Day 7 - Blair Atholl to Tyndrum

Today we knew would be a hard day - on paper one of the toughest. A combination of wind and rain made it into one of the toughest we have ever done on one of these trips. We arrived like drowned rats, fortunately at a camping cabin; those sharing the campsite it tents are having a really rough time.

We gradually surfaced in the morning, John C first (not unusual), then each in turn. Quite early, as is common when camping. The day started very differently to how it was to end! High cloud with light winds greeted us and we got ready quite efficiently, having the tent and all our kit packed by 9 am. We were off shortly after, but it took the support team another hour to fit it all back in the Landrover.

After the compulsory food shop, the first part of the route retraced the last bit of the previous day. We first touched fresh tarmac when we turned off onto the Loch Tummel road. Winding and climbing through fir woods, we ascended in bursts accompanied by fleeting rain showers. Worryingly, the wind was already building.

We soon reached the ‘Queens view’ which gives one of the best views in Scotland, with vistas across Lock Tummel towards Schiehallion. We could just about make out the mountain, but it was not a day for toupee wearers! We retreated to the cafe for first snack. Layered up with warm clothing we headed on for a delightful descent through more woods, sheltering us from the increasingly strong winds. It was a lovely run, eventually along the lake edge and finally we looked around the top end to start the big climb of the day.

Fortunately, we were again sheltered but the rain was a bit more constant now. The views you normally get up the Schiehallion ridge were shrouded in fast moving low cloud. The climb was ok, but as we crested the top we were hit by a blast of cold wet air. A brief stop at the top to put on more clothes and then we pedalled into maelstrom of wind and rain. It was one of those rare cases of having to pedal to go down hill.

We managed it safely and ended up in Kenmore at the bottom of Loch Tay for lunch, where we found some benches sheltered by a wall and some trees to stop for lunch. We noted the breaking waves at the Loch shore. We headed out on the south side of the lock. A part of the NCR7, the route was labelled as a ‘cycle friendly road’, and all of the drivers did treat us with great respect. However, by the time we arrived at Killin at the top end of the Loch, we did not feel it was very friendly, with its constant in and down. It was sheltered though. We grabbed the opportunity to top up on soup whilst in Killin, then took the quiet road out, which turned out to be a delightful single track winding its way at the side of the valley. The wind was now ferocious and every now and then almost stopped us in our tracks. We eventually joined the A85, and hacked along towards Crianlarich. Beyond, the weather became horrendous. Hence our arrival as drowned rats ...

John and Tim, our support, were brilliant. The hut was prewarmed, and John valiantly cooked dinner amongst all the other saturated campers. John, sleeping in the Land rover, had a tough night, waking up freezing at 3 am, but was able to transfer into his roof tent as the rain had abated.