An important two day bike-and-hike journey to Corrour with my buddy Cath.

The straightforward approach? No thanks!

When a buddy from southern England requested if I’d like to hitch her and her younger son for dinner at considered one of Scotland’s most distant pubs, I made a decision I might flip the journey into an journey.

Like Myrid and Rowan, it will have been potential for me to journey by practice on the West Highland Line to achieve Corrour Station Home Restaurant, on the coronary heart of the huge Corrour Property on the sting of Rannoch Moor within the Highlands. 

I may have additionally booked into the Sign Field Lodging, identical to the mom and son, for a cushty in a single day in a unusual B&B, positioned on the platform of the UK’s highest mainline station.

However, as a substitute, my aspirations have been for a wilder and extra budget-friendly expertise. I got here up with two-day plan for a bikepacking journey that would come with the dinner with buddies, a wild camp and a hike of three mountains.

I invited considered one of my native buddies Cath, who, like me, was completely satisfied to eschew the fashionable luxuries of railways and a room with an en suite.

Except for the practice, the one approach for the general public to achieve Corrour is by bike or on foot. So, whereas Myrid and seven-year-old Rowan loved the practice journey, Cath and I cycled on a tough and undulating observe to the south of the property, having left a automotive along with a slim, no-through-road between the small settlements of Kinloch Rannoch and Rannoch Station in Perth and Kinross. 

On the first hill, which got here shortly, we may really feel the sudden heaviness of our bikes laden with packs filled with all of the gadgets we would wish for our journey. As a substitute of attempting to push too had, we dropped gears and settled right into a gradual ascent, generally getting off our bikes to stroll and push.

As we cycled and walked, we chatted not concerning the problem however fortunately concerning the fabulous sense of freedom that comes from a self-supported journey in Scotland.

Inside minutes of abandoning the singletrack highway, we have been immersed in a wonderful surroundings freed from different individuals, buildings and fashionable life.

Though solely 10.5 miles, the experience took us nearly twice so long as we had imagined and once we lastly glimpsed Loch Ossian, simply east of Corrour Station on the base of the ultimate descent, the solar was starting to set.

A light-weight drizzle and a chill wind made us cycle all of the sooner in the direction of the heat of the restaurant, Myrid and Rowan and the promise of a sizzling and hearty dinner. 

As we ate, younger Rowan advised us about his first hike of a Munro, considered one of Scotland’s highest mountains. Alongside his mum, and two Glasgow buddies, the teen had reached the 3074ft summit of Beinn na Lap that afternoon. 

With pleasure and his personal adventurous desires, he knowledgeable us he want to bag all of the Munros someday.

In flip, I advised him the story of my ascent of Beinn na Lap, solely the yr earlier than, which was additionally my final peak in my first spherical of all of the 282 Munros. Myrid had joined the group who walked wiht me and this impressed her to return to Corrour with Rowan.

We additionally chatted about tomorrow’s plans for a hike of two different Corrour Munros, plus a Corbett, which is a part of one other listing of Scottish mountains. 

First although, Cath and I wanted a relaxation. Feeling heat and refuelled, we mentioned goodbye to Myrid and Rowan and headed out into the darkish to discover a tenting spot.

The Scottish Outdoor Entry Code permits individuals to camp in wild locations, as long as they behave responsibly. This implies selecting quiet places, away from roads and personal property and leaving no hint.

None of this was tough at Corrour Property and in lower than 45 minutes, Cath and I had pitched our tents, blown up sleeping mattresses, puffed out sleeping baggage and we have been boiling sizzling water on tenting stoves for a cup of tea and sizzling water bottles.

A sunny day for a motorcycle and hike of three mountains

Rising early and nicely rested because of the peace and solitude of tenting, we as soon as once more made use of our stoves for a cooked breakfast. We have been delighted to seek out the climate was promisingly calm and sunny.

With baggage packed, we retraced our biking route, skirting first alongside a brief part of the southern shore of Loch Ossian after which pedalling the lengthy uphill we had descended solely round 12 hours earlier than.

Once more, though a difficult biking route, we marvelled on the very good panorama and the enjoyment of seemingly having all of it to ourselves. Other than busy Corrour Station and some walkers heading for Hostelling Scotland’s close by Loch Ossian Youth Hostel, we noticed solely half a dozen different individuals whereas biking and strolling over two days.

From bike to hike

A few miles shy of returning to the B841, Cath and I finished, locked our bikes collectively and became strolling clothes.

The subsequent 10 miles can be on foot, not two wheels. In nearly good climate, we navigated a route to 3 excessive summits, first the 2 Munros, Càrn Dearg at 3087ft and 3133ft tall Sgòr Gaibhre after which Meall na Meoig – Beinn Pharlagain, which rises to 2847ft.

The terrain was rugged and whereas we loved some paths, a lot of our self-designed circuit was on a tough terrain of heather, grassy tussocks and several other sections of moist boggy floor.

We set a reasonably brisk tempo, feeling a lot lighter than when biking our bikes, however we additionally made loads of stops to marvel at our location. Our vista took in lots of mountains, together with the distinctive triangle of Schiehallion and the peaks of the Ben Alder space, in addition to a number of massive lochs.

Time and miles glided by a lot sooner because of the corporate of my buddy and though weary once we regained our bikes, Cath and I had nonetheless not run out of subjects to talk about.

The ultimate couple of miles comprised a tough and physique shaking experience downhill however impulsively, or so it appeared, we have been again on the tarmac highway, our automotive and a drive again to our busy lives within the fashionable world.

We each agreed that whereas we had been away for less than an evening, it felt like a for much longer huge journey.

The small print:

Bike return: Whole of 21 miles and 2500ft of ascent.

Hike of three summits: 10 miles and 3645ft of ascent. 

Lodging choices embrace B&B and self catering, see Corrour and Hostelling Scotland.

Package listing for Corrour bike and hike

• Gravel bike or mountain bike
• Bike packs, baggage hooked up to a pannier rack and/or rucksack.
• Light-weight tent or aa bivvy bag
• Inflatable mattress
• Seeing bag
• Cooking range, pot, plate, cup and spork
• Headtorch
• Meals and snacks
• Water 
• Biking equipment: Padded shorts, t-shirt, baselayer, light-weight waterproof jacket, gloves, bike helmet
• Puncture restore equipment, spare interior tube, bike pump
• Bike lights 
• Bike lock
• Small first assist equipment
• Path footwear for biking and climbing
• Mountain climbing equipment: Skort, tights, contemporary t-shirt, insulated jacket, additional gloves, waterproof trousers, buff, rucksack
• Map & compass
• Telephone with routes loaded on to OS Maps app
• Different bits and items: Sun shades, money, ear-plugs, small pot of moisturiser, solar lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste, moist wipes, bathroom paper, toileting trowel and equipment and emergency bivvy bag

• This Corrour mountains journey in The Scots Journal. Each month, the journal encompasses a vary of inspiring out of doors tales and interviews.