[Closed] STW Scotland - Ullapool to Bonar Bridge C2C2C

Sign me and Italspark up for this. I could do a car share from Fife up too.

Naked in Ullapool - bloody hell,you ARE keen.Pink rinse wifies will have a fit.

Stuartie - I memory mapped it and to me it seems a lot less - under 25 miles each way road to road, under 30 miles each way tidal to tidal. ( 80 - 100 k return)

I think for the old and slow amongst us it could work if we send the young and fit ones to do the unneeded 10 miles of road while we have a picnic and set off into the sunset in a leisurely fashion and allow you to catch us up.

I would like to do this but not if it involves spending all day struggling to keep up

erm , i may potentially make this, i think i'm on hol that weekend.

Slow pace, sounds good 🙂

I've been planning something similar for ages but haven't got the chance. Best of luck to you all and I'll look forward to hearing how you get on.

Booo...

Can't make this Stuartie, enjoy!

hur hu hur

He said 'Bonar'.

Huur hhur hu

TJ - your plan makes perfect sense, provided you dip your toe into salt water!

McM tells me the image link above isn't working, so try this one instead:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biotron/1361530847/

those window etchings are so sad - almost reduced me to tears when I went there. One of the most atmospheric places I've ever seen.

Map number 1:

[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4465652012_a742a3959d_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4465652012_a742a3959d_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

(clicky)

I'll try something clever with Google maps, but don't hold your breath since I'm a bit thick.

Let me see - I need to figure logistics but might be up for it, particularly the two-day version. Anyone else interested in that?

Square Wheels Steve and I did much the same route but starting at Bonar a few years ago, while I was up doing the trails at Bonar. Top[ big day out. Stop in at the Bistro at Bonar for some good midway scran.

stuartie, ill be your gimp !
if i remember correctly there is a bunkhouse near/connected to the ceilidh place and there is a camp/caravan site on the peninsula both in ullapool( maybe worth checking if they open in april)
looking forward to it

Aye, Ceilidh Place bunkhouse and the (decent) campsite should both be open.

sounds potentially good to me, too.

Italspark - I've got the mask looked out and it's all cleaned up from last time.

Swayndo - cheers. I've emailed the Ceilidh Place to ask about how many places are available and I'll post here when they get back to me. If it's not a goer, the campsite is pretty good.

13thFM - shame you can't make that weekend - hope you enjoy your 4-dayer!

(My clever-thing-with-Google-maps experiment has failed so far...)

Do you have a GPX for your route? I fancy doing just one way but I don't want to miss out any good bits. From looking at an OS map, it all looks pretty straight forward but if there are any small detours that are worth taking, I'd be interested in finding out about them.

Fat boy fat - doing it one way makes the logistics difficult - I have a old fat and slow shortened option which I will probably be taking - to inveroykel where the tidal limit is on the estuary. Let the fast boys zoom off while we have picnics and lie about in the sun.

Saturday evening bump.

Gratuitous bump as it turns out as I've just checked my email to find this reply from the Ceilidh Place:
[i]
Thank you for your email. We are fully booked on 9th and there are 7 rooms with total of 15 beds available on 10th and more rooms available on 11th. The room only rate is £15 per person. I hope this make sense to you.

If you need more information, please do not hesitate to get back to us.

[/i]

I've booked myself in for Saturday night and I'll either camp on the Friday or stay in Inverness area and make an early start. If you're coming along, you'll need to make your own arrangements but don't leave it too late as I imagine these beds will go quickly.

The email address is stay@theceilidhplace.com

Cheers,
SC

I've emailed the Ceilidh Place for a spot in the bunkhouse on Saturday night. I'll camp on the Friday, do they run the campsite too?

I went out on my touring bike to do a weather check on my endurance/sense of humour threshold. I rode most of the Etape route. There was a howling headwind most of the way with driving rain for good measure. I'll try and get a couple of long back to back rides in next weekend too.

mcmoonter - Member

I went out on my touring bike to do a weather check on my endurance/sense of humour threshold. I rode most of the Etape route. There was a howling headwind most of the way with driving rain for good measure. I'll try and get a couple of long back to back rides in next weekend too.

Aye - pleasant riding today weren't it?

We'll be up doing the Etape route on 25th April if you're interested.

m.c. this is what you need http://www.broomfieldhp.com/index.htm ive just enquired about getting the campervan in for the friday and sat. night

Druidh, I might be up for that, mail me nearer the time.

mcmoonter - Member
Druidh, I might be up for that, mail me nearer the time.

wilco - I'll likely post something up here too - and on the tbc website/facebook page.

Right - I have to admit defeat...

I've been trying to upload a .gpx file to the web so that it can be viewed by others.

The websites I've used before (bikehike and motionbased) seem to be defunct.

Any suggestions? This shouldn't be difficult for someone with a degree in Computing Science, surely...

bikeroutetoaster

email it to me if you're having "technical" problems.

Thanks Druidh.

OK, if I've managed to do this, you'll find a route map at:

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=113680

I was hoping that I could see it against an OS map background on the website, but this should let you download it as a .gpx and view it on any mapping software.

Is it there and back in one day? Or overnight in between? Sorry if I'm being the thick one...

There and back in a day Jimmy.

With an optional shorter there and back route possible for those of us who find 80 miles scary 🙂

This would give time for my schedule of picnics. Ride the first half of the outward route together, send the fast boys off to do the longer second half, old and slow go to the limit of the tidal reach not to bonar bridge itself, fast boys pick us up on the return after we have had a suitable picnic and siesta. Return all together. Go to pub and swap tall tales

TJ has it!

We all live happily ever after.

Looks easy enough with a mouse and a satelite image.

stuartie_c - Member
Thanks Druidh.

OK, if I've managed to do this, you'll find a route map at:

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=113680

I was hoping that I could see it against an OS map background on the website, but this should let you download it as a .gpx and view it on any mapping software.

Try [url= http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm ]wheresthepath[/url]

I think it always good policy for someone in the group to know 'wheresthepath'.

i emailed the campsite folks and they say just to turn up and pitch as they are never busy at this time of year
stuartie, what tyres do you recommend for c2c2c ?

what tyres do you recommend for c2c2c?

Round ones tend to work best. Possibly with snow studs...

Lots of other options for places to stay...

The Arch Inn (next to campsite, behind the CP) http://www.thearchinn.co.uk/
West House B&B (next to the CP, behind The Arch) http://www.westhousebandb.co.uk/ + Richard used to run the hostel and is well into his bikes

Dunno how to use this mapping route stuff to download routes for you but...

If you want a shorter loop route using Ullapool as your base then go out along Rhidorrich, Take the hill path to your right and follow it SE over the hill towards the masts. Go to mid braes and follow the old road along to Leckmelm (runs above and parallel to A835), then go NNE over Campbeltown and down to the East Lodge about 8 miles futher along the estate road you intially left from. Hope that makes sense! Great ride, places will be muddy at the moment.

Fancy a wee ride but with some steep climbs (!) and descents?
Drive round to Corrie Hallie and do a loop to Shenavall Bothy http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/shenavall.shtml

any snow that fell is rapidly dissappearing on all but high ground, burns are high though

Still don't know if I'm available for this. Hopefully I am. Will confirm next week.

DeVs - Member
Still don't know if I'm available for this. Hopefully I am. Will confirm next week.

I can't make it for this planned weekend but fancy it another time.

Saturday evening bump to mop up any late interest.

I'll do a roll-call early next week.

SC

Stuartie, there's another Fifer keen to come along, he fancies doing it as training for the WHW.

Is he a pal of Gary's? Something like Mark B's neice's husband...

Gary contacted me looking to sort out a lift for him but I'll be up north on Thursday evening and will stay for the following week - can you and Italspark sort him out for a lift?

Aye, I was planning to car share up with him. I think Italspark and family are taking the campervan up for the weekend.

Any suggestion that all Fifers are related is purely coincidental.

thanks for helping young mark out,he is ma neices husband and I would appreciate if you could treat him accordingly, by taking the crap oot of him at every oppertunity,making the ride as tough as possible and by keeping him in his place,his nickname on our forum is back of the pack,and you can tell him at the end of the hurl or when he spits the dummy that he has been set up by"quite uncle mark" know that I can rely on you guys to help in this matter.
cheers
mark b

nae problem, he will gettin it tight

I quite fancy that. Anyone want to lift share from the borders or edinburghish area?

Mrs D working Sat so I'm out. Looks like skiing woth boys on sat and Laggan on Sun so it's not all bad. Druidh I'm up for it sometime too. If you want some company when you do it gimme a shout.

dont want to get your hopes up too high, but this looks promising,
all we need know is the swedish babes, c,mon stuartie whats the plan http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/3023?&search=ullapool&itemsPerPage=10&region=uk

Yup - forecast is looking ok at this point. My main concern is that there is a lot of water in the rivers from the rain and snow-melt which will make crossings hazardous. Hopefully they'll subside a bit before Saturday. I'm staying with friends near Alness on Friday and at the Ceilidh Place on Saturday.

Plan is as follows:

[*]Meet at 8AM in the big car park beside the Tesco (not the Tesco car park itself). I'm reckoning on the ride taking 8-10 hours.

Head count (shouldn't take long) and route briefing

Ride to Bonar Bridge, dip toe in Dornoch Firth, re-supply.

Ride back West.[/*]

There will be two groups. TJ is talking about a mellow-paced alternative which stops at the tidal limit of the Kyle of Sutherland before heading back. My own objective is Bonar Bridge itself. There are some options for the return leg which I'll point out on maps. I expect everyone to take responsibility for their own well-being as well as looking out for others - I'm not a qualified guide! I'll carry map and compass but I'd expect other to do as well. This obviously goes for food, clothing and safety equipment too.

The contingency plan, if the weather goes tits-up or we can't safely cross a river is to simply turn back and try again another day.

I'll add other info. as it comes to mind.

Last thing is a roll-call of the definite attendees...

8 am! F

You got a grid reference for that meet point?

I'll be there with Mark, another Fifer

TJ - approx 125943

Multimap link: http://www.multimap.com/s/bCT9MgfU

Easiest approach is to drive along the front (Shore St.), turn R at the end up onto Quay St. and Tesco is off this about 400m on the L. After the L turn off Quay St., don't turn L again immediately as this is the Tesco CP, but go on a bit further and it opens into the bigger CP.

I'm suggesting 8am to give plenty of time. Aim for an 8:30 start. We can go later if everyone objects to 8, but I'd rather not be racing to beat nightfall.

(Oh, if anyone wants a mobile contact number, email me (in profile) and I'll send it on to you).

Cheers
Weather looks promising.

8 a.m. on the dot captain , surely one has to dip ones tongue in the water ?

We are definitely on then. 8.30 ready to go?

Softies option if needed - we shall see how it goes on the day.

I hope the schedule allows for proper mealtimes

1st breakfast
2nd breakfast
Elevenses
First Lunch
Second lunch
A wee mid afternoon snackerel
Afternoon Tea
Dinner
Supper
Bedtime snack

oh shit ! i was expecting to be back for lunch

So, roll call so far:

SC
McMoonter + 1
Italspark
Mr + Mrs TJ

Any more?

I'm off up north tomorrow so will have limited internet access after tonight.

Faffers will need to be ready to roll at 8:30am when TJ makes an appearance. Any ditherers will get their arses kicked, and not by me as I'm likely to number among them.

LOL @ stuartie.

Looks like I'm giving Smee a lift up. I have told him the trolling zoo fighter is not invited.

Anyone going to be in the pub Friday night? Not sure if we will arrive in time for a pint or not. If so which pub?
Anyone else camping?

I'm heading over early on Sat morning from Alness but staying at the Ceilidh Place on Saturday night. A pint or two may be had then to celebrate our glorious success. Ceilidh Place is a stone's throw from the campsite. There's also the FBI on the seafront which was my local when I spent a winter in Ullapool.

TJ I'm camping too and Italspark will be in a Blue T5 campervan. I've got a red Citroen with a BS numberplate. Got it from Barbara Striesand, no BS

We will be in a enterprise rent a van. Green dome tent. ETA around 9-9.30 pm

TandemJeremy - Member
We will be in a enterprise rent a van. Green dome tent. ETA around 9-9.30 pm

Not setting off until 7pm TJ?

McM, you got it from Britney Spears, didn't you?

Stuartie ... me and the boys do a C2C from my house (in Evanton) to Ullapool with your route (or 1/2) as the second half of the route. It's a bit early for us tho ... you will get your feet wet on the river crossing, but most of the height on my route is before Croick, so you should be safely under the snow level.

The FBI is our traditional finish point (pint). We usually sit on the wall for a good few then get sorted. Last year we camped and it was good, but previously we staying in the CP bunkhouse which is fine. Best food we've had was in the Frigate (I think). The CP is good too, but is a bit overpriced. Fish and chips form the chippie at the Seaforth.

Latest opening pub was the Arch, which is on the corner near the campsite at the bottom of the road at the side of the CP bunkhouse. Bit of a doo going on when we were there and they had Leffe!

Sunday is looking glorious and a few of us doing the Tollie Path with lunch at the Mountain Cafe in Gairloch. Slattadale at 11ish if ye fancy it 🙂

All the best for your trip.

Transit van Druidh so 50mph on A roads - and I will have smee as a passenger to critique me.

Cheers Swayndo,

I'm liking the sound of your Evanton-Ullapool route - you got a map/gpx? There's a slim possibility that I'll make your sunday ride, though it's a bit of a hoor of a drive from Ullapool with a (likely) hangover...

Red Seat Leon, 04 plate, just in case I do make it!

I do fancy a spin on the sunday on our way back south

I have one somewhere. Easy enough to explain meantime. Start at the old riuned kirk on the shore at Kitearn (down from Evanton) - dip the toe. Up through Novar and on Landy tracks around the west of the Fyrish ridge then northeast between the Windfarm and Fyrish. If it's been dry then go around Lochmorie from the Boath Road, if not go thro the fields (on a track) through Ardross Castle grounds and straight up Strath Ruisdale and over to Glen Calvie then on to Croick and what you are doing. It's something like 63 miles. Needs short term planning to avoid facing a headwind.

We'll be the only riders at Slattadale, so just ask. It's a very short morning and an exciting afternoon. Short day.

myself, mrs italspark and rudie italspark will be in the campsite whenever we get there , it depends how much coffee we drink in escape route on the way up and if we catch the black isle brewery shop before it closes !(blue t5 camper with bikes on the back and maybe an awning if it arrives before we leave).......kettles always on!
looking forward to it

Italspark says there's a pool in town too. Might have a soak afterwards. Sheera, if you are going by Escape Route, can you pick up my replacement stove from Dangerous, it should be in, otherwise you'll have a caffine hungry squatter.

Aye there is mcmoonter. Want a loan of my highlife card?

Highlife you say? Is that like Mile High?

Something like that ...

[url= http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/sportsfacilities/highlife/ ]NOT[/url].

ill grind up some extra beans, chances of a good caffine fix at 8 am are slim

What are the chances of me getting a performance-enhancing caffeine shot before I get my arse kicked at 8:31am?

come on down to the camper if your early enough and we,ll do you a triple shot

I have an mini espresso machine with me - If I set it up at the meet point?

Now I think about it, why don't we all just meet at the campsite since that's where everyone is staying?