Week 5- West Highland Way, Great Glen Way, Cairngorms

Kingshouse to Aberdeen
Distance- 395km (1697)
Highlights- Curry night at Allan and Charity's, Glen Coe, West Highland Way, Ben Nevis Summit, Loch Lochy and Ness, Great Glen way
Accommodation- 5 nights camping, 2 nights in youth hostels
Trails- West Highland Way, Great Glen Way, Speyside Way, Tom's day out in the Cairngorms MTB- West Highland Way, Abriachan Park, Tom's day out in the Cairngorms
Problems- Pete's knees, everyone tired after 6 days straight cycling, splitting of the group for 2 days

An amazing week in the Scottish wilderness along loches and glens, surrounded by mountains. It started at Kingshouse, 1 day into the West Highland Way. We woke to a beautiful morning looking out over the start of Glen Coe. Good omen. Glen Coe was amazing, perfect day, we swept down the highway faster than the cars only stopping for some snap shots. Due to Pete's knees we split ways for the last section to Fort William. While Tom and Sarah battle for 8 hrs off track, Pete and Bridgette zoomed along the A road. We used the afternoon to summit Ben Nevis.

We then joined the Great Glen Way which connects Fort William to Inverness. This track was a little more civilized than the West Highland way, having been adapted for bikes and there's even a bike guide! The 80 miles was mainly on forestry tracks high above the lakes with small sections of single track. We divided the trip into two days staying at the Loch Ness Youth hostel situated half way on Loch Ness right on the water. Despite carefully watching the water there were no Nessie spottings.

We then took a hard right and headed towards Aberdeen through the northern Cairngorms. These 'hills' may not be as rugged as those in the Peaks and Lakes district but spectacular none the same. We used a combination of National Cycle network, Speyside way and improvised off track. A great night was spent at Timitul the highest village in Scotland. We then headed into the Cairngorms a long hunting trails and single track to exit around Balater. This was an awesome day of cycling with tall hills on either side, wild deer, sheep and a hand full of people. The final day was spent winding our way through the Derbishire country side into Aberdeen. Here sad goodbyes were said as Tom and Sarah headed off to the Shetlands and we went to Denmark.