Adventure ride on the way to Ullapool.
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:49 pm
Remote bothy, northern edge of the Isle of Jura not normally accessible by vehicles. Space for 6.
Would anyone fancy joining me on a slightly extended trip north to the Highland rally? I have negotiated access to a very remote Bothy in the far north of the isle of Jura - a place called Kinuachdrachd. There are 6 beds in the bothy but I guess camping would be an option and the owners used to do b&b in their nearby croft. The bothy is reached via a 5+miles rough unsurfaced track that is at the end of 20 or so miles of single track grassy Tarmac. The Corrieveckan whirlpool is about a 1 mile walk, but I don't think September is the time to see it.
Not only is the Bothy remote but getting to Jura is a challenge in itself involving 4 ferries if you are coming from the south. Plus the trip will involve a night on Islay the day before, and a night on the mainland after, before travelling on to Ullapool.
The logistics for the trip is largely driven by the CalMac ferry timetable but the Outline will be something like:
Tuesday 25th - travel to Islay via Isle of Arran or via Cowan peninsular arriving in Port Ellen at about 8.30pm. Either camp/ SYHA/B&B on Islay.
Wednesday cross to Jura; visit Jura distillery, eat and buy food for the night before riding up the Island to Kinuachdrachd arriving late afternoon. Eat, drink and make merry. Note facilities are very basic at the bothy. It's camping cookery only, no showers or hot water. Bothy is £5 per person.
Thursday back to Islay and see a few sites on the Island and a distillery if time then back to the mainland. Camp on the Kintyre peninsula somewhere - there's a very good campsite on there somewhere.
Friday - ride to Ullapool. It's still about 250miles to Ullapool so arrive there late afternoon.
An island hopscotch ticket (route16) via Isle of Arran is £104.25 rider &bike. There's other cheaper routes crossing the Firth of Clyde that may be cheaper but last time I did this Arran was the most convenient. There will also be the ferry to Jura to pay - I cant remember how much it is - not much as it only takes 10mins.
If interested I suggest you Google the bothy and look for pics of the track - Geograph.org is good, and decide if it is for you.
I am just facilitating this. If you want to come you need to do all the booking and paying yourself. If you have a crap time and don't like it, well tough, do not blame me. But trust me, this trip will be real adventure and possibly a unique opportunity to ride your bikes in such a remote location. I was on Islay and Jura in April last year but didn't make it too Kinuachdrachd.
Numbers limited by space in the bothy - so that's me plus 5. But camping might be possible for a couple more but I haven't broached that with the owners of the track and bothy.
I will also have something interesting to announce soon about a ride out on Sunday 30th but need to hear from James691 first. Watch this forum, you will be interested!!!
A couple of maps to put it in context and Some pics from Geograph.org
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
Would anyone fancy joining me on a slightly extended trip north to the Highland rally? I have negotiated access to a very remote Bothy in the far north of the isle of Jura - a place called Kinuachdrachd. There are 6 beds in the bothy but I guess camping would be an option and the owners used to do b&b in their nearby croft. The bothy is reached via a 5+miles rough unsurfaced track that is at the end of 20 or so miles of single track grassy Tarmac. The Corrieveckan whirlpool is about a 1 mile walk, but I don't think September is the time to see it.
Not only is the Bothy remote but getting to Jura is a challenge in itself involving 4 ferries if you are coming from the south. Plus the trip will involve a night on Islay the day before, and a night on the mainland after, before travelling on to Ullapool.
The logistics for the trip is largely driven by the CalMac ferry timetable but the Outline will be something like:
Tuesday 25th - travel to Islay via Isle of Arran or via Cowan peninsular arriving in Port Ellen at about 8.30pm. Either camp/ SYHA/B&B on Islay.
Wednesday cross to Jura; visit Jura distillery, eat and buy food for the night before riding up the Island to Kinuachdrachd arriving late afternoon. Eat, drink and make merry. Note facilities are very basic at the bothy. It's camping cookery only, no showers or hot water. Bothy is £5 per person.
Thursday back to Islay and see a few sites on the Island and a distillery if time then back to the mainland. Camp on the Kintyre peninsula somewhere - there's a very good campsite on there somewhere.
Friday - ride to Ullapool. It's still about 250miles to Ullapool so arrive there late afternoon.
An island hopscotch ticket (route16) via Isle of Arran is £104.25 rider &bike. There's other cheaper routes crossing the Firth of Clyde that may be cheaper but last time I did this Arran was the most convenient. There will also be the ferry to Jura to pay - I cant remember how much it is - not much as it only takes 10mins.
If interested I suggest you Google the bothy and look for pics of the track - Geograph.org is good, and decide if it is for you.
I am just facilitating this. If you want to come you need to do all the booking and paying yourself. If you have a crap time and don't like it, well tough, do not blame me. But trust me, this trip will be real adventure and possibly a unique opportunity to ride your bikes in such a remote location. I was on Islay and Jura in April last year but didn't make it too Kinuachdrachd.
Numbers limited by space in the bothy - so that's me plus 5. But camping might be possible for a couple more but I haven't broached that with the owners of the track and bothy.
I will also have something interesting to announce soon about a ride out on Sunday 30th but need to hear from James691 first. Watch this forum, you will be interested!!!
A couple of maps to put it in context and Some pics from Geograph.org
Sent from my iPhone with a smile