03 – Altnaharra to Alness

Distance today 62 miles, 2210ft; total 172.6 miles, 7588ft

Elapsed Time Moving Time Distance Average Speed Max Speed Elevation Gain Calories Burned
08:07:00
hours
05:27:54
hours
61.67
mi.
11.29
mph
24.83
mph
2,133.20
ft.
1,496
kcal

After a great breakfast, we went to our bike, surrounded by midges. It started to drizzle as we headed up the long 7 mile climb towards the Crask Inn, either he rain getting heavier.

At the Inn we had coffe and freshly baked scones and a good chat with the landlord Douglas and his dog, Brandy. The Inn was recently gifted to the Episcopal Church and Douglas is a ‘reserve preacher’. They plan to hold services in the pub!

The rain continued as we took the long, 20 mile, downhill ride into Lairg, passing lots of cyclist heading the other way – they were supported by vans.

After Laurg, we went on to the Falls of Shin, a well know location to see salmon leaping up the falls, but we did not see it.

On to lunch in Bonar Bridge, which seems to have closed early in a Friday, so we had lunch in a creperie attached to a crèche and play barn that had been opened less than a month.

After lunch, Mike pushed up the average speed as he could smell the distilleries in Tain, 20 miles away! We stopped at the Balblair distillery but had missed the last tour, so had to be content with a free tasting.

A brief trip down th A9 took us to Tain and then a lovely ridge-top ride took us the final 10 miles to Alness.

Bedraggled cyclists outside the Crask Inn
The Camjoglers at the Falls of Shin
Balblair distillery