The Gaick Pass is a remote spot rising to over 500m above sea level on rough tracks through wild country. So it came as a bit of a shock to me when I bumped into a friend in the middle of it!
I was out on the bike with my brother Iain yesterday, taking him on this fine route before he heads to sunnier climes (he’s moving to Australia soon…).
We’d started at Newtonmore rather than Ralia, as I suggest in the book, because there are now gates at the Ralia Cafe car park and that adds a bit of time pressure to the day. Thankfully, there’s a free car park in the village on Glen Road, so we left the car there and headed up past the cafe on the cycle route.
Our next task was to get through the A9 roadworks at Crubenmore. The cycle lane is currently closed – but is due to open by September 23rd – so we had to phone the contractors on the phone number on the sign. It was fine apart from we got dropped at the end of the roadworks and had to cycle a further 4 miles or so on the A9 before we met the cycle route again.
It was a relief to get past Dalwhinnie and join the cycle path over Drumochter, despite it being into a slight headwind. Part of the route here has been resurfaced with lovely smooth tarmac!
At Dalnacardoch we crossed the A9 dual carriageway to reach the start of the Gaick Pass. Up into the forest we kept to the left fork in the track to emerge on the open hillside at a mast, then it was time for the best bit of the ride.
The Gaick Pass involves rough vehicle tracks, river crossings, a narrow path with steep drops that’s best walked and some fantastic wild views of an area that’s rarely visited.
We’d already seen a group of three men cycling the opposite way and stopped for a chat then, just after Gaick Lodge, another cyclist came towards us. I couldn’t believe it when I realised it was someone I knew! Cheers Simon – hope you had a good ride through the Gaick Pass too!
And Iain – enjoy your trip Down Under! You too Zoe and Bran 🙂
