Highland bikepacking weather WC 8th April 24

Looking for some advice on whether I’m mad if I do a bikepacking trip next week in the Highlands, with all the recent wet and cold weather.

I’d like to do one of the three HT550 loops, maybe the bottom one starting and finishing in Tyndrum.

I’m not against getting a bit wet, or experiencing a bit of weather, but I wouldn’t want to be riding in hub depth bogs and having to cross waist height rivers.

I might just need to stick to trail centres.

Any locals to the Highlands who can provide an update on the ground conditions of the HT550 loop, and how high the rivers are.

Thanks 👍

Stirling is as wet as I have seen it in many decades.

I rode Dumyat this morning and it was boggy.

Snow and storms are forecast for the weekend :/

Mon

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Forecast for the weekend is not exactly kind. Heavy rain and strong winds so it’s not going to be any drier.

We have a yellow weather warning for the weekend, with snow due tomorrow morning on higher ground and 50mph winds over the weekend. I’m doing a dry stone walling course on Sunday, which on balance is preferable to going for a bike ride – I’ll still get wet and filthy. That said, wind direction is southerly, so you’ll get from Tyndrum to Fort Augustus in no time…

Snow tomorrow yet 15 deg Saturday.  Varied!

Fill your boots. At least you’ll be warm and wet on Saturday. As a Scot I’d say your probably a month too early…

I’d maybe consider sticking to trail centres tbh, I’m in Perth just now, have been to snekkie today and there’s plenty snow on the hills with more forecast. Overall ground conditions are wet.
Merak +1.

Maybe do a tour of Tarland, Laggan & Glenlivet. And with the option to add in Ballater 🤔

It’s not been particularly wet Aviemore direction. I thought it hadn’t been too bad further North West either? As always, it’s worth checking the SEPA River Level data to see the actual position.

Ooh! Maybe the HT550 middle loop or top loop would be better then. Or maybe a bit ambitious.

It’s actually been quite dry in Wester Ross. Very cold and windy this week though.

Of course, 75% of sh!tloads of rain is still sh!tloads of rain, but not the freak winter they/we’ve had further south. Jet stream, innit? April can be one of the best months. I’m up there for the second half of the month but on foot or the bike depends on the forecast two days before I go.

As above check local forecast 2 days out.  I was in Glen Affric Tuesday Wednesday.   Tue, OK. Wed 3c with high winds and driving rain at the bottom of the glen. Still plenty snow higher up. Next week could be beautiful. Or not.

Woken to snow at low level in Stirlingshire.

Fill your boots.

Seems inevitable. Probably his trousers as well, if some of the river crossings are on form.

My choice of riding area might be made for me.

Callander here; I’m building an ark if this rain keeps up tomorrow.

There is a gravel/xc route I’ve got my eye on that would fit nicely into that flood-free zone.

@didnthurt – we did the Moray triangle last year and loved it. Cracking part of the world on a bike.

The nice weather helped.

So, I think I’ve made my mind up for riding this week, although Friday and Saturday can change based on how I feel.

Tuesday

• Glentress with my son.

Wednesday

• Drive up to Ballater
• Ride at Tarland and maybe Aboyne too.

Thursday

• Mount Keen, Heartbreak Ridge, Mastermind loop.

Friday

• Glenlivet
• Something else?

Saturday

• Not sure, maybe a return to Aboyne/Tarland
• Head home

Real question is what bike to take. I think I’ll take 2, my Hello Dave for the steeper, trickier stuff and Scalpel SE for the easier rides.

Tuesday

Glentress with my son.

Got full waterproofs, and spares?

It’s pi55ing down 1/2 hour away, and has done since last night…

April can be glorious in Scotland quite hot, it can also pour down, then again freezing hail and snow. All in one day.

Enjoy your holiday either way, stay safe and make the most of your time.

We did a very similar trip with friends last week. Got lucky with weather, compared to initial forecast, and had a great week. Was thankful for the mudguards on my MTB though.

Thursday morning – Kirkhill (Aberdeen) for a quick loop

Friday – Walk at Balmoral and Dinnet. Camped at Dinnet overnight.

Saturday – Tarland – mainly sunny but cold

Sunday – Glenlivet  – great fun

Monday – walk at Aviemore/Cairngorm

Tuesday – Laggan – rode in rain tor first 45 minutes – only rain of the week when on the bike

Wednesday – Falkirk Wheel and Kelpies – raining all day

Thursday – Glentress all day

Friday – drove home – snow on hills in Peebles and most of the way until Perth

Mt Keen had a fair bit of snow around the top when we were at Tarland, and a friend rode Heartbreak ridge and said there was snow there on the Saturday and it was really muddy.

Unsurprisingly, all the new trails (Tarland, Laggan new stuff, Glentress new stuff) was pretty well drained. Parts of Black loop at Glentress were very wet last week and assume may be worse now.

Wherever you go I’m sure you’ll have fun.

Did Heartbreak last Sunday, it was seriously muddy. There was a decent amount of snow around too ready to melt,  and rain since which will only add to the situation. Front brake totally packed in on the descent and even the grippiest rocks in the world were struggling. Excellent fun as always but was very cold and very wet by the time we rolled into the far too posh cafe at Ballater train station- Just a warning!

GT today is fine, a wee bit rainy but hardly any puddles on the new trails. It’s the wind that was more troubling on the new descents. All good though. 👍

Cheers for the info everyone. My few days in Aberdeenshire and Speyside have been very memorable with plenty of fantastic riding.

Tuesday at GT with my son was good, a bit damp and windy but nothing which spoilt our fun. The wind would be an ongoing thing all week.

Wednesday I drove up rode at Aboyne. It rained when I out on the trails and by the end I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. Great trails though and I only rode few of them (Chutney and Relish were very good, as expected).

Thursday I went to Glenlivet, the weather was loads better and the sun even made an appearance. Still windy so tried to keep my wheels on the ground. Amazing trails, I really enjoyed them, maybe it’s because I was riding a lightweight full sus, as the trails really came alive when you put the effort in. Probably my favourite trail centre.

Friday, Tarland today and it immediately stole “my favourite trail centre” title from Glenlivet (sorry Glenlivet), who only held it for a day! The day was very warm (for Scotland) with the car saying it was 22 degrees. The wind was still fierce but only affected the top of the red and some of the lower blues.

I knew it was all going too well, thankfully it just cost me money and no injuries. Snap! I looked back towards my saddle and there was only part of the rails there, I’d managed to break my saddle, thankfully it was just at the bottom of the trail with no real incident (TF!). A quick trip Ballater for a new saddle and a bite to eat then it was back for more riding at Tarland. What a day. Topped 2000 metres of ascent (and the more important descent) for the day, got to make the most of things when the sun shines.

Saturday (today), after consulting the weather I decided that staying local to Ballater/Dinnet gave me the best chance of getting a ride in as long as I set out early. Mount Keen it was. What a ride!  The sun was mostly out but more so was the wind, especially at the top. It was pretty hairy up there. Thankfully I had a bike I could use for support, like an old man with his zimmer. The top section was out the question as it was getting blasted by a side wind. The next section was bliss. My brakes were stinking by the bottom. Had enough time to site outside a cafe to eat my late breakfast before the rain came on.

I’ll be back, I’m just not sure when but hopefully sooner than later.

Happy days.

Sounds great! I’m off up there next week – hoping to ride more natural trails, but sure the built stuff will keep us busy if ground conditions don’t play ball.