Mountain Biking Collection by Cycling UK
Great North Trail — From the Pennine Hills to the tip of Scotland
16 days
3-8 h/day
1,256km
18,000m
18,060m
This route isn’t perfect. Sometimes, an ideal connecting trail is designated as a footpath rather than a bridleway, so we’ve had to take the long way round and include a quiet on-road section. In places, we’ve managed to negotiate permissive access, but in other areas, the process is still ongoing. The route will continue to evolve as we campaign for increased off-road access for cycling, bringing opportunities for adventures by bike within reach of everyone.
The route has been devised with touring mountain bikers in mind, and spanning a total of 825 miles (1,328 km) it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted! Having said that, there’s nothing stopping you doing a few days at a time over smaller tours rather than spending several weeks on the route to complete it in a single sitting. Here the route is set as 16 days which gives a reasonable target but you will certainly need a good level of fitness to complete the route in this time as there are some tough climbs.
There’s a whole variety of terrain types and landscapes as you pass through the North of the UK, from the Roman roads of the Pennines to the canal towpaths linking Edinburgh and Glasgow, the quiet lanes of Northumberland and the wild mountain gravel roads in the Scottish Highlands. Be prepared for a real adventure on two wheels!
The ideal bike set up for this ride is certainly a mountain bike, as there are some technical sections which would be too hard on a gravel, adventure or touring bike. In parts you will find you need to push too, where the terrain is very tricky or steep. Bear in mind the impact this will have on your daily timings. It is imperative that you pack emergency rations, first aid and other equipment such as a survival bag. You will be heading to very remote areas, particularly in the Highlands so make sure that you are familiar with emergency procedures.
In terms of accommodation along the route, there are usually many options for overnight stays in rural towns and villages, from hotels to hostels, guest houses and camping grounds. In Scotland you can wild camp legally thanks to the Right To Roam act (see more at scotways.com/faq/law-on-statutory-access-rights), and you might find that it’s best to do this in a few places where it gets more remote in the Highlands. Make sure you do book ahead, especially in peak season during the summer months.
The Great North trail is easily accessible from the South from nearby train station in Wirksworth, and there are many stations along the route which make dividing the entire length into smaller chunks relatively easy too. When it comes to the other end, travel options are less easy so you’ll probably need to factor in some extra time in your trip. From Cape Wrath, the nearest train stations are Lairg and Thurso. Lairg is a 60 mile (96km) ride South back near the Oykel Bridge Hotel, and Thurso is on the North coast near John O’Groats, a 73 mile (117km) ride away. If you wish to fly, the nearest international airports are Inverness (North) and Manchester or Birmingham (South).
As with a lot of the UK, weather can be unpredictable and you’re certainly likely to experience all kinds of weather over a 16 day tour. Make sure you pack appropriate clothing for all conditions including good quality waterproofs. Spare sets of brake pads along with all the normal tools and spares are a good idea! The best times of year to take on this challenge are late spring and autumn - therefore missing peak tourist and midge seasons whilst still enjoying some better weather - we hope...
For more information, visit cyclinguk.org/route/great-north-trail-full-route-cape-wrath
Visit here for the latest trail updates: facebook.com/groups/greatnorthtrail
Check the Cape Wrath Ferry timetable here capewrathferry.wordpress.com/rates-and-services
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Great North Trail (Cape Wrath)
1,214km
18,640m
18,830m
Last updated: November 28, 2024
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Activities
77.0km
05:55
1,200m
1,200m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
58.2km
05:58
1,630m
1,500m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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86.8km
07:31
1,630m
1,770m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
57.8km
05:16
1,020m
1,010m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
92.2km
06:46
1,140m
1,200m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
62.1km
04:42
740m
660m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
87.2km
07:53
1,480m
1,520m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
70.9km
06:21
1,390m
1,430m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
94.9km
05:28
390m
440m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
81.2km
06:35
910m
890m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
97.5km
07:26
1,300m
1,160m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
98.9km
08:25
1,380m
1,580m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
66.0km
05:58
1,340m
1,060m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
91.6km
07:11
860m
1,120m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
53.0km
03:20
520m
450m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
80.4km
05:42
1,070m
1,090m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Collection Stats
Activities
16
Distance
1,256 km
Duration
100:24 h
Elevation
18,000 m
18,060 m
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