A couple of pals have asked me to join them at the end of the month on a wee trip. We'll be starting off the ferry in Brodick and then heading to Inverness via Oban and Fort William.

It'll be pretty sedate (40 miles a day) and this is the route:
https://cycle.travel/map?from=Brodick&t ... ,-4.225739

My question is.. how rough are the unpaved sections? As I am considering taking my drop bar bike (35mm tyres) with a single wheel trailer.

The canal path north of Fort William is a motorway.

From KM 240 is a wide forestry road, so maybe slow but not an issue (no brainer against the A82). There is a path parallel with the loch shore at KM 245 which will be a bit less climbing. There's also a small camping area on the lower path (with a sometimes non-vandalised compost toilet) at the shore. From KM 252 onwards is canal motorway again.

Good luck on the climb out of Fort Augustus with a belly full of pizza. There is a smooth gravel path parallel with the main road but it is even steeper in places and has multiple gates.

I suggest taking the hairpins at Inverfarigaig KM 295 just for the novelty of seeing someone ride with a trailer up there.

Dean wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 8:16 pm I suggest taking the hairpins at Inverfarigaig KM 295 just for the novelty of seeing someone ride with a trailer up there.

The Fair Lad's Pass, it's a cracker https://www.visitinvernesslochness.com/node/699

OK that all sounds pretty do-able on my "road" bike.

The guys were suggesting staying at Glen Duror bothy one night then Invermaillie bothy another night.

Can’t remember if it was on here or on STW but a similar thread suggested that a minimum of 28mm tyres would be fine for the Great Glen Way.

The bothy/camping spots with composting toilets were set up for paddlers. The toilets need a key but not sure how you’d get one.

whitestone wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 1:59 pm The toilets need a key but not sure how you’d get one.

Keys are £10. Apparently you can pay & collect a key from the Scottish canals Corpach and Inverness offices during office hours. Alternatively you can pay an additional fee to have one sent out to you by calling in advance of your trip on 01463 725500 Link.