Badger Divide (North to South): On the evening of Tuesday 16th July I caught the train from Edinburgh to Inverness. Owing to an ‘incident on the line’ further south, the train had been delayed by over two hours, meaning I didn’t arrive until about 11 pm.

My plan was to get out of town before bedding down in a quaint shack I’d identified a couple of months ago - at the Abriachan Forest Trust site on the great Glen Way. In the end I didn’t get there until after well after 1 am and was very relieved to find nobody else in residence. I had a decent few hours’ sleep only to be awakened by the dawn chorus then later by a lone bird persistently scratching away at the roof almost directly above me.

Abriachan Forest Trust by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Abriachan by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day One proper was spent riding to Fort Augustus. Some pics...

Loch Ness viewpoint by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Great Glen Way by Jimmy G, on Flickr

The Great Glen Way Viewcatcher by Jimmy G, on Flickr

The View by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I stuffed my face with chips and stocked up with various snacks at the Londis store in Fort Augustus before starting the long slog up the Corrieyairack Pass. I managed to ride rather more of it than I did last time I was here due to much more user-friendly gearing this time round. However, a strong headwind made going difficult and by the time I reached the top I was definitely feeling the cold.

I spent the night in an old workmen’s hut at the very top of the pass. The last time I came this way three years ago the metal door was still on its hinges and locked. In recent months, though, I’d read that the door was now off its hinges and lying on the ground outside. An old shelving unit provided just enough room to comfortably fit my mat and sleeping bag on the bottom shelf. There was also a table and two benches, one of which I pressed into action to block the bottom of the door and prevent at least some of the by now very strong wind from penetrating inside.

Corrieyairack Pass shelter by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Shelf as bed by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Two: Corrieyairack Pass to Loch Ossian. After the rocky zig-zag descent of the south side of the pass I stopped at Melgarve Bothy where I had breakfast. Last time I was here it was locked so it was nice to be able to enter this roomy building this time round. I then bashed on to Loch Ossian via Loch Laggan into the ever present headwind and later, as I neared Loch Ossian, the rain decided to enter the fray.

Descending to Loch Laggan by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Loch Laggan beach by Jimmy G, on Flickr

I eventually reached the oasis of Corrour Station where I enjoyed a pleasant dinner there while charging stuff and drying my kit. I spent the night at the side of the Badger track overlooking Loch Ossian Youth Hostel. Fortunately, where I’d pitched there was just enough breeze to keep the midges at a bearable level.

Overlooking Loch Ossian youth hostel by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Three: Loch Ossian to Loch Lyon. In the latter part of this leg, I reached the Glen Lyon teashop. I was cutting it fine since it was just fifteen minutes before closing but they were very welcoming and even allowed me to to stay on for another twenty minutes or so to finish charging my phone. Definitely another invaluable oasis on this route!

Glen Lyon Teashop by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Camping at the Loch Lyon dam by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Four: Loch Lyon to Callander. The Co-Op in Killin provided a welcome opportunity to stock up on supplies. Later, it started raining steadily in Glen Ample and on the fast descent towards Loch Lubnaig it got very chilly indeed. Hard to believe it was July!

Descending from Glen Ample by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Fortunately the lochside visitor centre was open and serving hot drinks, etc. to help lift morale somewhat. The rain had got heavier but I eventually had to prise myself away and follow the busy A84 road until I was able to get off there and on to the NCN 7 cycle route into Callander. By the time I reached town I was soaked and in need of hot food and a place to sleep. That food ended up being a ‘half crunchy’ supper. Translated, that means half a deep fried pizza and chips. Sounds ropey and, in truth, it didn’t look much better but it hit the spot. I hoovered it all down whilst ensconced in a tunnel in a kids’ play park. This was to be my home for the night. A novel location but it did the job!

View from the dining room window by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Necessity is the mother of invention by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Untitled by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Day Five: Callander to Glasgow. An unremarkable ride from the Trossachs into Glasgow, broken up by a visit to an old pal on the outskirts of the city. Arrived in Glasgow in the evening and caught the train home to Edinburgh.

Run away! by Jimmy G, on Flickr

The End by Jimmy G, on Flickr

Nice one Jimmy An excellent array of accommodation there!

Excellent Jimmy, I'd second Daves comment on the 5 start digs! Blimey, the corrieairyack hut was always firmly locked all the years I've been past. It would be nice to think it gets adopted by some locals as refuge as per some of the tin huts I've discovered of late.

Thanks Dave and Phil. The Corrieyairack one came at just the right time. I didn’t fancy descending the rocky switchbacks towards Melgarve Bothy while tired and in fading light.

I've got a nearly matching set of photos I took when I rode it with Mike going south>north in June.

As for the hut, when we went by there was a sleeping bag and some other stuff in there. I'll have to try and find out the history. I'm not sure it's a workman's hut? Firstly, the door is (was) far to secure for that. Also, there is some equipment left in there still and the batteries are marked with the War Department arrow symbol so it's had a military use. Perhaps a radio relay station?

You're probably quite right Sean. I just couldn't think what else to call it! Btw the sleeping bag is still there and I used it to provide an additional layer of comfort under my mat.

I had a quick google and couldn't find any info, it's that secret! There are the remains of the antenna on the roof.

We may need to delete our pictures before men in balaclavas descent from helicopters in the night and whisk us away for interrogation to see how much we know

It was 2 degrees when I was there late afternoon so could easily have got down to zero in the night if I'd stayed.... but I had lasagna and chips waiting for me in the The Moorings

I'd always thought / guess it was something to do with the power line, hence the 'peoples lives depend on equipment in this hut' sign that used to be on it.

There is another one on the 'power line climb' between FA and Glen Moriston but it has windows

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 10:12 am I'd always thought / guess it was something to do with the power line, hence the 'peoples lives depend on equipment in this hut' sign that used to be on it.

The kit inside was def military. As well as the batteries marked with the arrow there were all sorts of gauges and pipes with the logo on them. It did all look very antiquated so could easily be 60s or even 40s?

There was a door on the floor outside (steel) and another timber one inside lent up against the end of the shelves.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 10:12 am There is another one on the 'power line climb' between FA and Glen Moriston but it has windows

It does have windows but they are made from those opaque glass blocks.

Jimmy will have to go back and get more info

A nice bit of ‘homework’ for whoever does go up there next. Unlikely to be me though!

Fab - really enjoyed that. Bit jealous . Especially of the creative sleeping spots, all in fine BBB tradition. What it's all about .

JimmyG wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:38 am A nice bit of ‘homework’ for whoever does go up there next. Unlikely to be me though!

You're 500 miles closer than I am

Could be me actually as I'm planning a copycat trip at the end of the month. Depends on the parental situation but I've done FA up north this year so far so champing at the bit somewhat.

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:34 pm Fab - really enjoyed that. Bit jealous . Especially of the creative sleeping spots, all in fine BBB tradition. What it's all about .

Ta Reg. Straight out of the RIP Book of Bivvy Improvisation!

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 1:24 pm Could be me actually as I'm planning a copycat trip at the end of the month. Depends on the parental situation but I've done FA up north this year so far so champing at the bit somewhat.

This might be controversial but if I rode it again I'd go south to north again. There were lots of times after a great descent Mike and myself both said that would be wasted as a climb. I don't recall any climbs I wish I'd come down. The descent off the Corrieyairack down the FA is one, the descent down to Inverness in the woods is another.

I'd always do it S-N in view of prevailing winds. The plan for this trip is to head up to Schneckie from here, via mostly the BD plus some variations, then back via the 'Gorms

On reflection, I have to agree and if I were ever to do it (or a variation of it) again, I'd likely opt for the S > N direction. Would definitely give a different perspective to the route and, most importantly, avoid that bleedin' headwind!

With regard to the headwind, someone forgot to tell the wind at Corrour that it should be blowing the other way it was savage on the ride across from the road to the station.

Just been doing a bit of factfinding for this and was hoping there'd be a thread on here. Great write-up and pics Jimmy

sean_iow wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:26 pm This might be controversial but if I rode it again I'd go south to north again. There were lots of times after a great descent Mike and myself both said that would be wasted as a climb. I don't recall any climbs I wish I'd come down. The descent off the Corrieyairack down the FA is one, the descent down to Inverness in the woods is another.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:42 pm I'd always do it S-N in view of prevailing winds.

This is good info. cheers.

Reckon it's doable in 2 days without being too unpleasant? Numbers-wise it looks fine but I have no experience of the trails. I'm looking at options for a training ride ahead of a trip to the Alps, would probably ride to the start of this from home so maybe a 5-dayer overall.

Looking on Strava I had about 26 hours of moving time for the Badger. We were going at a steady social pace. We also had stops at cafes etc for food not included in that time.

I wouldn't want to try it in 2 days with my current fitness level but I don't do the long rides I used to. Back in 2018 or 2019 I'd happily have had a go. In fact in 2019 I'd probably have been up for riding it in one but I was young and foolish then

sean_iow wrote: ↑Sat Aug 03, 2024 5:36 pm but I was young and foolish then

whereas now you are what - just foolish???

Thinking about it I wasn't actually that young so must have just been more foolish