Glencoe Old Military Road ?

[Mike777]

Hi all

Has anyone used the old Military when travelling through Glencoe (West of the A82) from Altnafeadh to the Bridge of Orchy.. ?

Was apprehensive about using the A82 and this seems a good way of avoiding the main road..

Would welcome any views

Thanks for your time

Regards

Mike

[Mick F]

I think I'm correct in saying that that road was the old main road. Is it not the one that goes past the Clachaig Inn? Also the Kingshouse Hotel? I think the bulk of the Military Road is still there but the surface may not be good. The bridges over the streams were still in place when I last saw them. I seem to remember parts of that road before they build the awful new A82.

We used to go camping up in Glen Coe in the early 1980s at Red Squirrel Camp Site. The Old A82 was a good road back then east of Glencoe village, but bypassed by the new one. Back in the early 1970's when we lived up in Scotland previously, the Old road was still in use with main traffic, and you had to go right round Loch Leven as the Ballachulish Bridge hadn't been built.

Not been back there since 1992 or so, and I was driving on the new A82 then.

[Mike777]

This was the route I was looking at...............

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=360288

Thanks again

Mike

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Given that you will be following the West Highland Way for the vast majority of the time and your concerns (understandably and necessarily) are with the sections of the WHW that you will be following, why don't you have a peep at the WHW info.

From memory, the only issues I can recall - will be at the junction of the old miltary road with the tarmac'ed road at Victoria Bridge (end of the Loch Tulla section - lcation of all my childhood holidays). There is a gated and locked (?) entrance there and we always did the stile. Otherwise if I recall the crossing from one side of the railway to the other south of Bridge of Orchy was a narrow tunnel that you have to crawl - though I could be thinking of another section lower down at Tyndrum.

This obviously makes the assumption you are talking about a MTB or similar. I personally would not want to cycle that far on a cobbled road (the entire length you mention is cobble BTW) and when we do it later on next month (or May depending on my rehab), we will not be taking that route. I know it too well and the though to so far on a cobbled surface does not appeal to me. We will follow the A82 and go off down Glen Orchy instead, but then our touring bikes don't have suspension.

[irc]

THe old road is pretty poor at Altnafeah. From the junction with the Loch Etive Rd end the old road is good tarmac past the Kings House Hotel and up to the Glen Coe Ski Centre. Thereafter until Victoria Bridge it is a rough track. Doable on 700x35 but the wider the better.

Looking southeast towards Corrie Ba.

[bogmyrtle]

I wouldn't want to do that on a touring bike with panniers. By the time you've rattled along rough tracks risking damage to your bike, dodged walkers and lifted your bike over gates the A82 will begin to seem quite appealing.

[Mick F]

........... the A82 will begin to seem quite appealing.

Better still is the Old A9 instead.
Watch these movies on my blog, they'll show you what you're missing by going on the A82. Completely empty roads for mile after mile after mile. Honestly, I didn't see a single vehicle for mile after mile after mile.
http://jogleonachopper.blogspot.com/201 ... gh-on.html

[irc]

I wouldn't want to do that on a touring bike with panniers. By the time you've rattled along rough tracks risking damage to your bike, dodged walkers and lifted your bike over gates the A82 will begin to seem quite appealing.

Of course going N-S as the OP is almost all the walkers will see him coming as they walk the WHW S-N. No dodging required. There is only one gate between the Kings and Bridge of Orchy where the bike has to be lifted over a stile.

The poor surface would entail slower speeds and less comfort but 15 miles out of sight and sound of motor traffic is a benefit. At suitable speeds I don't think the risk of damage is high. Whether the extra time is well spent or the faster A82 mixing it with 70mph traffic is better is up to the OP. By the time the OP gets up the long climb from Glenn Coe village to Altnafeah he will have experienced enough of the road for a good decision on the day. Having cycled similar roads I'd be tempted by the WHW if I had 700x35 or wider tyres.


I would say it is worth trying to time it to avoid this section on a weekend. The A82 has huge variations in traffic volume. A traffic study in 2004 found that the section south of Crianlarich had traffic flows over 12 hours varying from a weekday in May at 2800 to 7700 for a weekend in August. At the higher figure that is a car passing every 6 seconds or so. The numbers show the benefit, if using the A82, of going on a weekday outwith July/August.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/fil ... rch_06.pdf

[Mick F]

.......... traffic flows over 12 hours varying from a weekday in May at 2800 ........

That's nearly four vehicle per minute. ie a vehicle every 15 seconds.
Sorry, that's busy.

Go on the Old A9 instead.

[Mike777]

.......... traffic flows over 12 hours varying from a weekday in May at 2800 ........

That's nearly four vehicle per minute. ie a vehicle every 15 seconds.
Sorry, that's busy.

Go on the Old A9 instead.

Old A9 sounds great .....however having problems locating it along this section of my route...how fair does it go

Can anyone please point me in the right direction...

Thanks

Mike

[Mick F]

The Old A9 goes from north of Perth and almost all the way to Inverness. For the most part, it's on B roads and unclassified bits. There is some cycle track too.

However, there are places you are best on the A9 itself depending on the direction N or S.

I've got to get out now, and I'll be busy for a while, but I'll get back to this later today. I'll include a full route of the Old A9.

TTFN.

[Mike777]

The Old A9 goes from north of Perth and almost all the way to Inverness. For the most part, it's on B roads and unclassified bits. There is some cycle track too.

However, there are places you are best on the A9 itself depending on the direction N or S.

I've got to get out now, and I'll be busy for a while, but I'll get back to this later today. I'll include a full route of the Old A9.

TTFN.

Mick

That sounds great......

As always apprecaite the help/support

Thanks

Mike

[Mick F]

Ok, here we go!

The following links to BRT are actual rides I've done. I tried to trace them out on BRT and BikeHikeUK, but Google maps they use don't allow the cycle tracks or the Old A9. They used to, coz I've done it! Trouble is, they don't now.

You'll see from my routes that the Drumochter Pass bit is missing. I've done the whole route before but never had a Garmin then. As I can't trace it out for you, that bit missing. Sorry. However, when you zoom in and go to Satelite, you can see the cycle track over Drumochter, so perhaps it can be traced out with "Follow Road" switched off. If you zoom right in, you can see the cycle track over the Pass.

The track is a good one. It goes over little bridges and up and down little hills, it's quite fun! The last time and the previous time up there, I've missed the track out and used the A9 itself. I don't find it too problematical for short sections.

Up near Daviot - just south of Inverness, there's no real alternative to the A9, but as it's not too long a section, it's not too bad.

Hope you can pick out what I'm going on about! Any questions, fire away!


http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360734 Pitlochry to Edinburgh - this is a brilliant route into Edinburgh city centre. Highly recommended. If you look, you'll see I made a navigational error at Bankfoot. I went onto the A9 for a short hop there.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360729 Inverness to Drumochter. This takes you up the Old A9 out of the city, on the A9 at Daviot for a short bit, then off via Moy.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360726 Pitlochry to Drumochter. This is a great ride into the highlands.

[Mike777]

Ok, here we go!

The following links to BRT are actual rides I've done. I tried to trace them out on BRT and BikeHikeUK, but Google maps they use don't allow the cycle tracks or the Old A9. They used to, coz I've done it! Trouble is, they don't now.

You'll see from my routes that the Drumochter Pass bit is missing. I've done the whole route before but never had a Garmin then. As I can't trace it out for you, that bit missing. Sorry. However, when you zoom in and go to Satelite, you can see the cycle track over Drumochter, so perhaps it can be traced out with "Follow Road" switched off. If you zoom right in, you can see the cycle track over the Pass.

The track is a good one. It goes over little bridges and up and down little hills, it's quite fun! The last time and the previous time up there, I've missed the track out and used the A9 itself. I don't find it too problematical for short sections.

Up near Daviot - just south of Inverness, there's no real alternative to the A9, but as it's not too long a section, it's not too bad.

Hope you can pick out what I'm going on about! Any questions, fire away!


http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360734 Pitlochry to Edinburgh - this is a brilliant route into Edinburgh city centre. Highly recommended. If you look, you'll see I made a navigational error at Bankfoot. I went onto the A9 for a short hop there.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360729 Inverness to Drumochter. This takes you up the Old A9 out of the city, on the A9 at Daviot for a short bit, then off via Moy.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360726 Pitlochry to Drumochter. This is a great ride into the highlands.

Thanks Mick will have a look I was miles off track

[Mike777]

Ok, here we go!

The following links to BRT are actual rides I've done. I tried to trace them out on BRT and BikeHikeUK, but Google maps they use don't allow the cycle tracks or the Old A9. They used to, coz I've done it! Trouble is, they don't now.

You'll see from my routes that the Drumochter Pass bit is missing. I've done the whole route before but never had a Garmin then. As I can't trace it out for you, that bit missing. Sorry. However, when you zoom in and go to Satelite, you can see the cycle track over Drumochter, so perhaps it can be traced out with "Follow Road" switched off. If you zoom right in, you can see the cycle track over the Pass.

The track is a good one. It goes over little bridges and up and down little hills, it's quite fun! The last time and the previous time up there, I've missed the track out and used the A9 itself. I don't find it too problematical for short sections.

Up near Daviot - just south of Inverness, there's no real alternative to the A9, but as it's not too long a section, it's not too bad.

Hope you can pick out what I'm going on about! Any questions, fire away!


http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360734 Pitlochry to Edinburgh - this is a brilliant route into Edinburgh city centre. Highly recommended. If you look, you'll see I made a navigational error at Bankfoot. I went onto the A9 for a short hop there.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360729 Inverness to Drumochter. This takes you up the Old A9 out of the city, on the A9 at Daviot for a short bit, then off via Moy.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=360726 Pitlochry to Drumochter. This is a great ride into the highlands.

I am miles off your route on the west going through Glasgow and up Loch Lomond before hitting the A82.

My conern was how busy the A82 is through Glencoe and whether there was a track just off this stretch of road which would be safer....

Can see something on google earth (map)http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=360288 but think it may not be do able with a bike fully load !

Regards

Mike