Joined some friends for a couple of legs of their lejog.
In the great glen/loch ness - should they follow the north side (new cycle track?) or the south side - minor road with a biggish climb and good view?
What's the cycle track like? What's the minor road like?
Thanks for any gen.
The road from Ft Augustus up the south side is good fun on the road bike, some steep sections and a few false summits, but feels higher than it probably is.
I'd be seriously tempted though to take the Corrieyairaick passfrom Ft Augustus over to Kinlochlaggan, you can then join the cycle path that runs from Dalwhinnie/Aviemore/Slochd Summit and eventually Inverness.
There's a great minor road which runs from the Slochd Summit over the hill by the windfarm and descends Culduthel (perhaps...) Road to Inverness.
They're on road bikes heading to J O'G, so Corrieyairaick isn't an option. They're just wondering what the cycle path/route is like (for road bikes) and what that minor road would be like.
The minor road is the best bet there. Or the major road very early in the morning.
Ah, fair enough, in that case I'd say southside, gets you off the big road quicker and is a good ride.
We spent a week at Drumnadrochit earlier this month (some nice weather as well). I wouldn't fancy cycling on the main road from Fort Augustus to Inverness even early in the morning.
We did go from Fort Augustus to the falls at Foyer on the back road and it was very nice - very hilly, but not a huge amount of traffic. I'd go for that road.
Bike + A82 = certain death. Stick to the back road south side. Far too many buses and lorries on a very narrow twisty road.
The cycle path is not suitable for road bikes, im presuming you mean the Great Glen Way, which is on the north side. I would'nt go near the a82 on a bike although plenty do it. The south side is much more scenic, big climb immediately out of ft augustus for about 4 or 5 miles with a flat bit in the middle at loch tarff. once you get just past whitebridge you can either head left down towards Foyers and come along the loch side or you can take the high road and either branch off to come down to Dores or Essich, or carry on and branch off at Inverarnie (b861) which leads on to Culduthel road. The shop and cafe at Foyers will be the only chance of refreshments if needed before Inverness.
The last 2 times I have cycled on the road near Drumnadrochit, I have had very close shaves.