Day Fourteen: Tyndrum to Fort Augustus

---

But for managing to find accommodation at Bridge of Orchy this would have been our longest day. We managed to knock ten miles off it and it was still pretty tough.

That's a poor opening really because the route is stunning. Glen Coe, the Nevis Range, the Great Glen and a night by Loch Ness would be on the itinerary of any Highland explorer. The draw back with this route is  the seven mile section along Loch Lochy from Clunes to South Lagan. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this section marred our experience of the whole day. I'll explain.

This section of route forms part of NCN 78, the much vaunted 'Caledonian Way'. In the Cicerone guide it is described as follows,

"You will find that [this section of] the NCN 78 has a reasonably good, shale-type surface, ideally suited for hybrid and touring bicycles, although road bicycles can navigate the track but will need to use extra care to avoid punctures."

The path is rough, the surface loose and the profile sharply undulating. With pine plantations on either side there aren't even good views to distract you. I would say that this is entirely unsuitable for road bikes, barely navigable on touring bikes other than those set up for the most rugged terrain, and best suited to hard-tail mountain bikes.

Consider crossing the Glen at Gairlochy and taking the A86 along the other side of the Loch to Laggan.

We lunched at Glencoe. There are loads of places to stay in Fort Augustus.