Bikepacking the NC500 - Episode 3

[@EriebyCycle]

Dave, that was hands down the finest bicycle adventure video series I have ever seen. Thanks for taking the time to document it and share it with us. Also- dry stone walls… nice!

[@davidbenson735]

Hi Josh, thank you so much for your kind comments, I really appreciate it. It makes all the hard work of filming and editing so worthwhile. And, I was thinking of you whilst I was filming the dry stone walls, I know how much you appreciate them. All the very best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@RidingHighCycling]

Only one word for that Dave.............. SUPERB!! Well done mate another great video. Cheers as always, Paul 👍

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much Paul, I really appreciate that...👍🏻 Thanks again for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@onemorecyclist]

Fantastic series, really enjoyed each episide. Look forward to seeing the next adventure! 🙂

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much. Yeah hopefully more cycling adventures to come. Thanks again for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@paulmckearney4945]

That inland route towards Inverness to keep off the A9 looks a great option. Great video again.

[@davidbenson735]

Yeah, it was one of the highlights of the trip. Smooth tarmac, no cars and a pub with camping and great beer for the overnight stop. I'd heard some bad stuff about the traffic on the A9, and really wanted to avoid it. There's an earlier option to get to Altnaharra by turning south off the coast road before Tongue, but it is even more remote and we needed a cafe stop. I think we chose a cracking route with that road. Thanks for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@simonb6058]

What a great series of videos and an entertaining watch. Seeing your tent flapping around on the final day I thought these 40 miles will be tough. You have a great attitude to taking on these adventures and inspire all of us to get out and do them. Not bad for an old bloke 😅. Well done 👍

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you so much for your kind comments Simon, I really appreciate them. I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. I had a great cast on this adventure, and Martin played a big part in the story of episode 3, even though he wasn't in it...🤣 Thanks again for watching and commenting.

[@reeceholmes8546]

great stuff, thanks for sharing this tour, very well done

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cheers...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@m1les7]

Eyup Dave, that was brilliant, fair play you’re bloody fit!! Lost a couple of soldiers along the way, but made it to the end. Myself and Simone have loved these vids. Hope you’ve had a well earned rest. All the best Dave ❤🏁🏁

[@davidbenson735]

Hi Myles & Simone, I'm glad you both enjoyed the videos. Yeah, having a bit of a rest now before planning the next adventure. Thanks for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@m1les7]

@ Simone says SUPERB! ❤️🏁

[@davidbenson735]

Hi Myles, please thank Simone for me...👍🏻 All the best, Dave

[@nigelmccomb8106]

Love the video. Personally I prefer solo bike packing, it’s less complicated. 😊

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much 👍🏻 And thanks for watching and commenting.

[@SteveCarruthers-k4c]

Well done that man.👍 Really enjoyed this latest adventure Dave, and your vids have provided me with the inspiration to get and about on my own bike. So another ‘old bloke’ knocking about👍Keep up the good work I’m looking forward to your next adventure. (Hope Martin got home okay, and he’s not still chasing his pannier down some road in the highlands🤔😆

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much Steve, I really appreciate your kind comments...👍🏻 It's great to know that there'll be another "old bloke on a bike" knocking about. We met Martin at the station on the Tuesday night and he looked liked he'd managed to get a few good nights sleep, so all okay there. All the best, Dave

[@simonwiltshire]

That was one great long adventure guys well done!

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much for your comment and thanks for watching. Much appreciated 👍🏻

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

I agree with your mate tents are for putting people in when there’s been a disaster 🤣🤣🤣

[@davidbenson735]

Ha ha...🤣 Thanks for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@nosferatu8293]

Excellent video and great commentary on what is clearly a very tough ride! I'm going to use these videos as inspiration to have a go at this in 2025. Nice One!

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much for your kind comment. I'm pleased to hear that you are going to do the route in 2025, I hope you have a "suupeerrb" trip. Thanks for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@PuddledPete]

Well done guys. A challenging but rewarding trip by the looks of it. Big country, lots of climbs and lots of weather. It's not really a surprise that there was a bit of friction along the way but I hope nothing too serious that can't be mended soon. Great series of videos that I really enjoyed watching.

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much Pete. Yeah, shame we didn't manage to complete the trip with all that started, but Martin just needed solitude to help him catch up with his sleep, and Thomo expected a more relaxed pace to do some sightseeing. Thanks again for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@juliehill5938]

Well done to all of you. It looked a tough start and as long as everyone gets home safely that’s the main thing. Done the NC500 in our motorhome in May and it’s beautiful in the sunshine 😂

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks a lot Julie...👍🏻 Yeah, it's a popular route for motorhomes and campervans, all of which were very considerate to us on the roads, which was nice. Sounds like you were as lucky as we were with the weather. Thanks again for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@gerardwall8847]

Dave thoroughly enjoyed watching this series (like all your trips). Hopefully Martin and Thommo will be there for the next one. Love the variety of “the team” and the banter that goes with it. Coming from Victoria in Australia, it amazing to see endless miles with little or no trees! Beautiful scenery, great camera work and finally a big shout out to you - you’re some fit man! Gerard

[@davidbenson735]

Hi Gerard. Thanks very much for your kind comment, I really appreciate it...👍🏻 They are a great bunch of guys that I cycle with, we have loads of banter, and even though we sometimes have our differences of opinion, nothing is too much that it cannot be sorted. Yeah, I'm sure Martin and Thomo will be along for more adventures in the future. I've had similar comments regarding the lack of trees before, particularly from people in North America. It's something to do with the clearances many hundreds of years ago, I think. However, I do think the landscape there is still spectacular, even without the trees, but maybe more native woodland would give better biodiversity. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@gerardwall8847]

@ thx for your reply Dave! I certainly wasnt being critical of the landscape in the Scottish Highlands. In fact, you can get a clearer picture of the ups and downs in some ways.

[@davidbenson735]

That's very true Gerard, you can certainly see in advance what's coming and get ready to change down into the granny gear...🤣

[@chriskiwi2601]

Another great video. Absolutely brilliant scenery, similar in parts of NZ. Would like to visit the NC500 sometime, see how we go. All the best from New Zealand.

[@davidbenson735]

Hi there Chris in New Zealand. I do hope you get the chance to visit the NC500, it is more stunning than my video could show. Thanks again for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@paulwoods3487]

Fantastic series Dave loved every minute great video cheers pal looking forward to your next adventure 😂

[@davidbenson735]

Hi Paul, thanks very much...👍🏻 Keith told me that you have retired now, so wishing you a very happy retirement. Thanks again for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@JohnRichardson-v2l]

Well done to you both for completing your route....look forward to your next vid. 'Ull' east yorkshire.

[@davidbenson735]

Hi there in 'Ull' 😂 Thanks a lot. I was very tired at the end but the journey was so worth it. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Trekon2]

Excellent video Dave really enjoyed it and wanted some more. Pity about the split and Martin taking off and Tommo desperate for sleep 😤 was it Simon doing the snoring ? Super roads, scenery, Campsites, and refreshment stops, your narration, and your great natural sense of humour is Superb 👏👋

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks so much for your kind comments, I really appreciate it. Yeah, Simon is the main snorer, although apparently I'm not far behind him for snoring myself...🤣 I don't mind the sound of someone snoring, I find it quite therapeutic actually. Thanks again for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@peterahough]

Great video series and fantastic trip. I'd love to do that route sometime.

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed the video series. I think it's a perfect route for a bikepacking road trip. It's a challenge, but worth it for the outstanding scenery. Of course, having good weather like we had for most of the trip, did help. Thanks again for watching and commenting.

[@MrAnon-2024]

Thought you may have ended up completing the route on your own as people were dropping like flies 😉 Great adventure and enjoyed watching the vids. Supeeeeerb 😀👍

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much for watching the videos and commenting. I know what you mean about "dropping out like flies", but to be honest, me and Simon have always made it together to the end of all our trips. It would take one of us to lose a leg to drop out...🤣 All the best...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@StewartHowson-e3t]

Great videos, enjoyed the whole series well done.

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. Thanks for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@mattlast4093]

beautiful pitch @17:39 !

[@davidbenson735]

Yeah, you can't get much better than a lovely quiet garden, with a pub serving great beer 20 yards away...😀

[@paulmaher4493]

Good video it brought it all back to me especially Ballach Na Ba

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks a lot. It's one of those journeys that I'll remember for a very long time. Glad it brought back some memories for you. Thanks for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂

[@paulmaher4493]

@davidbenson735 watched all of your videos as me and 5 mates did the exact trip about 6 years ago however we had backup and stayed under roofs so fair play to you. The Crask Inn was our highlight.

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks, yeah the Crask Inn was the best camp of the trip for us. Lovely garden to pitch in and a cosy little bar for the evening. Cheers...👍🏻

[@leighnelson2208]

Amazing trip.. .well done. 👍👏👏👏👍

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much, it was the best cycle trip I've ever done. Thank you for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@camperwheeler5183]

What a great trip!

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much...👍🏻 And thanks for watching and commenting.

[@catchyoulater.5836]

Looks like you enjoyed the trip, well the final 2 of you did 👍 Isn’t the scenery beautiful up there? Made me smile when you said “Another long climb”. There was a few long climbs up there 🥵 I think you made the right decision cutting south to avoid the road south of Wick. Thanks for sharing your NC500 adventure 😊

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks Mick. Yeah, I didn't realise there would be so many long climbs along the route. The road cutting south down to Altnaharra was sublime, we hardly saw a soul. And the pub camping was probably the best pitch of the lot. Thanks again for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@AliWade1971]

Superrbb ❤. Well done to you all, whether cycled the whole distance or not. I am noting some of the places that I want to visit (once we have sold the farm we will be doing some travelling). I don’t like crowds or midges, so will need to time a trip carefully 😀

[@davidbenson735]

Hi Ali, thank you very much...👍🏻 I think the midge season runs from beginning of May to end of September, but they may be present in warm spells at the end of April...🤔 As for crowds, I imagine the main tourist spots get very busy during the summer. Out of season would be best if you can time it with reasonable weather. As you will have seen, it's spectacular scenery all the way round and is a superb destination for a road trip at any time. Thanks again for watching and commenting. All the best, Dave...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@mattlast4093]

its saturday morning, theres no work, ive got a bacon and egg sandwich on a bagette.....and part 3 !!..........Superb Squared !

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks Matt, sounds great, I hope you enjoy the video...

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

You missed the chocolate shop at Durness, they do fantastic hot chocolate !, bringing back fantastic memories of our trip

[@davidbenson735]

Aww that's a shame, missing that. We got to Durness late and left early the next morning so presumably the shop would have been closed. Never mind, next time...🤞🏻 Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@AdamAnderson-y2q]

What about the Lochinvar pie shop

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

@@AdamAnderson-y2q That one is a must visit as well, great pies !!

[@davidbenson735]

Yeah, we heard about that, but unfortunately we passed through Lochinver when it was closed. Will have to try it next time. Thanks for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@mattlast4093]

@3:28 ive had many a moment just like that in snowdonia, its you and the bike in a misty wonderland...and god knows whats out there

[@davidbenson735]

Yeah, quite spooky but very enjoyable being away from everything. Just man, machine and the wilderness. Thanks for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂

[@GP-wi8jo]

I'm really enjoying your videos, seeing parts of the UK I would never otherwise have seen. Your videos keep getting better, do you use a gimbal for the shots taken while riding? I would be interested to know what you use for them. Thanks again for the adventures.

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much for your kind comment. I don't use a gimbal, I just have a very small Sony AS200V action camera which seems to have excellent image stabilisation. Thanks again for watching and commenting. Cheers...👍🏻

[@2rocship]

What a trip 👍 That owl was noisy!

[@davidbenson735]

@2rocship Thanks Si. You kept that owl awake with your snoring you know...🤣

[@pyeriotsquad]

That's some going!

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much. And thank you for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@alanthew6490]

Really enjoyed this trilogy, many thanks for putting it together. What did you think about the amount of kit you carried? Large panniers seemed a bit much (I took similar on a 13 day trip and regretted it).

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much Alan. To be honest, I'm a bit of a traditionalist, I really like my panniers. I find the ease of access to all my stuff so good, but I know what you mean about the amount of kit. I wish I could manage with less, but no matter how hard I try I cannot seem to reduce it down. Thank you for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@brianridley1102]

Blimey Mardy Martin! He never looked happy the whole trip, didn't prepare his bike properly for it as we saw early on with tyres etc Glad you two enjoyed it, can't wait myself but lesson learned to give myself time. I live in the Cambs flatlands so don't get the hill experience you guys have already in your legs! Thommo, fully get it. It's a holiday so if your flogging yourself everyday and don't get to see too much I would fancy a change myself l. Another lesson learned 😁 Keep up the cracking vlogs

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much for your comments. Yeah, having not done the route before, I learnt that we could have probably taken the first few days at a more relaxed pace, because towards the end we had much easier cycling, with plenty of spare time. That might have been better for Thomo. Thanks for watching and commenting...👍🏻

[@brianridley1102]

Be good to maybe do a vlog on the kit you took and the bike/gearing etc. What you took you never used, all that kind of thing

[@mattlast4093]

i agree

[@davidbenson735]

Yeah, that's something I could probably do sometime. Just having a bit of a rest from editing videos now...🤣 Thanks very much for watching and commenting.

[@craigratcliffe7088]

Brill Video Were you all on gravel bikes Dave

[@davidbenson735]

Thanks very much...👍🏻 Yeah, we were all on gravel bikes with low gearing and wide tyres, around 40mm. To be fair, we could have used normal road tyres, as it was all on tarmac, except for the mtb forest excursion me and Simon took. Thanks again for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@ascar77uk]

your bike packing and touring Scotland but you are not covering the NC500 route as the500 includes Thurso wick and along the north coast

[@davidbenson735]

Fair point, but we were limited to 8 days cycling and I'd heard that the road down the east coast gets very busy with traffic, so we had already decided to cut south through Altnaharra. To be honest, I'm glad we did, as the camp at the Crask Inn was one of the highlights of the trip. Thanks for watching and commenting...🚴🏻‍♂️

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

@@davidbenson735 exactly, we did the same, all the advice says the A9 is a horrible fast road and much better to drop down south earlier and go via Lairg, you still do 500 miles and hopefully are a lot safer.

[@drewrobertson3301]

Superb❤

[@davidbenson735]

Thank you very much Drew...👍🏻