Pete headed into the Scottish wilderness near Ullapool with H+I Adventures to tick off some long overdue firsts before winter opened its account.
The day after Pete’s opening day with H+I Adventures, which took in 50 miles of riding, 5,000ft up and down, 2 types of eagle and a billion red deer, plus abut 7,000 calories burnt apiece, came another slightly less involved day. The legs were tired but Scotland turned it up until 11 yet again.
A cool 18 miles to spin the legs out after the massive first day.
No rainbows without rain. Day 2 started with some unbelievable atmospheric conditions as we rolled out of Kinlochewe and spun along the same road we’d ridden in the other direction the previous afternoon.
Once off the road and above the hydro scheme access, we caught the rainbow from the other side, this time, with just backlit rain. Scotland does an awfully good job of making weather look amazing.
With all that rain comes plenty of fresh drinking water. Chris goes for the direct approach, while Mark Clark, also of H+I Adventures, loads up the bladder in one of the numerous tasty streams that would cross our path.
After the rain and the sun, came more sun. The dark, wet rocks contrasted perfectly with the mountain grass that was just starting to turn from bright green to burnt orange. Chris and Mark making tracks towards the northern flanks of Beinn Eighe.
Our destination for the day is shrouded in cloud top left in this picture. This path would be much like the one from the previous day. Unfathomably well surfaced for a path that leads to nowhere. We’ve glaciers to thank for this easy going, my legs thought otherwise at this point.
As the sun came and went, the wind blew cloud onto the jagged peaks of the Liathach in the distance. The bright white Torridian sandstone has been hammered into abrupt mountains that rise out of deep sea lochs below them.
In terrain like this, you’ll be crossing moving water in all shapes and sizes. Chris gets his feet wet crossing the first of many burns we’d not be able to ride through.
The sun came and the sun went. While the wind wasn’t as gale force as the previous day, the sky above was a lot more mixed in its place. Beinn Eighe looms out of the cloud and we keep climbing.
Brief respite as the path tops out on the tall moraine shoulders that flank the glen approaching Beinn Eighe from the east. Time to let the freewheel buzz, enjoy the scenery and leave the pedalling well alone.
The widest and deepest crossing off the day, with the rivers flushing after the overnight rain, Chris picked our crossing point meticulously. After here, we’d be refuelling before following small cairns across a pathless expanse of bog.
As the sun split the north western flank of Beinn Eighe, we could smell the eye-meltingly tecnhical descent to come. One more river to cross and we’d be on the home stretch.
Yet more stunning beauty from Scotland. I could have spent hours watching the cloud catching the countless jagged peaks around Beinn Eighe and the Liathach. Regardless of what the weather’s doing, this place always looks spectacular.
Downhill. Our legs had been hammered from the previous day’s exertions and a few more hours of uninterrupted climbing. The sun was now out in force and we were treated to one of the best descents in Scotland.
Short, sharp climbs made no sense to my addled brain. By this point, the mileage and minor sleep deprivation had taken its toll. I’d be falling off everywhere as a result. A couple of solid OTB excursions before the descent arrived in earnest and I was back to focusing with both eyes.
The last clatter to the finish. We’d promised to keep the reins on this descent as we were all pretty toasted by now, but as soon as we hit the first few corners, the dangerous game of cat and mouse returned. Not sorry. Totally worth it.
To ride what I rode with Chris and Donald, get yourself along to H+I Adventures’ Coast-to-Coast Scotland page.
Our journey from the van to Poolewe makes up Day 3 of this week long Scottish adventure. Full details here.
Check out our interviews with H+I Adventures co-owner Euan Wilson here.
