The Caledonia Way vs Lochs and Glens Way

[rollersinstinct]

I'm looking to cycle from Inverness to Glasgow and debating taking either the Caledonia Way (https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other- ... donia-way/) albeit leaving the route at Portavadie or via the Lochs and Glens Way (https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other- ... glens-way/) in May, then continuing on to Carlisle.

I'll be travelling south rather than what seems the usual north and I'll be travelling with a gravel bike so comfortable on anything from tarmac up to bridleways although would prefer not too much in the way of hike a bike

Keen to hear pros and cons of these routes from those who've done them. Sustrans website is useful but there's nothing quite like hearing from the accounts of people who've done it themselves.

[Boring_Username]

We did more or less the Caledonia Way a few years ago. It was lovely.

The track that runs along the north west edge of the amusingly named Loch Lochy is pretty rough - big stones embedded in the track rather than roots. But doable on say 32c tyres for a normal weight man. (Sadly I am rather above normal weight and was on 25c - I made it, but only by standing up for an hour or so!)

[Paulatic]

Difficult choice as both are good routes.
Before Covid I had bookmarked the Caledonian way mixed with some of the Great North Trail to reach Glasgow.

[rollersinstinct]

Thanks for advice, interesting when you ask which of two choices you should take and a third choice pops up

[hogkite]

I've ridden both back in 2014/2015 and as others have said both are nice routes. When I rode The Caledonia Way I did it south to north but started from Dumfries. Seeing you are going to Carlisle this may be an option for you. I got inter-city to Carlisle and then local train to Dumfries. I then rode from Dumfries to Ardrossen and then got the ferry over to Cambeltown. The section up from Cambeltown up to Glencoe is one of my favourites. Both rides on hybrid, no problem at all.