the routes may become bogs too...
All suggestions/advice listened too.
Thanks
Nah.
Take lights, something to read in the long nights, food and drink.
Hope for some cold, frosty nights and go out to watch the stars.
If it's very, very cold, make sure you have lots of water handy. I've been caught out when streams have been completely frozen.
Read "A hell of a journey" by Mike Cawthorne.
He spent a whole winter traipsing around, sleeping outdoors/in bothy's.
All depends on the conditions.
I am actually pondering the possibility of riding a bothy loop somewhere in the Highlands in January. I would only set off if there was a great forecast (cold and stable with little snow on the ground).
I would definitely not set off if the forecast was for wet/windy/snowy weather as this sort of trip could quickly descend from unpleasant to dangerous.
Snow levels and amounts can vary hugely, but you can get a good idea from checking webcams and reports these days. I've been up snow-free munros in January before.
+1 to the comments about avoiding wet & windy, this combination is bad enough in summer but in winter it's a whole different level of misery.
Anything and dry is fine really, though super windy days aren't pleasant. This also means that the tops *might* be best avoided - it can be hard to tell when in the valley, one xmas holiday period we were in shirt sleeves in windless Aviemore but at the Coire Cas ski centre car park you could only just stand up and needed full winter mountaineering clothing.
Long nights - yep, take plenty of supplies of lights, food, alcohol and stories.
Riding: boring as they may sound, estate tracks might be your best option as they tend to drain well. Given the short days don't plan on huge distances, a few drifts here and there and your average speed will drop. If you have a route in mind then it's worth following it on something like geograph.org.uk to see if it's reasonable.
Train to Fort William/Oban and ride through to Aviemore. Range of options for Accommodation and trails. Escape from Fort Augustus or Kingussie. Good bothy in Glen Lyon and part way over CorriY pass. Loads around Feshie Bridge etc.