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Highland 550 2022

·243 words·2 mins
Bikepacking Scotland Wildcamping Mtb

A failed attempt on the Highland 550
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2nd May 2022

I came across the Highland 550 fairly recently and really fancied it, it was just my type of bikepacking trip; remote and it goes to loads of great places in Scotland. I definitely wasn’t interested in the race.

The plan was to start in early May which hopefully would have good weather and no midges. Unfortunately about 300km in, in Glen Cassley on a very gently undulating road, my knee started to hurt and progressively got worse. Eventually I had to abandon, I just couldn’t ride properly. I limped along, often pedalling one legged, to some accommodation and then the next day got a train home. It took a while to settle down and recover.

Highlights were the Ben Alder singletrack over the pass, great singletrack that was rideable on a fully loaded bike. Also, finding the Badger Hide, a hobbit like building, that provided a cheeky overnight stop. And just about every view around every corner.

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The internal metal frame in the Arkle rear bag would break on a subsequent trip requiring some inventive running repairs.
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Lairig Ghallabhaich
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Loch Ericht from the south
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Ben Alder bothy
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Ben Alder Pass
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Bealach Dubh above Ben Alder bothy
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Day 1 campsite near the condemned Culra Bothy.
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Loch ma Stac on day 2
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Looking down Glean Moi on day 3
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Looking up Glean Moi on day 3
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Day 3's campsite - Badger Hide
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Day 4
Author
Jonathan Tompkins
I’m an outdoor pursuits instructor living in the Yorkshire Dales and I go mountain biking, road cycling, bikepacking, caving, winter mountaineering and climbing. And I like cheesecake.