Fort William to Montrose MTB - A Scottish Coast to Coast Bikepacking Adventure

[@gordonbeattie6816]

Looking amazing girls keep up with all your great work 🎉🎉🎉

[@mtbfree4914]

@@gordonbeattie6816 thank you. On another adventure just now 🚵‍♀️☀️⛰️

[@janicegalloway5636]

What an amazing trip. Thoroughly enjoyed watching your days on the bikes...inspiring!! 😊

[@mtbfree4914]

@@janicegalloway5636 thank you. Glad we’ve inspired you 😀.

[@grahamsmith3584]

Thank you for sharing your journey. I am 86 years old cannot cycle as I wish, but on my stationary bike in the summer house looking across the fields I am able to share with you your amazing journey. Keep going.

[@mtbfree4914]

@@grahamsmith3584 you’re very welcome. If I reach age 86 I hope I can still cycle even if it is cycling on a static bike in a lovely summer house enjoying views over fields. Good on you and well done for keeping moving. I’m glad I was able to share our journey with you. I’m heading off in a few weeks time on another cycling adventure 🚵‍♀️☀️🤞. Best wishes to you.

[@allankelly8133]

Fair play girls. I’m extremely envious of that trip. Me and my 2 brothers climbed Nevis recently and stayed in Port Augustus. That fish and chip shop hit the spot. Well done

[@mtbfree4914]

@@allankelly8133 it really did 🐠 🍟 😃

[@andypearcemusic]

Thanks for the presentation and sharing your journey 👍🏻 looked amazing

[@mtbfree4914]

@@andypearcemusic thank you. Glad you liked it 😀.

[@hkcam9398]

Fantastic video Claire and Karen, amazing trip and fantastic video / editing. You both should be so proud. Well done.

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you ☺️

[@GordonMathieson]

Well done you twa. Epic trip. Done about 95% of the route over the years since I retired! The track from Tomintoul down the River Avon is very very special. So glad I live in Scotland, we have endless quiet trails everywhere, and no problems wild camping outside the national parks.

[@mtbfree4914]

@@GordonMathieson thank you! It’s an amazing route - as you will know having ridden most of it. My favourite day was up and over mount keen and wild camping 🏕️ on the other side. Yeah we are so lucky having the freedom that we do in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. Happy cycling 😀.

[@momaday1]

Great video Claire, I know the route very well, it was a good c2c choice with wonderful variety. An inspiration to anyone wanting to savour the very best of this part of our country.

[@mtbfree4914]

@@momaday1 thank you I really appreciate your thoughts and comments 😀

[@silentrabbit247]

Enjoyed watching your coast to coast & nicely filmed ( glad you found the drone ) If there is anyway you can get the packs off and the stuff onto the bike - you'll find it more refreshing & less tiring when cycling, give it a try you will notice a big difference. Not too well known, but The Scottish Outdoor Access Code ( SOAC ) allows responsible wild camping ( up to 4 people, bikepacking or backpacking etc ) in Playing Fields ( off the pitch etc, and asking if there are houses in sight nearby ) - a great option for an easy night in a village or town ! I always camp in the playing field in Ballater, not far from the old Station. ATB enjoy your next tour.

[@mtbfree4914]

Hey, thanks for your helpful comments. I have my drone in my pack and food for the day so it’s pretty light. As for Karen tho, I have no idea 🤷‍♀️ what she had in hers 🤣. Another ‘anything cage’ on the forks might help to put more stuff on the bike. I didn’t know that about camping on playing fields. Very helpful, thank you.

[@bambangsuseno8764]

Ms Karen and Ms Claire, in The Special Territory of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, I enjoy your share riding your MTBs in several parts of your country. It's truly amazing. Warm greetings from The Special Territory of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 😊

[@mtbfree4914]

@@bambangsuseno8764 thank you for your kind comments. We hope to visit Indonesia one day 😃.

[@RebeccaSelvey]

OMG Claire this is fantastic - what an adventure

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks ☺️

[@JenniferMurray-e5q]

Absolutely incredible trip. I'm blown away by both of your fitness levels and the scenery. Love the picture of you both on the beach at the end. What an achievement! Brilliant video well done to you both

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks ☺️. Absolutely loved it. Much easier to cover the distances if you have a friend to chat to - the amazing scenery helps too! It’s as much mental fitness as it is physical fitness. Cheers!

[@derekbrady4481]

Watched this earlier today, what a route ! No mad hike a bike or silly relentless climbing super steep stuff. You guys got fairly decent weather aswell. Well done guys, enjoyed watching that 💪

[@mtbfree4914]

@@derekbrady4481 thank you. Loved the route - think it was just right in terms of distance per day and ascent per day, and also 99% rideable 🚵‍♀️☀️😃. Glad you enjoyed it 😀.

[@KevinFindlater]

Really enjoyed this and having just stumbled upon your videos I'm pleased I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks for sharing.

[@mtbfree4914]

@@KevinFindlater thank you ☺️. I’m glad you like it. Heading off on a solo trip soon so there’s more to come 🚵‍♀️☀️.

[@patriciaorr4917]

Claire what a fabulous video and what an adventure. The scenery is stunning and I'm more than impressed with your adventure. Well done you two and thanks for sharing with us.

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks 😁. It was such a great trip. Already planning the next one 😅.

[@simonwiltshire]

That was great guys! So well put together, thankyou for shareing.

[@mtbfree4914]

@@simonwiltshire thank you ☺️ glad you enjoyed it.

[@rodmcleod9951]

Excellent, well done both of you, your route brought back many happy memories

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you ☺️

[@barryjohnston4306]

Well done on such a great route! Really enjoyed the video ! Thanks for sharing your adventure

[@mtbfree4914]

@@barryjohnston4306 glad you enjoyed it. Thank you 🙏

[@fraser-b3494]

Really enjoyed this, thanks for taking the time to make the video. I'v done one small bikepacking trip this year and I am keen to do more. Might try this one out, although its considerably further than the one i did :)

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you. I hope you get out on more adventures soon 😊

[@richardrr4220]

What a great route and seems like you struck lucky with weather showing off Scotland in all its beauty, stunning... Really enjoyed your video and great inspiration, cheers!

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you for your lovely comments. Glad we’ve inspired you 😊

[@Iain-qy1su]

Just had the pleasure of watching your adventure following Jennifer’s recommendation. All that practice in the Baljaffray Woods has paid off handsomely! Thanks for sharing. Iain Murray.

[@mtbfree4914]

You’re welcome 😀. Haha I hadn’t thought of that - baljaffray woods obviously prepared me well 😂. I hope you are well.

[@fionamckenzie1754]

Great video ! The diversion was long ! I mind doing this last year from fort Augustus down to fort William , a beautiful route .

[@mtbfree4914]

@@fionamckenzie1754 thank you ☺️ glad you liked it. I know! And with a lot of climbing too. The scenery is amazing.

[@richardwilliams1858]

Great video, and great to have spent some time with you during your/our adventure!

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks. Was great to hear the alternative routes. Here’s to more adventures in the future.

[@kevinmcguire4537]

Great video . Beautiful scenery. 👍🏻

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you ☺️

[@HughDWallace]

Epic trip!

[@mtbfree4914]

@@HughDWallace thanks! We really enjoyed it 😀

[@djpablo73]

Love this!!

[@mtbfree4914]

@@djpablo73 thank you ☺️

[@the_hardtail_rider]

Aw that looked amazing. The scenery was incredible. I'd love to follow that route sometime

[@mtbfree4914]

Hope you get a chance to - it was a fantastic route 👍

[@RobBob_Wales]

Awesome adventure. Thanks that is on my bucket list.

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks. Definitely worth doing 🚵‍♀️🏕️😀

[@markwringe2826]

Some great filming, you really convey what it must feel like to do the route. And you were pretty lucky with the weather for this year. Couple of tiny corrections - the train in Fort William is the Jacobite to Mallaig, and it's not hauled by the Flying Scotsman. And both vowels are pronounced in Loch Oich (oh - ich). Placenames are always tricky!

[@mtbfree4914]

@@markwringe2826 glad you liked it. Thank you for your corrections too 😀

[@felipaocarrara]

Very Goody film : i líke it so much ❤

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you 😀

[@hikebikescotland9121]

Fantastic video - great production and a real adventure! We really enjoyed watching this, several sections we recognised from our own trips. I keep thinking about getting a drone but you've gone and set me back a few months as I don't doubt I'd do the same and loose it! - At least you got to go a little 'off piste' for a while to retrieve it! :-) - seriously though loved the narration and the little bits of history.. I didn't realise that bridge in Glen Gairn was supposed to be for trains! very interesting.. Thanks again - ATB Tom

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks for your kind comments Tim. Glad you enjoyed it and glad I found my drone! 😂

[@TheSavin1]

Looks really good. Definitely worth looking at if you can guarantee no midges - or stay in hotels / hostels.

[@mtbfree4914]

Hotels/hostels are definitely doable. Chances are it will be windy in the mountains so that should keep the wee buggers at bay! Good incentive to keep moving too 😂

[@gordonblack9076]

Great route, enjoyable video. Will you post GPX files or some other form of route information? Cheers.

[@mtbfree4914]

Hey, I don’t have the gpx file but there is a very similar route to the one we did on ridewithgps.com - hope this helps.

[@blackhat400]

Epic journey" whar do you"s byde .?

[@mtbfree4914]

Thanks

[@trudigilmore8294]

What a great video! I’m in Montrose and was considering cycling to Oban but I’ll freeze the video and look at your routes and the two cycle paths mentioned. If you’re kind enough to reply to this comment how did you plan your route and identify the land rover tracks? I use Landranger maps but find not all tracks are passable due to private signs.

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you and glad you liked it. We used 1:50000 os land ranger maps. Bikewithgps is a good website that has some routes that users have put onto it. We used a route off that and adapted it a bit. In Scotland under the outdoor access code you have the right to roam (including cycling) almost anywhere with a few exceptions - like not into people’s gardens. In general the houses/lodges that we passed had a route around them so we did not go through their house grounds. I hope this helps.

[@mtbfree4914]

Hope you enjoy your cycle 🚵‍♀️😃

[@trudigilmore8294]

@@mtbfree4914 Great - thanks!

[@woodsboyhunterskogsarmann]

superbos :)

[@mtbfree4914]

@@woodsboyhunterskogsarmann thanks!

[@rcwallaz]

Really enjoyed watching your adventure. Well done on the production. Route looks good. Do you have a GPX of the route at all?

[@mtbfree4914]

Thank you. Glad you liked it. I’ve deleted the GPX files unfortunately 🙄.

[@Straitjacket808]

Awesome adventure. Please can I as for some information about your bikes? Thanks

[@mtbfree4914]

@@Straitjacket808 sure, what would you like to know?

[@Straitjacket808]

Just the bike makes and model s please

[@mtbfree4914]

@@Straitjacket808 Sonder broken road (titanium frame), and a specialized epic (carbon frame).

[@ianstewart5437]

Thanks for sharing your trip, have you a gpx file of the route that you'd be happy to share?

[@mtbfree4914]

@@ianstewart5437 hey, I don’t have the gpx file. But you can find a similar route on ridewithgps.com. Hope this helps.

[@PThree-ru7gl]

@PThree-ru7gl 0 seconds ago Hi, would you happen to have the GPX file for the route, it looks amazing ?

[@mtbfree4914]

@@PThree-ru7gl hey I don’t have the gpx file. But there is a very similar route on bikewithgps.com if that helps?