Inspire me (bikepacking trip)

I’ve been toying with the idea of getting the Caledonian sleeper to Inverness, doing the badger divide, then returning from Glasgow via sleeper again to London. I’ve got 3 whole days available for cycling, but pushed for time for the travelling bit, hence using the sleeper.

Being a Jock, living in the South Downs, I’ve hankered for a trip in the highlands but just can’t seem to justify the logistics and cost.

So, with 3 whole days available, but limited for travel time either end, can anyone suggest anything else? I’ve did the South Downs to death by the way! 😉

Mid Wales bothy trip. Start at or near Llanwrtyd Wells. I’d suggest close to the Devil’s Staircase, near to Doll Goch Hostel. There are bothies at Moel Prysgau, Nant Syddion, Nant Rhys, Claer Ddu and Lluest Cwm Bach. All are on the MBA website except Claerddu. There are a shedload of routes interlinking some or all of them through some of the emptiest countryside south of the Great Glen.

Ooh, tempting. Ill research.

A few of us did a sleeper train trip once to ride for a few days out of Fort William, gravel / bikepacking / hostel type trip. It was great, recommended. The sleeper train isn’t cheap but waking up and seeing the view out of the window is hard to beat, was itching to get pedalling! (it was fairly clear and sunny).

Mid Wales is a good shout though, not quite Scottish levels of scenery but I keep going back out of choice hving ridden in plenty of more ‘exotic’ locations – the fact I can get there from my door on the bike or by train really adds to the appeal of the trip overall. From London out to the south west eg Stroud’s on that same line, puts you within 2 hrs ride of the bridge, from there it’s only a few hours to the Brecons. DM if that apeals and you want some route tips.

Another idea might be the ferry from Dover and 2-3 days riding just south of Calais? The riding in the Parc des Caps et Marais d’Opale is beautful, quiet roads and little villages with Bar Tabacs for a morning coffee and easy wild camping. Every time I’ve gone that way I’ve been straight into ‘full France touring feeling’ only 5-10km outside Calais.

We went on hol just outside Calais  last year and enjoyed it. I was thinking it’d be a nice ‘easy’ spot for a bikepacking trip. I was daydreaming about train down to Folkestone, wild camp and get the Le Shuttle minibus onto the train and into Calais. As jameso says there are great places to visit there, especially along the coast, and plenty of scope for wild camping.

one of my all-time fantasy trips is to take the sleeper and get off at Corrour, imagine that, arriving there by train at nine and just setting off into the wilds… it’d be amazing!

21:15 London Euston (EUS)

08:58 Corrour (CRR)

@tractionman – I had a look at prices just now and it all looked OK (if in a seat at £79, not a £300 room), but it seems you can’t get on or off with a bike at Corrour on the sleeper train, as the train is too long and I assume the bike’s stored in the bit not on the platform…Seems a shame!

Intrigued by stuff near Calais, as it’s so close if you’re in the south. Same is true of Normandy from Portsmouth/Poole, lots of interesting things to see, and much cheaper than train travel to Scotland, and you can just roll your bike on and off the ferry.

EDIT: forgot to add another good and interesting option is going by train to Arran via Ardrossan ferry. Very doable logistically, and Arran looks brilliant for riding for a couple of days. Can also be a leg of a journey linking up Kintyre, Islay and Jura and back via Oban and train home…

ah that’s a shame about the sleeper constraints, and £300, blimey!

yes, another lovely trip I reckon would be to take the ferry to Spain, eg https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-spain/portsmouth-spain, I have my eye on something like this from Ireland (our ferry to Spain goes direct from Rosslare)… though again it is pricey as a cabin is required, even as a foot passenger with a bike!

we can but dream…

Thanks folks!

I did France last year. I live near Portsmouth so overnight ferry to cherbourg, 2 days cycling the normandy coast then overnight ferry back from Ouistream. Lovely trip.

I’m from Ayrshire so saving Arran for when I can drive to mum and dads, leave the car and take in mull of kintyre then round to Bute as a larger trip.

After looking at the OS map for the Cambrian area, I’d be very tempted to work out a trip there. Would probably drive as its about 4 different trains to get there.

Still got an itch for the badger though. Logistics don’t seem too bad. Train to Waterloo from Winchester. Cycle over to Euston. Do the route. Only concern is if I ended up sharing a cabin with someone and I stink it out. Theres showers at Glasgow Central though!

Sod it, I’ve booked the sleeper and going to do the badger over 3 days. It’s not cheap but with veterans rail card it’s a pretty decent discount.

Now to research the route in depth…

There’s more climbing than you realise between Inverness and Fort A, and then realise that Fort A is at sea level and the top of the Pass is 2500ft…

What bike you using?

Shand Bahookie set up hard tail. Going to try and get to Melgarve bothy on the first day but seeing conflicting things about it being open?

At the more relaxing end of the spectrum…

Eurostar to Paris then Train to Nantes (or a station along that line).

Cycle back to Paris along the Loire Valley

Eurostar back.

Bloomin lovely trip.

I reckon I could convince the wife to do that, as long as some nice acomodation was acquired!

I reckon I could convince the wife to do that, as long as some nice acomodation was acquired!

Do it! i took the other half and she loved it. Loads of ace towns along the route and tons of airbnb options. You go through plenty of vineyards and can do some wine tasting too.

Shand Bahookie set up hard tail. Going to try and get to Melgarve bothy on the first day but seeing conflicting things about it being open?

I did see a video on YouTube recently where they said that, but then saw another where it was open.

HT will be fine.

When I did it I got into Inverness on the 8pm train, rode a couple of hours and then camped.  The next day rode thru and camped 10 miles short of Loch Ossian after a 3 course lunch in Fort A 🙂

Obviously a lot will depend on the weather/mechanicals etc. If it’s looking dry and I can use the bothy I’ll take the bivvy set up, if not, I’ll take my hubba bubba.

Once I get to FA I’ll assess whether to push on over the pass or stop short.