Where Roads End - A Slow Journey on the North Coast 500

A slow journey on Scotland's North Coast 500 with a hire bike staying in hostels, B&Bs and hotels along the route in Shieldaig, Ullapool, Invergordon and Inverness. Route and more information: bikepackingsco...
A partnership between North Coast 500 & Bikepacking Scotland, supported by Komoot and Ticket to Ride.
Subtitled in English and German.
Idea: Markus Stitz
Camera: Markus Stitz
Aerial Photography: Markus Stitz
Edit: Markus Stitz
Narration: Markus Stitz
Commissioned by: North Coast 500 Ltd
Supported by: Ticket to Ride, Komoot
Filmed on: DJI Mavic Air2S, DJI Osmo Pocket, DJI Action 2, Canon G7x Mark III
Edited in: Final Cut Pro X
Music: Epidemic Sound

[@roddymcniven8734]

Cycling up and over the Bealach na Bà, now that’s hardcore bro. Respect 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@reizkultur]

Quite steep towards the end, loved it. I did it in 2014 from the other side on my singlespeed, glad I had gears this time. The snow made it very special, my gloves were needed - thanks for watching!

[@callumbucknall]

Markus , your cinematography and editing on your videos is next level.

[@reizkultur]

Ahhh, thanks a lot, that’s a lovely comment!

[@TheNaboen]

Fantastic presentation. I get instant cravings for adventure. Why don't you have tons of subscribers? KZbin's hidden bikebacking treasure

[@reizkultur]

Thanks a lot Bjarne! There are a few more films to come, one about the history of gravel cycling and the gravel community in the UK.

[@googlemcshoogle1376]

Different level of content, photography, story telling, and score. Thanks Marky

[@reizkultur]

Thanks heaps, really glad you enjoyed it!

[@StefanBikepacking]

Damn that was great. Thank you so so much. Really love Scotland and I am planning to do a bikepacking trip in 2024. Think now it is secured! :)

[@reizkultur]

Nice one, thanks a lot for watching!

[@andrewneal78]

Best film yet Marcus 🙂

[@reizkultur]

Ahhh, thank you!

[@blackmac1970]

What a great video. I was going to congratulate the team that made it but then noticed it was a one man production. Amazing work. Looks like a tough but fun route.

[@reizkultur]

Thanks a lot for the lovely comment. It's a lovely route, and filming it self shot was interesting, but I loved being able to set my own pace. Thanks for watching, more films to come (:

[@JennyTough_]

"My legs are fairly strong" = understatement of the year if you've ever seen Markus on a bike!

[@reizkultur]

A little (: Need to get some more trips into those legs soon, but you are right, the legs helped with the road gearing on gravel.

[@davieislay]

Och Markus, this is another stunner of a film. You’re a bliddy genius!!! 😁👍🚴🏻‍♂️

[@reizkultur]

Thanks David. Great to meet you, I will hopefully have more time the next time.

[@ALittleAdventureTime]

A lovely little film of a beautiful area. Definitely inspired to get back up there with my bike and do some gravel routes instead of the roads.

[@reizkultur]

Thanks Ian! And yes, there are a nice gravel substitutes. I was planning another off-road section from Applecross, but the wind decided otherwise.

[@m1les7]

Fantastic vid, great music. Everywhere looks beautiful but cold! ❤️😂😂🥶

[@reizkultur]

Thanks heaps! And yes, I can confirm it was pretty cold for the first two days. Glad I had my winter gear.

[@ACTIVEPAIR]

Thanks for going to a lot of effort to produce these videos, inspiring 👍🏽

[@reizkultur]

Thanks for watching! Really glad you like them!

[@dougwilson4183]

Another brilliant vlog Markus. Fantastic scenery and looks a great route to explore. Well done 👍👌

[@reizkultur]

Thanks a lot Doug! Really glad you enjoyed it!

[@PACEUK22]

Thanks so much for devising this route and uploading the vid. This is just what I am looking for in a bikepacking adventure. Like what was said in the video, work and family commitments make doing the NC500 very difficult for me but this route looks perfect! Thanks again👍

[@reizkultur]

Ahhh, fab! That was exactly the intention behind it. I think the route gives a good flavour, if you have a bit more time I would recommend going a bit further from Ullapool, the beaches & villages are stunning. Happy cycling!

[@01jinky]

Fantastic, looks amazing.

[@reizkultur]

Thank you!

[@andrewdix4865]

Another fantastic and inspiring film Markus. What happened to sleeping in telephone boxes? And not a motorhome in sight!

[@reizkultur]

Thanks Andy, and the telephone boxes have gone a bit more upmarket - I had a few scenes in toilets, hiding from the rain, but I wasn't sure those would inspire people too much (:

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

As usual You've managed to give me a kick up the bum to finally do rides that have been postponed for far too long. Magnificent scenery as always, one day maybe ill get to see it with my own eyes..... although i would happily give the snow a miss tho !

[@reizkultur]

That is lovely to hear. I liked the snow, I was looking for a winter gravel ride in Norway, and found it in Scotland. The gloves did a fab job, without it would have been unpleasant down the Bealach na Ba.

[@ArtDrawColour11]

Another beautiful video - thanks for the inspiration 🙂

[@reizkultur]

Thanks a lot for the nice feedback Alison!

[@SarahKCrowe]

I'm doing something similar as a bikepacking botany trip in June but starting from the train halt at Altnabreac on Forsinard reserve and working west, south, east ending up in Alness, train back to Thurso. My own bike on train though. Only using smaller, quieter sections of nc500 as living up here I know how people drive on them.

[@reizkultur]

That sounds great too, I love the Forsinard Flows. I would have normally taken my own bike as well, but it was great to see that Ticket to Ride offers hire bikes, and they are certainly well suited for the terrain. I write for a few magazines, and especially the German editors often ask if people are able to hire bikes. And it looks like Scotrail will increase bike capacity now as well, which is a welcome improvement. And agreed on the smaller roads, I found that people were accommodating, but also made sure I use passing places to let them pass safely.

[@SwampyDuckRidesAgain]

Another cracking video and route, heading up this weekend and have, summer and winter gear ready lol. Sadly not with gravel bike, it’s still in Italy so road bike it will be.

[@reizkultur]

Have fun Michele. sure you'll enjoy it. The bike I uses is officially a road bike, but with good tyre clearance we managed to put 35mm gravel tyre on the back, and 40mm on the front. The gearing was definetly road bike gearing, but I managed to cycle up the hills, not all though (: - I you are interested, I posted my kit list on Instagram last night as well.

[@SwampyDuckRidesAgain]

@@reizkultur Thanks Markus, I was almost going to get another Domane and set it up as a gravel bike but the waiting was too long so have gone for something else gravel wise. I ended up turning left at Inverness and now am in my old climbing ground Fort William at the base of the Ben, now off to plan some road rides.

[@janechapman1421]

Thankyou for this fab video. Can I ask please - how many river crossings are there? Not keen! Thinking late April /early may . 😀

[@reizkultur]

Hi Jane, there is one significant river crossing on the section between Ullapool and Oykel Bridge, plus a few smaller fords. If you want to avoid that, ypu could detour over the road to Ledmore junction and from there to Oykel. Deepness depends on rainfall - I was ok in early April when I filmed this. Have a great trip!

[@janechapman1421]

Thankyou for replying so quickly. and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience so generously. Have a good week Marcus.

[@reizkultur]

@@janechapman1421 My pleasure. There'll be a detailed route description, map etc in the Bikepacking Scotland book, which is out in early May hopefully.

[@janechapman1421]

Thankyou. I will look for it. 😃

[@timevans9195]

Marcus, do you always wear your cycling cap in bed?🤣

[@reizkultur]

Muuuaaahhh, only when the camera is involved. To be honest, that was in the morning, too knackered the night before to film (:

[@koncentratkoncentratus6476]

What was time of the year? March?

[@reizkultur]

I rode the route at the beginning of April. It was still winter conditions, but no midges and not too much traffic, so a good time to do it. I have just finished a bikepacking book which is out in May, and inlcuded recommedations on when to best ride routes in the book (and this route is included too).