Bikepacking the NC500: When Adventure Goes Wrong...

I embarked on my first bikepacking trip in 5 years and decided to follow the much-loved NC500 around the Scottish Highlands. The trip was planned to last 10 days, however, due to some freakish (well not by Highland standards) weather I unfortunately had to cut the trip short at 6 days, having cycled 300 miles.
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#Bikepacking #Bicycletouring #Adventure #Scotland #NC500 #ScottishHighlands #cycling #adventurefails

[@Cycling366]

Enjoyed that mate - great job. Awful way to end but got to look after yourself up there. Been up there in similar conditions and it's bloody awful! Keep up the great videos. 👍

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you, appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. It was certainly eventful but I had 6 great days so I can't complain!

[@rossclark8780]

Hello, I am the guy who shared a table with you on the train up from Edinburgh to Inverness. I had cycled the NC500 in June and thought about you often over the next two weeks, wondering where you were and how you were getting on. Now I know! I loved the video and saw a lot of familiar sights but was really sorry to hear that you had to abandon the trip. It was absolutely the right thing to do, particularly calling the Coastguard, as once you are cold and wet hypothermia is a real danger and, as the coastguard told you, it could have finished very differently and were may not have had this video from you. The strength of the wind in the Highlands is often underestimated and, as you now know, it can wreak havoc. But you did the right thing and you should feel very proud of yourself for that. Get back up there sometime and finish the journey. Look forward to watching some more of your adventures (now subscribed) and all the best, Ross

[@getupgooutside9360]

Hi Ross, strangely I've just this morning been thinking about the train journey up whilst writing some notes for a blog post and realised I'd not asked your name. Log into KZbin and here you are! Certainly an unfortunate ending, but seeing the news a day later when people were being airlifted out of their cars due to landslides I know I'd made the right decision. I suppose I was blessed for the 6 days I did have as the weather was pretty good bar a few showers and the route was, like you said, absolutely beautiful. I'll definitely be looking to go back at some point and finish the trip... Although I don't think I'll be doing the 15 hour train journeys again haha! Thanks for subscribing!

[@fullgasjaxon7572]

Well done get herself back up in warmer weather & get it finished 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🚴🏻‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚴🏻‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚴🏻‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚴🏻‍♂️ I always watch the GCN video on KZbin of NC500 with Mark Beaumont & Si Richardson very inspirational 👌🏻🙏🏻🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@markhalliday2397]

You should do the Hebridean way next 😍

[@matthill1803]

Fine effort mate! Great video, you live to fight another day! 👍

[@MarkoCoomo]

Great vid .. great adventure! Well played on getting out safe to fight another day. 👍

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thanks, it was a great trip despite the unfortunate ending!

[@genemclabs9338]

Well done mate you deserved to be there. Safety is the priority in the situation like that. You can’t really predict the power of nature. Another story to tell my friend! Good luck. Just wish me luck coz I’ll be doing NC500 this year September 2024 in 5 days. 😢 🤞☯️

[@AllenBoardman]

What a story! I’m so pleased the coast guard helped and reassured you calling 999 was the right thing to do. In my opinion you’ve cycled the best part of the NC500, I done it in 2017 but if I done it again I’d get the first 200 out the way anticlockwise. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[@getupgooutside9360]

I was planning to head south a little early and avoid the east coast. The route going through Forsinard, which is meant to be beautiful

[@abdullahewas7180]

Great video - enjoyed it. Glad you’re safe. You’ll have a story to tell your grandchildren one day now!

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you, it certainly is a story to tell!

[@alexmorgan3435]

Great video, beautifully shot, edited and commentary. A man's gotta know his limitations.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you 👍

[@ThatWalkingGeeza]

Leaving on march 1st next year, on a solo backpacking adventure, I have no plan, and no end destination..... Great vid mate

[@maxflight777]

Gorgeous bike ! Well filmed and edited. Best wishes.

[@Jimbo_LB]

Wow. Scary stuff. I enjoyed the film a lot. Thank you for sharing.

[@JohnBrown-hi5rg]

Definitely a bit of wild camping going on there! Good on you showing the true aspects of bikepacking in the north coast. You're here to tell the tale after making the correct decisions. It's a fantastic route, done it twice in both directions and , hopefully will repeat it. Had a slightly lesser experience like yours on my first trip, thankfully the tent survived , just! Nothing beats a wee adventure and having stories to tell. Imagine your only conversation was relating what youd seen on the TV from the sofa! Keep getting out there 😁

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you! I'll definitely be going back to explore the north coast more! Whether on my bike or perhaps on the car with my full camera gear for a bit of photography instead! Feel like I barely scratched the surface of all the adventures to be had up there!

[@derekskinner6255]

The most important thing is that you're still here, and obviously remaining positive for future trips. We were in Thurso in September, all was calm, but at the time we commented on how bleak it must be in a storm - now we know!! Thanks for sharing and all the best for your next adventure.

[@getupgooutside9360]

It must be the price of how beautiful it is when the weather is nice! The top bit of the west coast was stunning the day before when the sun was out ☀️

[@johnpunnett1426]

Stunning scenery & great effort. Fair play to you as well for sharing the video (albeit the journey not completed) - You've really helped highlight how easy it is for things to go wrong, despite planning which is really important. Hopefully, your experience will help prevent someone else putting themselves in a potentially dangerous situation. Top marks as well for making the decision to quit - that must have been tough but under the circumstances was definitely the right thing to do. I look forward to watching you take up the challenge again sometime in the future. Thks for sharing. 👍

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you! A bit of a knock to the ego having to call it early. I've put up with some pretty tough conditions on other trips with friends before but there is a difference when you're so remote and on your own. But it's also important to own that. Adventure isn't just rosy sunsets on Instagram.

[@dereklawrie8279]

What a superb superb superb video. I’m sorry it ended the way it did, but what a story you have for the pub!!!

[@getupgooutside9360]

I've certainly had some amazed looks when people asked how my holiday was 😂

[@Fudders]

You didn't fail, you just did the NC300! Sorry to see your trip was cut short, but it looks like you made the right decision and it gives you a good excuse to go back when the weather's a little less hurricaney!

[@getupgooutside9360]

I'll definitely be going back! Barely touched the tip of the iceberg even with the part I cycled 🚲

[@Raykenn1]

Enjoyed your video, thanks for posting 👍

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you 🙏

[@trepicks]

A well put together video you should be proud of. Sensible decision and here’s to the next time. Having supported my son on the NC500 you’ll enjoy finishing it.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you! I'm sure I'll get back and finish it another time!

[@Curlew-Corner]

You did the right thing, getting help. I particularly enjoyed the Bealach na Ba section. 35 years ago-ish, I backpacked from Toridon to the foot of the pass, walked the pass the following day to Applecross and back to Toridon the next. The walk across the pass lives on in my memory - I had many wonderful days of walking while backpacking, but I think BnaB was the best.

[@getupgooutside9360]

I'd love to go back up to the Highlands to back pass and take it all in again on a slower route

[@jonashubalekwhiskyandthewild]

Brilliant! Enjoyed this one. Did Hebridean way last year and it was raining a lot too but I was lucky a few times finding shelter at the right moment just before storm etc.. I am sure you will be back to finish it🙂

[@getupgooutside9360]

For the first 4 days I seemed to always be in a cafe whenever it rained, clearing up by the time I'd finished my coffee. I think nature tried to get me back throwing that unexpected storm on me when I was in the most remote place I'd been all week!

[@horaciodedona3912]

I feel for you. I'm aciclyst too. An Argentinian living in Canada for the last 50 years. Good luck next time, mate.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you! I can imagine there is some beautiful spots to cycle in canada

[@merson812]

Well done mate, good job. It must have been an absolutrly terrible night, and you certainly did the right thing to involve the emergehcy services. Take care.

[@lydiagould3090]

That storm was scary! You absolutely did the right thing calling the emergency services. Just a shame the police didn't offer you a cell for the night and a nice cup of tea🤣 Beautiful route, I did it in 2019 on my Cotic Solaris mtb . I remember that steep climb where I overtook a motorhome, struggling its way up. Hopefully you'll get a chance to do the rest of the route some day.

[@daivapetrikaite]

Nice trip 😊

[@keepcyclingadventures]

Mate, that sounds like an epic. You did the right thing, just a bugger your trip was cut short. Sweet cinematic shots. New subscribe here

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you 👍

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Gutted ! for you me as it looked like we were both going to enjoy an excellent adventure. But that said you made a brave decision and the right one. Glad to hear that the rescue services thought so too. I know how tough it is to abandon an adventure as after blowing myself up in a tent and being treated for burns in Keswick Hospital when I was on my way to Fort William I had to decide whether to continue. Very long story short I did and the landlady I stayed with became a family friend for more than thirty years. As you said its why they are called adventures. Stay safe out there.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Oh god that sounds a lot worse than my trip! Think we both made the right decision!

[@jaikgladstone5833]

Great job and I would say you definitely had an adventure. Not gone wrong but gone right. You set out with a mission, challenges were thrown up by the environment and you adapted to each making the necessary calls along the way. You can never beat nature, just accommodate it. You're left with vivid memories and I'm sure a lot of learning. Are there any choices you would make differently knowing what you know now?

[@getupgooutside9360]

Very true! I'd definitely be carrying a survival bag with me now. If I hadn't been concerned about getting cold and wet I'd have happily left the tent and bike until morning and found somewhere a little more sheltered on foot.

[@nodbag6301]

Excellent video. well done

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you 🙏

[@maxflight777]

Thank goodness you had a charged phone battery and a signal !

[@Bikepacking]

That’s a real adventure

[@TheCoopsvids]

Unlucky mate but at least you’re here to tell your story. Brush down and go again another time 👍🏻🚴

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thanks, certainly will do!

[@user-ff3wf8gu7c]

At least you live to tell the tale

[@fullgasjaxon7572]

You made the correct decision I always tell people from down south that Scotland doesn’t just get four seasons in one day we get four seasons in one hour & the further north you go they four seasons can be extremely dangerous in less than one so you lived to enjoy it all again in a warmer month as we say in Scotland haste ye back 🙏🏻🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🚴🏻‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thank you! I certainly got plenty of hours which were full of downpours and clear blue sky with the space of 5 minutes. Don't mind the rain but the wind is a nightmare

[@fullgasjaxon7572]

@@getupgooutside9360 yes the wind is horrendous at times get back up April/// May👍🏻🙏🏻

[@craker4658]

We were supposed to do a hiking tour in Knoydart (Fort William, Mallaig area) that week. We saw the weather forecast and baled (at considerable cost). Wouldn't have been pleasant (or safe) in those conditions.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Yeah there is often an element of risk to adventures but it's important to know when to say no. Hope you manage to do your trip one day! I'd love to do a hiking trip in the Highlands.

[@simonlambourn5896]

Loved your video - until it went pear-shaped. Bad luck with the weather but you are still here and perhaps you will go back and do it again (with brilliant weather) another time. I rode the NC500 a few years back with friends in September, we had to abandon one day due to a storm but we weren't camping.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Would love to go back and finish it! Trying to convince my partner that we need a holiday in the Highlands next year where I can disappear on the bike for a few days! That way I can ride light and have back up transport if needed!

[@simonlambourn5896]

@@getupgooutside9360 The best weather (on average ...) is in April & May - you often get gorgeous hot weather in NW Scotland at that time of year, (and there are fewer tourists too) but of course nothing is guaranteed.

[@Bikepacking]

Cool

[@highland-oldgit]

Well done, you planned properly but still got caught out and that can happen. The rescue services would have been happy to help out. Not so keen on people going up the hill in winter wearing shorts and trainers ! The weather here is getting more unpredictable, especially the wind and rain so I guess low level recues may become more common.

[@getupgooutside9360]

Yeah they were really reassuring that I hadn't wasted their time. You think it's all fine and you're well prepared until a big gust of wind blows your waterproofs away and pops your airbed!

[@JayDubster]

Gutted it went dodgy for you matey, looked amazing up til the storms rolled in & sure you would've smashed it in normal weather. Next time bud, keep at it.

[@getupgooutside9360]

We move onto the next one! Maybe I'll head south next time 😂

[@Bajen.4ever]

enyoed it very much thanks for posting and very sad that it ended the way it did. which is the best season to bikepacking the NC500 ?

[@getupgooutside9360]

Thanks mate! I've been told if I try again to go around April / May. Weather is a bit calmer and the midges haven't got too bad yet.

[@dennisyoung4631]

And I thought 4+ hours on a (somewhat) crowded bus to Astoria on the Oregon Coast was awful…? Well, at least I got Covid out of it! (Joke) That said, I enjoyed Amtrak travel back in 2021…

[@johnhatfield1070]

Am watching this video when its been up for eight days. But how long ago was it undertaken? If its october it may have been a little to late in the year. Admire your resilience and fortitude . The weight you carry as a recording artiste exceeds normal bike packing KG’s. The guy you did it in the perfect month , June, the chance of reasonable weather and before the schools break up. Like looking at content from amiable chappies and not self obsessed racing snake community.

[@getupgooutside9360]

The trip started end of September and went into October. I'd planned the timing to avoid the midges which I have allergic reactions too. I can deal with cold and rain, it was the rain that caught me off guard. To be honest I half debated not putting this video together because I didn't have all the content I wanted, but I thought showing when things sometimes go wrong was important.

[@pootlingalong8928]

Glad you got home safely but you didn’t say what happened to your tent and contents. Did all that plastic just get left there in the wilderness? 😲

[@getupgooutside9360]

Everything that was still with me when the coastguard arrived was collected up and taken with us so nothing was left on the hill. There was nothing we could do for the few bits that were blown away as they were long gone.

[@tammcneish3105]

Didn't you check weather forecast, Scotland 4 seasons in one day, Rules for wild camping Scotland leave nothing but footprints.

[@getupgooutside9360]

I did check the weather forecast when I had phone signal and it wasn't forcast the last time I checked. Quite a tough one too because I found the forecast was very rarely right either. It was forecast for rain and gentle breeze for most of the trip yet 4 out of the 6 days I did cycle it was warm and sunny. Learning going forward is probably to try and camp closer to other dwellings unless I'm certain the weather will be fine. If I'd had somewhere to go for shelter, even if it's hiding round the back of a barn, I probably would have left my stuff and taken shelter elsewhere to see it through until morning. The biggest issue I had was I was so remote.

[@pungarehu]

To be fair, the forecast for our end of the country (around durness) is more often wrong than right. Because we stick out a bit in the north west corner, we can get stuffed with the edge of some pretty grim days. I’ve seen a steady state 100mph wind at the roadside on Loch eriboll , never mind at 3000 feet atop a mountain.

[@ascar77uk]

no such thing as bad weather in scotland just the wrong gear and if you have to call the mountain rescue because your tent failed then it was the wrong gear and a trekking pole tent is the wrong gear