Challenge B.I.G

Crossroad - Carrefour 2012

Scotland - Ecosse

6th t0 11th of April 2012 - General management : Kevin Speed

Participants : currently/pour l'instant François Candau, Bernard Frogneux, Kevin Speed, Johanna Kovacs, Claudio Montefusco, Marc Desender. Others will follow/ D'autres vont suivre...

Friday 6th April
Arrival in Byrness

Saturday 7th April
Cycle Byrness to Carter Bar 5 miles (8km) over to Camptown and back to Carter Bar and Byrness 13 miles (20km)
Drive north to Hawick 15 miles (24km), Langholm 23 miles (38km), Ecclefechan 14 miles (23km), Elvanfoot 40 miles (64km)
Cycle to Elvanfoot to Lowther Hill 10 miles (16km) and return 10 miles (16km) to Elvanfoot.
Drive Elvanfoot to Stirling through Netherton, Blackwood, motorway to Dunbarton avoiding Glasgow, from Banknock motorway to Stirling. Motorways are toll free. Distance Elvanfoot to Stirling 55 miles (88km). approx 10 hours. Arrive 19.00 hours

Sunday 8th April
Stirling to Garrow 40 miles (64km)
Cycle 9 miles Garrow to Kenmare over Glen Quaich and return 9 miles (30 km total) Drive Garrow, Dunkeld to Blairgowrie 35 miles (56km) then 26 miles (41km) to Spittal of Glenshee.
Cycle to Devils Elbow and on to Braemar and return 28 miles (46km) to Spittal of Glenshee.
Drive to Braemar 14 miles (23km) approx 8 hours. Arrive 19.00

Monday 9th April
Drive 8 miles (5km) to Balmoral.
Cycle over Strone to Gairsheal Lodge and return 10 miles (16km).
Drive over to Gairsheal Lodge 5 miles (8km).
Cycle Gairsheal Lodge over Tom Dubh to Colnabaichin 7 miles (10 km) and return to Gairsheal Lodge 7 miles (10km).
Drive over Tom Dubh to Colnabaichin 7 miles (10km).
Cycle to Tomintoul 13 miles (20km) and return to Colnabaichin 13 miles (20km). Drive Colnabaichin, Tomintoul 13 miles (20km) Speybridge, Aviemore 26 miles (41km).
Cycle Aviemore to Cairngorm and return 19 miles (29km).
Drive Aviemore to Inverness 34 miles (54km) approx 8 hours. Arrive 19.00

Tuesday 10th April
From Inverness drive to Shiel Bridge via Loch Ness and Glen Moriston 70 miles (112km)
Cycle 18 miles (28km) over Bealach Ratagain to Glenelg Bay and return.
Drive Shiel Bridge to Auchtertyre 11 miles (18km) Auchtertyre to Lochcarron
16 miles (25km). Lochcarron to Tornapress 4 miles (7km).
Cycle Tornapress to Applecross over Bealach Na Ba - Pass of the Cattle and return 22 miles (34km).
Drive Tornapress, Lochcarron, Auchtertyre to Kyleakin on Skye 26 miles (42km)
Approx 8.5 hours. Arrive 19.00

Wednesday 11th April
Drive back to Edinburgh for flight or Newcastle-on-Tyne for North Sea Ferry

This plan is not set in stone and can be altered. Another day could be included for shorter day trips.
The passes aren't long so have planned each climb from both directions however for an easier ride these could be shortened so that the climbs are to the top only then return to the car each time. This allows for the shortened version of the tour if required.


Day 1 arrival

Byrness


7 Otterburn Green
Byrness Village
Near Otterburn
Northumberland
NE19 1TS
T: 01830 520425 or 07928376677 (mobile)
E: byrness@yha.org.uk

http://www.forestviewbyrness.co.uk

The hostel wrote : our building is in 2 blocks one block has a single,a twin,a triple and a 4 bedded room. This block would seem to meet your needs. There is no self catering at Byrness and the dinner, bed and breakfast rate is £37 per person.

Joyce Taylor YHA Byrness (Forest view Walkers accommodation)

Day 2

Perth

Big's 75 Carter Bar and 68 Lowther Hill, drive to Perth

http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/lowlands/perth.aspx

 

 

 

Day 3

Braemar

Big's 74 Glen Quaich, 73 Devils Elbow, 72 The Strone,71 Tom Dubh, stay in Braemar

http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/highlands/braemar.aspx

The hostel wrote : We would have a twin room priced at £40 for the couple and the 8 males could be accommodated in a single large room for £18 per person. 7pm arrival is no problem. I’m afraid we don’t offer any catering beyond a continental breakfast although there are a couple places in the village where you could eat in the evening. For non members you would pay an additional £2pppn so if you’re staying in several hostels it might be worthwhile for you to join. If you’d like to book this please contact reservations on 01786891375 or if you’ve any further questions you can email me at the hostel.

Regards, Andrew

 

 

 

Day 4

Isle of Skye

Big's 70 Lecht Road, 69 Cairngorm, drive to Kyleakin on edge of Isle of Skye (good hotels there)

Cliffe House
The Pier
Kyleakin
Isle of Skye
IV41 8PL

Tel: 01599 534019

Email: info@cliffehousebedandbreakfast.co.UK
Website: www.cliffehousebedandbreakfast.co.UK

Day 5

Inverness

Big's 67 Bealach Ratagan and 66 Bealach Na Ba, the Pass of the Cattle, either back to same hotel in Kyleakin or drive on to Inverness

http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/highlands/inverness.aspx

 

 

 

Day 6

Edinburgh/Newcastle

Kyleakin or Inverness to Edinburgh for flight or Newcastle-on-Tyne for ferry
For many this would be 'the icing on the cake' to complete the UK Big's after our 2010 Lake District/Pennines/Peak District BIG meeting

If we want to be real adventurous it might be possible to squeeze the trip into 5 days

Please note that I do intend joining you all, not chickening out!