So I’m catching the overnight sleeper to Inverness next week and riding a circular route (Overnight in Applecross, Ullapool, Tongue) riding between 140 & 160k a day on a lightweight crosser in road guise (1×11, 28mm tyres) luggage limited to 4 or 5 litres (basically waterproofs, spare bibs, a few tools and small wash kit) . Aside from preparing for bad weather any other advice? (I appreciate I might see the irony of this further down the line but was wondering about how easy to fill water bottles on the route) Any thoughts?

MSR trailshot. refill your bottle anywhere you like.

Filling from streams and rivers is mostly ok. Usual rules about checking for dead sheep/remote houses etc.

Shops, pubs, garages will pop up occasionally.

Camp sites are another good source. They usually have an outside tap.

Church yards will usually have an outside tap for the house.

Maybe take a 3rd bottle if you’re the type that likes to drink a lot.

I cycle on and off road in remote Scotland all the time and the only occasion where I was short of water was because it was all frozen. Other than that, I never really think about it.

Other advice – carry food. A lot of places close down.

you are aware of the weather system incoming ? Dont go too lightweight m you may blow away ! it is very exposed up there in part to the weather.

Water is easy. see a moving stream – look up stream for a dead animal- if non . pick some up drink and move on.

MSR trailshot. refill your bottle anywhere you like.

careful now. Doesnt deal with viri.

But equally its scotland so refilling anywhere without a filter almost universally applies … and the places i wouldnt fill from i probably wouldnt fill from with a trailshot either….

Oh and take lights.

^^^ and an umbrella 🙂

good point there scotroutes – even during the day in scotland if the weathers bad, low cloud or driving rain and your on road youll want lights.

*Looks at weather forecast*

Pack a cottage with fire, a bottle of malt and a good book. Oh and waterproofs.

Everyone says the bit from Applecross to Torridon is harder than you think its going to be. They aren’t lying!

If you’re on parts of the nc500 route just be aware of idiots pretending to be Jeremy Clarkson. Was up there a couple of weeks ago and was surprised at the amount and speed of traffic.

Thanks for the updates, doesn’t look like water stops will be too much of an issue then , not riding till Wednesday am so hopefully ex hurricane Ophelia will have come and gone !

Just cycling with your mouth open next week should keep you well hydrated.

Seriously though. Just beaware tourist season is pretty much over so some places will be closed. Don’t expect much to be open in the villages after about 5.30 and if you are riding on Sundays it’s even more the case.

Lights, yep, watch out for the NC 500 idiots and enjoy the best scenery this island has to offer.

Squeeze in a couple more base layers – a mechanical, a wait for a hitch and you will freeze…

May well pass you between Braemore Junction and Laide on Thursday. If you get waved at by a bloke in a Rapido Motorhome I’m not an idiot tourist I live there!!

The café at the bottom of the Bealach na ba is nice for a refuel and coffee.

And the Whistle stop at Kinlochewe is also a welcome stop.

Grayling Ultralight. Biased though. I distribute them.