My pal Cath and I loved a bike-and-hike journey to the distant Scottish property of Corrour. We bagged two Munros, Sgòr Gaibhre and Càrn Dearg, and the Corbett, Meall na Meoig – Beinn Pharlagain.

Bikepacking, wild tenting – and dinner at a restaurant

Cath and I left a automobile beside the B846, reverse a observe finish signposted “Public Footpath to Ft William by Corrour”. It is a couple of kilometres shy of Rannoch Station.

We rode our bikes on a tough observe to Corrour Station. The space was virtually 16km and 380m of ascent.

We had all of the equipment we would want to camp after which stroll the mountains the subsequent day packed into luggage, bike-packs and in rucksacks. See equipment checklist under.

This isn’t a simple bike trip, particularly when carrying all your personal equipment, as a result of there’s fairly a little bit of climb. Nevertheless, it’s straightforward to navigate.

The views are additionally lovely. It takes solely minutes to really feel like you might be in a really distant panorama.

In the direction of the top of the trip, I questioned if we have been ever going to see Loch Ossian, which is on the coronary heart of Corrour. Lastly, as we crested the final hill, we noticed the attractive waters under us.

Loch Ossian Youth Hostel is positioned on the finish of the loch however it was totally booked.

We rode alongside a brief part of the southern shore of the loch, heading west and in the direction of our night meal.

Assembly mates for dinner at Corrour

My pal Myrid had booked an evening on the Sign Field lodging along with her son Rowan. She had urged I meet her and Ro for a night meal at Corrour Station Restaurant. This gave Cath and I a wonderful cause to cycle to Corrour. Two extra of Myrid’s mates, Lindsay and Kirsten, joined us.

Myrid, Ro and her mates had used the West Highland Line practice service to entry Corrour.

We loved an outstanding meal and drink – the meals is superb and the workers are nice – earlier than Cath and I retired to our tents. We’re lucky in Scotland to have the ability to wild camp and the one problem was discovering a flat and comfortable space of floor for 2 tents that was not moist and boggy.

Cycle, plus two Munros and a Corbett

I had lengthy had my eye on a route on foot to finish two Munros, Sgòr Gaibhre and Càrn Dearg, and the Corbett, Meall na Meoig – Beinn Pharlagain. Whereas I’d beforehand walked the 2 Munros as a part of my first Munro spherical, I had not bagged the Corbett.

Cath was new to all three summits and since she is coaching for the Dragon’s Again Race this 12 months, she was eager to get some elevation in her legs.

We awoke to a a vibrant and sunny day. In a single day temperatures had dipped under zero and we had frost on our tents.

After a camp breakfast, we packed up our tenting equipment and reattached it to our bikes. Saying goodbye to Myrid, we headed again alongside the observe in the direction of Rannoch. Some 4km earlier than reaching the street, we stopped, parked our bikes and headed uphill on foot in the direction of the mountain summits.

The route took us in a clockwise course to Càrn Dearg first, then Sgòr Gaibhre and on to the Corbett, Meall na Meoig on the Beinn Pharlagain ridge.

We completely loved the route with fabulous views. Cath is nice firm and she or he by no means complains concerning the distance or the rugged route. You want a companion like this when taking over a difficult journey.

After reclaiming our bikes, we rode joyfully downhill again to my van.

One factor I did notice is that whereas the gravel bike is superb for uphills and on the flat, eve on tough and rugged tracks, when going downhill I miss the suspension of a mountain bike. My arms and shoulders have been fairly jarred and sore by the top of the trip.

Equipment checklist for Corrour bike and hike

Gravel bike or mountain bike: The observe is tough and steep in locations.

I’ve a Liv Dedicate Superior 1 gravel bike.

Bike packs, luggage hooked up to a pannier rack and/or rucksack.

I take advantage of Alpkit’s wonderful bike packs. I’ve a Koala 13l and a handlebar bag. I additionally carried equipment in an Osprey Talon Earth 22 rucksack.

Light-weight tent: I considered a bivvy bag, such because the Out of doors Analysis Helium Bivy (weights 450g) however I wasn’t eager on a bivvy bag in very chilly tempertures.

As a substitute, I took my previous one-person Mountain Hardwear tent that weighs round 800g. They don’t make this mannequin one anymore.

Check out my posts:

Sleeping bag: I took a Therm-a-rest Hyperion™ 20F/-6C Sleeping Bag. Weighs 580g. It’s a beautiful bag that feels light-weight and fluffed up when contained in the bag. I used to be simply heat sufficient (I additionally wore a light-weight down jacket in a single day) for temperatures that dipped under zero at Corrour. I see one on the market on Amazon.

Inflatable mattress: Sea To Summit Ether Mild XT Mat. That is light-weight and actually comfy.

Pillow: Cath took a Sea to Summit inflatable pillow. I merely stuffed a small dry bag with extra garments.

Cooking system: MSR windburner range and low press equipment. Plus a small gasoline canister, lighter, foldable plastic cup and spork.

I made a decision to have contemporary espresso for breakfast, plus granola and a squeezy yoghurt. Cath went to 2 with two boiled eggs and pre-made toast troopers. My espresso press addition to the MSR range labored a deal with.

A lot of meals and snacks for the biking and mountaineering.

Two comfortable flasks of water. It was straightforward to seek out contemporary water at Corrour.

Garments:

Biking equipment: Padded shorts, t-shirt, baselayer, light-weight waterproof jacket (Montane Backbone Gore-tex jacket), long-fingered biking gloves, bike helmet, path footwear for biking and mountaineering.

Plus puncture restore equipment, spare internal tube, bike pump.

Climbing equipment: Skort, tights, contemporary t-shirt, insulated jacket, further gloves, waterproof trousers, buff, Final Path Journey Vest 5 pack. I see the pack is on the market on Wiggle.

Different stuff: I additionally had Silva Path Runner Free H head torch, map, compass, iphone with routes loaded on to OS Maps app, sun shades, money, ear-plugs, small pot of moisteriser (doubles as solar lotion), toothbrush and toothpaste, moist wipes, bathroom paper, small bag for toileting (we we lucky to have the ability to use the Corrour station bogs) and emergecny bivvy bag. Cath carried a small first help equipment and bike lock as properly.

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