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Weather: Cold, heavy showers, strong headwind
Stats: 45.0 miles; ave speed moving: 10.1 mph
Counties: Highland
GPS track map: Link here
Many LEJOGgers describe the leg through the Flow Country as one of the highlights: miles of cycling on mainly flat roads through remote countryside. Unfortunately, we had to battle a very strong Northerly headwind, driving intermittent heavy showers. The directions were perhaps the simplest we have had: take the A836, then turn right on to the B873: there aren't many roads in these parts. We stopped at the Crask Inn, a former drover's inn, for our morning break. It was good to get in the warm, and the friendly landlord laid on some excellent coffee, better than our normal instant.
We then battled on. The country is pretty flat, and on a day with no wind I could probably average 15 mph. With this headwind however I struggled to do 7. We turned off onto the B873 along Strathnaver, scene of many evictions during the Highland clearances. It would have been nice to explore the Stathnaver Trail between the various locations, but unfortunately the weather meant that most of us just wanted to get to the hotel ASAP. But the few breaks in the weather showed that in better conditions, this would be a beautiful ride.
It was great to finally arrive on the North coast of Scotland, at the rugged, sweeping sandy bay of Bettyhill. Everyone is now geared up for the final leg of our great adventure tomorrow. Journey's end is in sight.
Next day
Weather: Cold, heavy showers, strong headwind
Stats: 45.0 miles; ave speed moving: 10.1 mph
Counties: Highland
GPS track map: Link here
Many LEJOGgers describe the leg through the Flow Country as one of the highlights: miles of cycling on mainly flat roads through remote countryside. Unfortunately, we had to battle a very strong Northerly headwind, driving intermittent heavy showers. The directions were perhaps the simplest we have had: take the A836, then turn right on to the B873: there aren't many roads in these parts. We stopped at the Crask Inn, a former drover's inn, for our morning break. It was good to get in the warm, and the friendly landlord laid on some excellent coffee, better than our normal instant.
We then battled on. The country is pretty flat, and on a day with no wind I could probably average 15 mph. With this headwind however I struggled to do 7. We turned off onto the B873 along Strathnaver, scene of many evictions during the Highland clearances. It would have been nice to explore the Stathnaver Trail between the various locations, but unfortunately the weather meant that most of us just wanted to get to the hotel ASAP. But the few breaks in the weather showed that in better conditions, this would be a beautiful ride.
It was great to finally arrive on the North coast of Scotland, at the rugged, sweeping sandy bay of Bettyhill. Everyone is now geared up for the final leg of our great adventure tomorrow. Journey's end is in sight.
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| A836 out of Lairg |
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| Approaching the Crask Inn: it was a day of rainbows |
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| Mal exchanges agricultural notes with the landlord of the Crask Inn |
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| Probably the most remote NCN sign in Britain |
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| Crofts at Grumbeg on Loch Naver destroyed during the Highland clearances |
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| Our first sighting of a John o' groats sign |
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| Arriving at Bettyhill |
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