![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Monadhliath-cycle-5.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThese roads are beautiful for cycling, winding their way around the very edge of the water, with mature trees overhead and little accesses to the water\u2019s edge here and there. Through another section of woodland and you reach Loch a\u2019Chlachain, where the road really does hug the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon I passed the old church at Dunlichity, where it is said that Jacobite soldiers sharpened their swords on the way to Culloden in April 1746; you can still see the marks on one corner of the old wall inside the grave yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking roughly south-east from here, I could just make out the tops of some of the turbines spinning away in the distance. Where recently I would have been thinking about returning to Inverness, I was now ready to venture further afield and make my way up there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continuing straight on along the road at Dunlichity, in just over a mile I took the right turn signed to Farr, which leads over a stone bridge then up past a little collection of houses at Tordarroch. This soon reaches the B851 and I turned right onto that road through Farr, looking out for the left-turn to Garbole after another mile or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the start of the big climb over the Monadhliath and it starts gently enough. Passing Loch Farr, a woman was swimming in the wild but mild-mannered water as another was sitting on the bank reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thereafter, it gets tougher and the hard work began as I pedalled past a pylon and crossed a wooden bridge over the Allt Beag and then a cattle grid before the steep ascent hit again. I had already been overtaken by a strong cyclist, and there was another one further ahead on the hill who was soon caught by the speedy rider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Monadhliath-cycle-17.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nI trundled up the hill, battling not only the gradient but also the elements as the heavy rain showers came and went, and then came and stayed. The turbines of the Farr wind farm remain fairly distant from the road, with the electricity cables mostly between you and them, though it is possible to get off road and cycle the tracks among them on the right type of bike if you are so inclined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The climb continues across the moor, peaking at 463m above sea level, before an exciting ride along the edge of a deep gorge into Glen Kyllachy \u2013 protected by motorway-style crash barriers. The rain was hammering down here but as I began the descent the sun did its best to come out, and I enjoyed the zigzags down through the woods and out to Garbole, watching out for a couple of rough cattle grids off to the side where the road is blocked by gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arriving at a T-junction in Strathdearn, I headed left to cross the bridge over the Allt a\u2019Mharcaidh and follow the line of the River Findhorn into Tomatin. Meandering down this pleasant stretch, I saw the cyclist I had seen ahead of me earlier stopped to change her jacket \u2013 then realised it was a friend of mine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hammering on the brakes, I pulled up alongside and we rode the next stretch together, taking a left turn into the village at the Findhorn Bridge then continuing past the distillery and going straight on to follow the cycle route where the main road goes right to meet the A9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This excellent little section goes past a few houses then drops onto a surfaced cycle path just after one of the lay-bys on the trunk road. The path stays well away from the busy road until you arrive at another lay-by, following a protected cycle lane at the back of it. However, you must cross the A9 here to reach the path on the far side, which continues left to reach the B9154 into Moy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Monadhliath-cycle-42.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn reaching this road, turn right and follow it round a left-hand bend into Moy. My friend was detouring to the loch here, so we said our goodbyes and I continued solo out of the village and under the railway line, passing a couple of lochans then dropping downhill at Auchnahillin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can follow the cycle route back to Inverness from here, turning right to go via Culloden and Smithton, but I opted for a more direct return route, so continued on the B road to the war memorial, turning left here and following the long road that reaches an underpass, which cyclists can use to head below the A9 and emerge on the B851 which then continues towards Inverarnie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the shop here, I turned right for Inverness, heading over the River Nairn then up to the crossroads at Balnafoich and straight on past Tomfat Woods, across the moor and down a fantastic descent back into the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Route details<\/strong> John Davidson gets on his bike to enjoy a road ride from Inverness, taking in a high road past a local wind farm \u2013 and finds good company on his way<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Read on my blog: Road bike route past the Farr wind farm from Inverness","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[146],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-active-outdoors"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Monadhliath-cycle-39.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5M0xs-1H1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2865,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2017\/04\/14\/out-on-the-bike-west-of-inverness\/","url_meta":{"origin":6511,"position":0},"title":"Out on the bike west of Inverness","author":"John Davidson","date":"April 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s been great to be back on the bike for more than just the few miles to and from work recently, and this route to the west of Inverness was right up my street. 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These include segregated cycle tracks on Millburn Road and Academy Street, along with changes to the Raigmore Interchange. Inverness Active Travel\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Active Travel"","block_context":{"text":"Active Travel","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/active-travel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2381,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2016\/02\/18\/a-better-vision-for-cycling-in-inverness-and-the-highlands\/","url_meta":{"origin":6511,"position":3},"title":"A better vision for cycling in Inverness and the Highlands","author":"John Davidson","date":"February 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A new bridge allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross the railway line and access the retail and business park was opened last week. 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The Garbole road ride
Distance<\/strong> 45 miles \/ 72km
Terrain<\/strong> Minor and B roads
Start\/finish<\/strong> Inverness
Maps<\/strong> OS Landranger 26, 35 & 27
A road ride from Inverness taking in a high road past a local wind farm<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Monadhliath-cycle-35.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"