Great North Trail

[Richard Fairhurst]

Interesting initiative by Cycling UK: a mostly off-road, bikepacking-style route continuing the Pennine Bridleway up to John O'Groats.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release ... ountryside
https://www.cyclinguk.org/current-campa ... orth-trail

I'm guessing this will form part of the planned off-road Land's End to John O'Groats route. Looks like some superb riding from a cursory glance.

(Two slight nitpicks: using OpenStreetMap maps without giving credit, as at https://www.cyclinguk.org/route/great-n ... cape-wrath, is contrary to the licence and a really sucky thing to do given that OSM is funded and made by volunteers; bit of a shame I found out about this via Facebook rather than Cycling UK posting it on Cycling UK's own forum.)

[Si]

Yep, just had it pop up on fbook too. Looks very interesting....possibly an ideal gravel bike route?

[Sweep]

I think there was a BBC article on it as well.

Looks very interesting.

And may be best to explore it soon in case it attracts too many people.

Since there's a gpx I'm not too bothered about signage, but does anyone have any idea what the situation will be like with regard to barriers/obstructions?

For I would be using panniers.

[Jamesh]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-49541621

Looks good!

[Paulatic]

I really don’t see hoards of people doing it certainly not as a oner. People will be riding sections of it and probably not a lot more than the numbers riding those sections now. As a route it doesn’t directly go anywhere. There will be some permissive sections no doubt and I wouldn’t expect easy opening gates on all of it. Be prepared for some lifting.

Edit: I thought it was ringing a bell...back in April https://www.anturasmor.co.uk/gpx

[mnichols]

:

Edit: I thought it was ringing a bell...back in April https://www.anturasmor.co.uk/gpx

Only got my phone at the moment. Is this the route file for the whole thing?

[mnichols]

I'm guessing this will form part of the planned off-road Land's End to John O'Groats route.

When will this be launched?

[Paulatic]

:

Edit: I thought it was ringing a bell...back in April https://www.anturasmor.co.uk/gpx

Only got my phone at the moment. Is this the route file for the whole thing?

That just Scotland, they send it by email and welcome a donation.

[IainMcB]

I rode the section from Glasgow to Loch Laggan. It goes through some great territory,
One downside is that it follows the West Highland Way out of Milngavie, most of the way to Drymen. This can be really busy with heavily laden walkers, and I'd give it a miss during busy times of year.

[RickH]

... Two slight nitpicks: using OpenStreetMap maps without giving credit, as at https://www.cyclinguk.org/route/great-n ... cape-wrath, is contrary to the licence and a really sucky thing to do given that OSM is funded and made by volunteers

I don't know if it has been added since you wrote this but there is a copyright at the bottom right corner of maps - admittedly, at least on my PC browser (Firefox), it is very tiny writing. On the phone version of Firefox I get an "i" in a box in the bottom right corner instead which opens an OSM copyright in much more readable text.

...bit of a shame I found out about this via Facebook rather than Cycling UK posting it on Cycling UK's own forum.)

This forum is a user forum with no official Cycling UK presence. I had info via the "Cycleclips" email newsletter direct from Cycling UK & announcemts seemed to be all over the Internet, including many cycling websites, BBC news website/app, Cycling UK Facebook page (& probably places such as Twitter where I seldom go).

[andrew_s]

I've done the route north from Loch Glascarnoch to Gobernuisgach (on the road south of Loch Hope), as part if an Inverness to Tongue and back ride a few years back.
It's all rideable perfectly OK on a touring bike, though you may find 35-40 mm tyres useful for comfort. If you are lucky, you won't meet a moving motor vehicle.
There's also a route up Strath Rusdale to the river Carron at Alladale lodge that I took on the northbound leg, and is (IMO) even better, but I dare say that doesn't link up as well.

I also noticed the other week that the path between Rannoch station and Corrour station has been upgraded to a good track, with a much smoother and more cycle friendly surface than is usual on such single landrover tracks.
Does anyone have any idea whether the GNT has had any impact in the improvement - i.e. whether there's any associated budget

[Oldjohnw]

Talking of Rannoch Station: I saw this unusual mode of transport when I cycled there last year.

[Cyril Haearn]

A TSO, Train-shaped-object, or Thunderbird Eight?

[Oldjohnw]

It is used for track work. Much of the track cannot be accessed by road.

[coinneach]

Anyone got an up to date phone number for the ferryman at Durness? The one in the August/September Cycle magazine is wrong
(and the October November articles about Cape wrath don’t mention it)