inverness to glasgow
(the badger divide)
Dates TBC
6
Days Riding
7
Nights Accommodation
319km
Total Distance
5923m
Elevation Gain
6.5/10
Overall Difficulty
£925
Total Cost
There's something special about a great 'A to B' - linear journey. For some it's the sense of progress; of travelling through an ever changing landscape. For others, it's the lure of the end location off in the distance, that seems so far, initially, but one that slowly but surely creeps ever closer with each turn of the pedals. Whatever your thoughts, the Badger Divide is a Scottish classic expedition and a truly mesmerising experience from the very start as it weaves its way through some of the wildest and most inspiring parts of the Scottish Highlands.
Join us on a unique, semi-supported adventure that blends the convenience and practical benefits of meeting up with a support team each day with forrays into wild glens where we'll need to be self-sufficient for up to 24 hours. This six day epic journey will leave its mark and expose you to some of the most remote and beautiful parts of Scotland.
sunday
Arrivals Day at bunchrew campsite near inverness
Welcome to Scotland. Our start point is the perfectly located Bunchrew campsite on the banks of the Beauly Firth. We’ll gather as a group during the afternoon, greeting expedition members as they arrive before enjoying a meal together and preparing for the weekend ahead.
monday (Day 1)
bunchrew campsite to fort augustus
64km
1580M
We'll leave our campsite full of excitement and perhaps a few nerves as we embark on one of Scotland's greatest adventures. It's uphill at first to access the ridge line that overlooks the Caledonian Canal but before too long, as we cruise through dense pine forests on soft singletrack, we'll get our first glimse of Loch Ness below. Following the Great Glen bridleway, we'll skirt up and down alongside Loch Ness all day, hopping between forest trails and intricate tracks. Today is about finding our rhythm and settling into a routine of cycling and taking breaks to keep energy levels high and to snap a few photos. Towards the end of the day, we'll sense Fort Augustus approaching. Sitting right on the Caladonian Canal, almost exactly half way between Inverness and Fort William, it's a bustling tourist town with all of the associated ammenities. We'll camp here for the night.
tuesday (Day 2)
fort augustus to loch na h-earba
47km
1282M
Day 2 starts with a formidable climb and certainly the most sustained effort during the entire trip - the Correyairack Pass. Used by drovers since the beginning of time, it was 'upgraded' by General Wade in 1731 to give better access to his army during the time of the rebellion. With vehicle restrictions, it's now a well know test for cyclists and apart from its challenging nature, it takes us south through serene landscapes wih access to the Southern Highlands. With a couple of bothies to explore along the way, we'll take it slow and steady. The descent off the back of the pass is, in parts, as challenging as the climb. Thankfully, this section is short and we're soon on brilliant compacted tracks leading to Loch Laggan. After meeting with our support vehicle and loading bikes with our overnight equipment, we'll head off to set up tonight's wild camp close to Lochan na h-Earba.
wednesday (Day 3)
loch na h-earba to leagag valley
59km
855M
After breakfast we’ll break camp and meet our support vehicle to drop off overnight kit. We'll then remain in wild country for most of the day, weaving our way through loch systems on fire roads and drover's tracks. An important objective will be one of the most remote youth hostels in the country, located on the banks of Loch Ossian. It'll be too early to stop but we'll break here to take in the atmosphere before navigating the western end of the lake, tackling the rising traverse before the descent on crushed granite trails overlooking the Black Corries. The view is as spectacular as the trail itself and we'll be grinning from ear to ear as we roll towards Loch Eigheach where we'll reunite with our support vehicle to pick up overnight equipment once more and depart for another wild camp below the summit of Leagag.
thursday (Day 4)
leagag valley to river lochy
49km
866M
Our daily routine will become familiar by now and after breakfast it's a lovely decent to access Rannoch Forest. Our support vehicle will be waiting in Glen Lyon and we'll pause here for lunch and to watch those who make the journey here to catch salmon. Our average speed will increase now as we head west on tarmac, deep into Glen Lyon. We'll ascend old roads swinging south into Glen Lochay and make our way to another wild camp spot along the river bank. Dinner will be served on our own beach and for the adventurous, there's the option of an evening dip.
friday (Day 5)
river lochay to loch drunkie
56km
709M
The route to Loch Drunkie feel less remote as it passes through small towns and villages on disused railway systems and well maintained cycle paths. The section alongside Loch Lubnaig follows the Rob Roy Way and is beautiful. We'll replenish in the bustling town of Callander before making our way west along Loch Venacher into the Achay Forest to Loch Drunkie. This is Trossachs territory. Here we're surrounded by lochs, forests and sublime trails in every direction, each leading to another adventure.
saturday (Day 6)
loch drunkie to glasgow
44km
634M
Our final day passes through Aberfoyle and the labyrinth of world class gravel tracks that it's famous for. The landscape changes as we leave the Highlands behind. What replaces it are intricate trails through rolling countryside that meet up with our final objective - the West Highland Way, leading us to Glasgow. We'll almost certainly meet hikers, some heading, like us, to Glasgow and the end of the line. For those coming towards us, their adventure is just starting. We'll sense the finish line and start to think about hot showers and civilisation. As we roll into the outskirts of Glasgow we'll all ponder on the journey we've just completed and the memories that will remain with us for very long time.
Expedition Highlights
Cycling the entire length of Loch Ness on pristine singletrack and forest trails.
Passing the remote Ossian Youth Hostel which can only be reached on foot or by bike.
Tackling the infamous Correyairack Pass along General Wade's military road.
Cruising along sublime singletrack with views across to the Black Corries.
The fast rolling trail that passes Melgarve Bothy.
Wild camping in some of the most remote and wild landscapes in Scotland.
FAQ
What bike is best for The Badger Divide?
We'll spend most of the time on non-technical, old drover gravel roads, forest tracks, singletrack and 4x4 roads. There's one challenging section descending the Corrieyairack Pass, but it's very short. To that end, we recommend a lightweight hardtail mountain bike with a short travel fork or a rigid fork on plus tyres. The route can be completed on a drop bar adventure bike with a minimum of 40 mm tyres. Anything less than that and you'll start to reduce the enjoyment factor.
Do I need my own bike?
No, we can arrange rental for you and it can be picked up and ready for you to ride. Please let us know if you need a bike and we’ll discuss options but rental prices start at £99 for the week.
Do I need my own bikepacking bags?
The short answer is yes. We'll have our own support vehicle and travel light, where possible, but we’ll be venturing through some remote areas, where our support vehicle can’t access so we’ll all need to be able to carry overnight kit at various points along the way. You can bring your own bikepacking bags, or we can arrange rental for you. Prices for bikepacking bag rental start from £69. Please let us know what you need and we’ll find a solution together.
What clothing and equipment will I need?
You can find a recommended clothing and equipment list by clicking...
If you are unsure about any of these items, or you need to purchase any of these items, you are more than welcome to get in touch for some help and advice. We've bought our fair share of kit over the years and we're very happy to share what works for us.
How fit do I need to be for the Badger Divide?
You will need to be able to ride a bike with bikepacking bags attached, at a steady state (say 10-15km per hour), for most of the day, for 6 days consecutively. The fitter you are, the more scope you’ll have to enjoy the scenery but each day of cycling will be broken up with short breaks for refuelling, photos and where appropriate, sharing knowledge and top tips. You'll also need the mindset to tackle mixed terrain and variable weather. The Scottish landscape is as beautiful as it is challenging and whilst the Badger Divide follows mainly non-technical terrain, there are a few short sections that will require us all to push bikes up (and down). We believe that a bit of 'hike-a-bike' is part of the bikepacking experience and well worth the effort.
What sort of prior experience do I need to have, to enjoy the Badger Divide Expedition?
Not that much really. As long as you can ride a bike for most of the day on mixed terrain and you have a genuine desire, and the robustness, to immerse yourself in a week-long expedition, you’ll be fine. The Badger Divide is less about racking up the mileage and more about journeying through a unique landscape, adapting to the terrain and of course the weather. This expedition is perfect for learning from each other, developing expedition skills and having a great time and your guide will do everything they can to look after everyone's specific needs. Finally, before anyone takes part in any of our expeditions, there will have been a very sensible and supportive conversation that makes sure you're suitable. No one benefits from taking part in an experience where there isn't a good fit.
How many hours will we be riding for each day?
We’ll cycle between 6-7 hours each day and take breaks when needed and when the scenery dictates.
How many riders will make up the group?
We usually require at least 3 riders to make the expedition viable and we'll never have groups larger than 8.
Will riders stay together during the day?
Yes, we'll stay together as a group. There may be short sections (usually inclines) where those who want to stretch their legs can enjoy a challenge but we'll move together, and for safety reasons, we will always descend together, as a group.
Where will the expedition start and what's the best way to get there?
Our official meeting point is at Bunchrew campsite, just outside Inverness. You’re welcome to join us from 3 pm on Sunday. We’ll gather as a group during the afternoon, enjoy a meal together in the evening and prepare for the weekend ahead. If you're travelling by car, directions can be found by clicking...
If you're travelling by train, the nearest station is Inverness. We may be able to offer a lift from the station to the campsite but we would need to coordinate this together. Finally, we're always keen to make efficiences for everyone so for those who will be travelling to Inverness and passing close to Glasgow, let's discuss practical ways of minimising post expedition vehicle shuttling. More on this below.
When and where will we finish on Saturday?
Our final day will be spent making our way to our hotel on the outskirts of Glasgow. We'll aim to get back by mid-afternoon on Saturday. We'll clean bikes, sort kit, have a shower. We'll celebrate the previous six days during our final group meal together. On Sunday morning, we'll drive back to Inverness to pick up cars left at the campsite. We'll leave quite early, so that we can maximise the rest of the day, bearing in mind that most will have more driving to do.
Will my spare clothes and equipment be transported for me during the trip?
Yes. You'll get access to your spare clothing and equipment whenever we meet up with the support vehicle and this will happen at least once each day. However, since we travel into remote valleys, we'll need to travel with all of our expedition kit each afternoon and on some days, well into the next day. We think this is a great way to journey; we'll travel light when we can but enjoy the peace of mind and flexibility that our support vehicle gives us.
Is there a limit on what I can bring?
The only limit we have is space within the support vehicle. All we ask is that you fit whatever you need transporting into one bag / holdall / suitcase that is no bigger than 100cm x 45cm x 45cm. These measurements equate to a large expedition holdall and should be more than enough. The clothing and equipment list above gives you clear guidance on what you need to take during each part of the expedition and your guide will help you with this.
What type of accommodation will we be using?
We’ve opted for tented accommodation for the expedition, with a hotel on the final day. This gives us the most flexibility and helps us develop a range of useful skills necessary for future expeditions. You can bring your own tent or you can use one of ours, free of charge. We have enough tents so that everyone can have their own, should they wish. Whilst at Bunchrew Campsite, we’ll have one large communal tent, where we can all meet, plan, chat and share meals together. We’ll also have a (secure) bike tent, so we can clean, prepare bikes and carry out any maintenance under cover, if needed. Our support vehicle will meet us at designated points along the route but we will be wild camping, in one form or another each night, once we embark on the expedition.
Will I have to share a tent?
No, but you can if you choose to. All of our tents are two person semi-geodesic. They are comfortable for two or palatial for one.
What's the catering plan?
We’ll provide all meals and snacks between the time you arrive on Sunday until we say farewell the following Sunday morning, less our evening meal in our hotel on Saturday night. Breakfast on Sunday monring will be provided. We love food and know how important it is during an expedition. Meals provided in camp will be healthy and plentiful (cake will just be plentiful). Meals along the route will be either centrally prepared or a choice of market leading dehydrated expedition pouches. A sample menu can be found by clicking...
Once you're booked onto an expedition, we'll ask you for your preferences so we have the best chance of providing food you'll love.
What if I have allergies and / or dietary requirements?
No problem. Let's discuss this during the booking process and we'll do our utmost to support your needs.
How do I book onto this expedition?
You can start the simple booking process by clicking...
and we'll contact you to arrange a quick chat, just to make sure you've picked the perfect expedition that matches your ability and expectations. Once we're both happy, we'll ask you for a deposit (50% of the total cost of the expedition), then we'll confirm your place and take you through the rest of the booking process. This involves getting some information from you and us sharing everything you need to know in preparation for your expedition. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this expedition before making a booking, no problem, go to the 'Ask Us Anything' section below and we'll answer your query as quickly as we can.
If we've not covered an area you're keen to explore in the FAQ above, please do get in touch using
'Ask Us Anything' form below and we'll answer your query as quickly as we can.
Book an adventure in 3 Easy Steps
Start the simple booking process by clicking and we’ll arrange a convenient time to call you. We just need to make sure you’ve picked the perfect expedition for you. If you’re keen to chat before deciding whether to commit to an expedition, no problem, contact us via 'Ask Us Anything' below and we’ll get back in touch as quickly as we can to answer any questions you have.
Once we're both happy that you've picked a suitable expedition, we'll ask you for a deposit (50% of the total cost of the expedition), then we'll confirm your place, via email, and take you through the rest of the booking process. We’ll need to get some more information from you and we'll send you some more details about your expedition.
We’re happy to field any questions you have leading up to your expedition but roughly 14 days before your expedition is due to start, we’ll contact you to make sure you’re ready to join us. We’ll share the final GPX file of your route and update you on any relevant information to include details about other expedition members.