Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?

[thegreatpan]

I regrettably had to bail from my JOGLE attempt due to an injury combined with adverse weather in the Cairngorms, I was only two days into it, the Berriedale Braes were the only significant climbs that I did. The A9 started to get busy at Golspie, so I guess the comments about this earlier in this thread are about spot on.

[Jamesh]

Sorry to hear it.
Hope the injury isn't too serious.
The weather recently has been awful.
Been to Halfords to get some overshoes!!

Cheers James

[mkbutters]

Just make sure you avoid the A9 .... go via Crask Inn / Bettyhill etc

[Andy Mac]

Hello All,

Some great comments on the LEJOG route, i recently purchased Royston Wood's book 'End to End cycle route - the safe way which was really interesting, although Mike Butters suggests going for a flatter route and cuts out the A9 northerly section and goes through the middle up through Sutherland.
Presently, a Pal and i are trying to organise an unsupported charity ride starting in John o Groats to Lands End (JOGLE) in late Sept / early Oct this year. This would avoid summer holiday traffic and still taking advantage of the late summer weather & light. The Plan is to do it in 9/10 days from end to end with pre-booked accommodation. Any info on this particular route welcome and appreciated. If anyone also has files for download onto a Gamin Edge 520 that would be great using Mike's route. We like the idea keeping away from busy roads and taking the safer option, clearly this wont be the fastest option but we don't mind spending 9 hours on the saddle to keep the mileage up.
The bikes will be kitted out with the appropriate touring tyres and panniers for the trip. A brooks B17 touring saddle was also recommended which i am going to buy soon. Also very aware that we have to travel as light as possible.

Any details of the JOGLE route appreciated
Thanks Andy Mackay

[pwa]

Hello All,

Some great comments on the LEJOG route, i recently purchased Royston Wood's book 'End to End cycle route - the safe way which was really interesting, although Mike Butters suggests going for a flatter route and cuts out the A9 northerly section and goes through the middle up through Sutherland.
Presently, a Pal and i are trying to organise an unsupported charity ride starting in John o Groats to Lands End (JOGLE) in late Sept / early Oct this year. This would avoid summer holiday traffic and still taking advantage of the late summer weather & light. The Plan is to do it in 9/10 days from end to end with pre-booked accommodation. Any info on this particular route welcome and appreciated. If anyone also has files for download onto a Gamin Edge 520 that would be great using Mike's route. We like the idea keeping away from busy roads and taking the safer option, clearly this wont be the fastest option but we don't mind spending 9 hours on the saddle to keep the mileage up.
The bikes will be kitted out with the appropriate touring tyres and panniers for the trip. A brooks B17 touring saddle was also recommended which i am going to buy soon. Also very aware that we have to travel as light as possible.

Any details of the JOGLE route appreciated
Thanks Andy Mackay

You will want to get a few hundred miles into that saddle to get it up to max comfort for the big ride. So allow time for that.

[kevsKeys]

I did it in 2020 , I think sections are out of date , I switched to the latest Cicerone route at Inverness & if doing it again would base it on this route .If using a ALT bike I'd go more diagonally from the Cask inn to JOG & cut out the coast from Betty hill .

[matt2matt2002]

I did it in 2020 , I think sections are out of date , I switched to the latest Cicerone route at Inverness & if doing it again would base it on this route .If using a ALT bike I'd go more diagonally from the Cask inn to JOG & cut out the coast from Betty hill .

That route from the Crask Inn sounds very interesting.
I couldn't find a route on my phone map.
Could you please talk me through it?
Many thanks

Matt

[Paulatic]

Maybe Kev's considering The Great North Trail?
When I’ve looked and thought of doing it the view from the gate puts me off.

Page 161 https://issuu.com/ctc_cyclists/docs/cyc ... il_all__1_

[puffin]

[/quote]

That route from the Crask Inn sounds very interesting.
I couldn't find a route on my phone map.
Could you please talk me through it?
Many thanks

Matt
[/quote]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47330008

Hi Matt
Its a brilliant route, I've done it a few times. Leaving Inverness I've plotted to go via Dingwall then picking up the "old road" which runs parallel to the A9 till Alness. As an alternative, I usually I go across the Crommerty bridge via Munlochry on the Black Isle, but this then means a short, scary bit on the A9 north of the bridge till you get to a side turn up to the old road.

At Alness you branch inland to Bonar Bridge. There are a couple of "river climbs" where the road crosses rivers, then a climb towards Bonar Bridge, the subsequent descent is awesome! At the Bonar Bridge you can choose not to turn right across the bridge and instead carry straight on for a few miles to Invershin and cross the rail and footbridge which does involve carrying your bike up and down some steps. I've also heard it may now be closed but I'm not sure. At Invershin there is a wonderful hotel which I have often used.

After Bonar Bridge you can use one of two parallel roads to Lairg, the older one to the west and the newer one to the east, they are both fine, the older one being more picturesque.

Once through Lairg things get good. You do a gentle climb through highland scenery to the Crask Inn (a great place to stay or even just have a stop at), shortly after which you start a long and beautiful descent into Altnaharra passing an awesome wind farm. At Altnaharra you ignore the road to Tongue, instead turning right along the edge of the beautiful Loch Naver following its resultant river all the way to Bettyhill. Halfway along the loch there is a carravan / RV site which sells ice creams. From the Crask Inn to the approaches to Bettyhill there are no big climbs and at 800 miles plus into the trip you will probably set a blistering pace. About 20 miles short of Bettyhill there is a glamping place called the Wee Hoos which is excellent.

On the short climb into Bettyhill you'll see the estuary on your left with sandy beaches and dunes. They look normal till you see horses or people on them, which suddenly give scale to their enormous size. The Bettyhill Hotel is good, especially if you get the Atlantic Room, but quite expensive.

Out of Bettyhill you have a few steep climbs, and every cyclist you see is probably doing LEJOG or JOGLE, so give a wave. The coast flattens out, and you pass the scary Dounray power station. You go through Thurso (great Lidl there as you approach) then its on to JOG. Even though JOG is not beautiful, your sense of achievement will trump that, and you'll be touched by how impressed and friendly other visitors are...you will have no trouble getting people to take your photo.

Somewhere in JOG there's a book to sign, it used to be in the cafe nearest the finishing post.
.

[matt2matt2002]

That route from the Crask Inn sounds very interesting.
I couldn't find a route on my phone map.
Could you please talk me through it?
Many thanks

Matt
[/quote]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47330008

Hi Matt
Its a brilliant route, I've done it a few times. Leaving Inverness I've plotted to go via Dingwall then picking up the "old road" which runs parallel to the A9 till Alness. As an alternative, I usually I go across the Crommerty bridge via Munlochry on the Black Isle, but this then means a short, scary bit on the A9 north of the bridge till you get to a side turn up to the old road.

At Alness you branch inland to Bonar Bridge. There are a couple of "river climbs" where the road crosses rivers, then a climb towards Bonar Bridge, the subsequent descent is awesome! At the Bonar Bridge you can choose not to turn right across the bridge and instead carry straight on for a few miles to Invershin and cross the rail and footbridge which does involve carrying your bike up and down some steps. I've also heard it may now be closed but I'm not sure. At Invershin there is a wonderful hotel which I have often used.

After Bonar Bridge you can use one of two parallel roads to Lairg, the older one to the west and the newer one to the east, they are both fine, the older one being more picturesque.

Once through Lairg things get good. You do a gentle climb through highland scenery to the Crask Inn (a great place to stay or even just have a stop at), shortly after which you start a long and beautiful descent into Altnaharra passing an awesome wind farm. At Altnaharra you ignore the road to Tongue, instead turning right along the edge of the beautiful Loch Naver following its resultant river all the way to Bettyhill. Halfway along the loch there is a carravan / RV site which sells ice creams. From the Crask Inn to the approaches to Bettyhill there are no big climbs and at 800 miles plus into the trip you will probably set a blistering pace. About 20 miles short of Bettyhill there is a glamping place called the Wee Hoos which is excellent.

On the short climb into Bettyhill you'll see the estuary on your left with sandy beaches and dunes. They look normal till you see horses or people on them, which suddenly give scale to their enormous size. The Bettyhill Hotel is good, especially if you get the Atlantic Room, but quite expensive.

Out of Bettyhill you have a few steep climbs, and every cyclist you see is probably doing LEJOG or JOGLE, so give a wave. The coast flattens out, and you pass the scary Dounray power station. You go through Thurso (great Lidl there as you approach) then its on to JOG. Even though JOG is not beautiful, your sense of achievement will trump that, and you'll be touched by how impressed and friendly other visitors are...you will have no trouble getting people to take your photo.

Somewhere in JOG there's a book to sign, it used to be in the cafe nearest the finishing post.
.
[/quote]

Thanks Puffin but KevKeys says he'd cut out Betty hill. From Lairg/ Crask Inn.

I've done your route and it's lovely. Thanks.

I wonder how Kev misses out the Betty hill, hills/ coast?

Matt

[Paulatic]

[

Thanks Puffin but KevKeys says he'd cut out Betty hill. From Lairg/ Crask Inn.

I wonder how Kev misses out the Betty hill, hills/ coast?

Matt

Kev said

If using a ALT bike I'd go more diagonally from the Cask inn to JOG & cut out the coast from Betty hill .

I understand ALT as being an alternative bike and the only possible turn at the Crask is the GNT which is definitely big tyre country.

[A7 Simon]

Ref. my other post

The GNT east of Crask is not rideable for a few miles.

I definitely would not include it in a touring JoGLE route.

I have the route my wife an I did south to north in 2018, the spec was "as few hills and main roads as possible" and it worked pretty well for us.

[Brianjeff50]

The route from Bonar Bridge via Crask and Loch Naver is one of my fondest memories of my trip. A true wilderness. Along the side of the Loch are (were anyway) various information boards about the Highland Clearances in the area - well worth reading.
Then there’s the memorable first glimpse of the sandy northern shore at Bettyhill. And the hotel is a fine one if you can afford a treat.
I found the final run across to JoG fairly hard work - I was quite knackered by then - but did the extra handful of miles to visit Dunnet Head lighthouse, the actual northernmost point in the mainland.