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BIKE
Cannondale Scalpel
Time clipless pedals
Garmin touring
Saddle bag
Bar bag
Front dry bag
750ml water bottle
Front and rear lights
Tool bottle
Bar mounted bottle bag
WEARING
Socks
Sleeveless base layer
Galibier Roubaix long sleeve jersey
7mesh Cypress windproof gilet
Gore gravel shorts
Rapha bib shorts
Altura bib tights (no pad)
Shimano ME5 SPD shoes
POC gravel helmet
Cotton cycling cap
Sun glasses
TLD full finger gloves
POCKETS
Money £50
Credit / debit cards
Head phones
House key
Mobile phone
SADDLE BAG
Gore Waterproof jacket
Endura insulated gilet
Spare socks
Gore bib tights
Long sleeve merino cycling jersey
Merino short sleeve base layer
Toilet paper
Wipes
Poo bags
Poo trowel
Tooth brush and paste
Sun cream
First aid kit.
Twigburning stove
Meths stove
Food
Titanium mug
Spork (plastic)
Pen knife
Sewing kit
Battery c/w leads for Garmin, Phone and battery
BAR BAG
Packable backpack
Food cereal bars etc
Midge head net
Smidge
Water purifying tablets
Buff
FRONT DRY BAG
Tent & ground sheet
Sleeping bag & liner
Sleeping mat
Pillow
BAR MOUNTED BOTTLE BAG
500ml bottle
FIRST AID KIT
Iuprofen
Paracetamol
Alcohol wipes
Plasters
Savlon,
Bandage
Micropore tape
TOOL BOTTLE
1 spare 29er inner tube
Multi tool including chain delinker and tyre levers
Mini set of pliers/multitool
Tubeless repair kit
Spare set of brake pads (SRAM Level)
12 speed power link
Tape
Pump
Tyre boot
FOOD (was carrying about 5000 calories worth
Cereal bars)
Freeze dried meals (2 breakfast and one evening)
Big bag of Haribo Starmix (the jelly babies are like rocket fuel!)
Honey roasted peanuts. large bag.
Electrolyte tablets
Sachet of energy drink powder (for emergencies)
Can't work out how to insert a spreadsheet table. I was going to share my stats
I think I’ve got my (South to north) route nailed down except for some confusion as to whether to turn west out of killin and up to stronuich (the way you came down @didnthurt) or east , along the road and then up past lochan na lainge. Any thoughts?
The road climb up to the dam will be very steep and long. Beautiful up top though. The descent down the other side would feel very long as it's not steep.
If you had time then a circumnavigation of the loch/reservoir at the top would be a nice ride. I rode one side when I did the Lomond Trossachs loop last year.
Not sure if shared already but Jethro's Youtube videos from his Badger Divide are good (thanks for the recommendation 13thfloormonk).
I watched them before my ride. But enjoyed them more after watching them again after with my 10 year old son.
Thank you everyone for all your help, especially @didnthurt. Some great advice and tips.
Set off Friday, early and picked a van up from enterprise in Glasgow. £115 plus £33 fuel worked out easier and cheaper than the train for 3 people.
Parked the car at Elliott street car park at Glasgow, £3.50 a day. 1 mile from enterprise and 7 minutes from the end of the badger.
Set off from enterprise in Inverness around 5pm and bought borritos from the Mexican in Inverness to take with us which were amazing (i should have bought 2!). Camped 17 miles in, on the ridge over looking Loch Ness just before the downhill to Drumnadrochit. (public toilets here) 1800ft climbing.
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Day 2
Pressed on towards fort Augustus, this part was great riding and stunning scenery. I was glad my route took the low way to FA and didn't climb again as I was feeling tired and knew what was coming.
We googled the Turkish restaurant in FA and went to the boathouse on the shore. Stunning location but my skinny chicken burger and chips left me wanting more and wondering where the Turkish restaurant was and what could have been.
Grabbed supplies from the spar which werent great and pressed on. I knew the pass was going to be hard and I've done passes on BP trips before but I've never done a pass like this. The headwind didn't help. 2 and a half hours later we made the top.
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Really enjoyed the descent down but I was feeling tired. We camped on the shores of Loch Laggan which looked like it was from a postcard. 50 miles and 6900ft climbing.
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Day 3
With the big pass behind us, we were feeling a bit more confident and pressed on, this section was very pretty and enjoyable.
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Unfortunately we got to the train station at Corrour too early and had to settle for a full cooked breakfast. Took your advice and didn't drop down to the Loch and just turned right and kept going.
This next section felt very remote and I was glad I had some food left just in case. Dropped down off the hill and cycled past the post office at Glenlyon around 17:45 and it was shut but spotted the outside tap. Even though they closed at 5pm they were inside cleaning and asked us to come in and served us food. The quiche and home made scones, jam and cream were a life saver. Highly recommended and lovely people.
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Looking back, this is where I felt the badger took on a different feel, from now on, there was lots more road and less hills. We pushed onto Killin, looking forward to a campsite and shower but it seemed they just took Caravans and campervans so we grabbed food to go at the Co op and road out of town and camped about a mile away just before the climb. 80 miles and 6600 ft.
Day 4
It rained all night and carried on throughout the whole day. Knowing that the next section was boggy anyway we decided to just stay on the cycle route which I really enjoyed. Came across some luxury cabins and a reception/cafe (forrest holidays, strathyre) on the track and had another full cooked breakfast.
We rejoined the trail and carried on and just road through the rain. Occasionally the sun came out but not for long. The last 5 miles into Glasgow through the park following the river changed my opinion of Glasgow, stunning architecture, bridges and churches, I really enjoyed that bit.
Stopped at asda to jet wash the bikes and us before getting back to the car. 64 miles and 4600ft climbing.
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I have a gravel bike but I was so glad I took my rigid mtb. 29er x 2.6 nobby nics. Didn't see any midgies at camp but I do have a few bites.
Overall, I loved the badger but not in a rush to do that pass again.
Another nice write-up. Almost makes me want to string all the bits together and ride it e2e. What you said about the route south of Strathyre further convinces me that heading north is the correct option. As an aside, the Corrieyairack pass works much better heading that way too.
Set off Friday, early and picked a van up from enterprise in Glasgow. £115 plus £33 fuel worked out easier and cheaper than the train for 3 people.
Kudos for the logistical tenacity, but Scotrail should be ashamed on this point, I actually thought they were upping their game a bit on the Inverness line but haven't used it in a couple of years sadly.
I would have preferred to get the train from home but it was 3 different train operators and each one had a different bike policy. It's possible if your on your own, doable in twos but impossible in threes. Also you can't book more than 3 months in advance and the bike spaces sold out quickly.
There was a mass Badger finish on sunday I think so it was a busy trail plus others like us just taking advantage of the bank holidays meant the bike spaces were booked.
I actually thought they were upping their game a bit on the Inverness line but haven’t used it in a couple of years sadly.
You were supposed to the able to use the holds on the locomotives for bikes when the HSTs were introduced, that then quietly disappeared
Chapeau!!! Good write up and even better photos. Glad I could be of service with advice. I'm now making plans to go back and ride the trails around Rannoch Moor. This time with an unladen bike. Will be class, I'm sure.
For what it's worth, my train experience went fine. Although the booking method for the bike leaves a lot to be desired. I couldn't book it online, only by phone and only after I'd already booked my seat. This would be fine if you could book your bike ticket as early as your seat ticket, which you can't. It's all very annoying. Train home from Glasgow was very easy, despite people sitting in the bike spaces in the first carriage there was plenty of room in the next bike carriage.
Pushing my bike up the road to my house, one of my neighbours enquired if I'd cycled far. Not sure they believed my reply. You kind of forget that regular folk can't really visualise cycling 300+kilometres in 2.5 days, especially whilst carrying your food, cooker and portable home.
There's a good loop from Dalwhinnie taking in Loch Pattack, Corrour, Loch Rannoch and Loch Garry. 112km and works well with the gravel bike. Time it to arrive at Corrour for lunch and you need carry little with you.
Thanks for the write ups. We are doing this in a couple of weeks N-S. Train tickets from Edinburgh to Inverness were only £13 and got 4 bikes booked on no probs. It is a bit disconcerting that the bike booking is just a reference number and not connected to the train ticket in any way.
Nobody even asked to see my bike booking, just my train ticket. 🤷♂️
We googled the Turkish restaurant in FA and went to the boathouse on the shore. Stunning location but my skinny chicken burger and chips left me wanting more and wondering where the Turkish restaurant was and what could have been.
The Moorings
Seems to get some pretty mixed reviews
I was thinking that part of this route could be used on the Badger Divide route instead of the Glen Ample section.
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1832670
Rusty seems to like that route
This is my amended route with Glen Ample removed and a few other minor changes to make it a (IMO) better gravel route
https://www.strava.com/routes/3093897340512910782
1. Changed to the lower path on a section of the West Glen Way. This avoids a steep push up and the steep steppy descent.
2. Cuts the corner to avoid the descent (then climb right backup again) to Loch Rannoch
3. Follows the cycle path out of Killin, instead of the muddy push up.
4. Misses out Glen Ample as this is now just a muddy push most of the way.
5. Detours into Callander, handy for shops etc.
6. Detours through Gartness to avoid some road and also to pass the cafe.