We did it in 19 hours and 21 minutes. Never mind beating us, can you do it at all?
We are laying down the gauntlet to all of you who think you are rufty-tufty biker types. 1,011 miles around the coast of Scotland in under 24 hours. We have the route, the places you must take photos of (with you and/or your bike) and all you have to do is have a go.
The Rules
The basic challenge is done under the rules of the Iron Butt Association, click on the link for more details
Start point is in or near Glasgow
You will need a start witness & a receipt to set your start time
Finish point is in St Andrews
And you'll need an End Witness & a receipt to show your end time
You must stop at, and take a photo of you and/or your bike at the following landmarks
Ardnamurchan Point (i.e. the Lighthouse) - Scotland's (and the UK's) most westerly point.
Applecross Drover's Road - any recognizable point including the Applecross Inn
Durness
Dunnet Head - Scotland's (and the UK's) most northerly point.
John O'Groat's
Peterhead Fishmarket or harbour - Scotland's most easterly point
You have 24 hours which do not have be all in the same day (i.e. you can do the run through the night if you are keen).
The route can be ridden in either direction
Verification is done by us (and IBA if you want to join them) just send copies of receipts, witness forms and photos to
Richard Dover
C/o Baymed
32 Milton Road
East Kilbride
G74 5BU
richard@roundthebend.org.uk (best to email photos)
The Route (click here to see roadbook)
Leaving Glasgow along the M8 heading West , cross the Erskine Bridge and join the A82.
Follow A82 to Tarbet, then carry straight on on the A83 through Arrochar, Inverary and Lochgilphead
From Lochgilphead the road becomes the A816 which you follow to Oban
Leave Oban following signs to A828 Fort William, Connel Bridge and Ballachulish
Keep going past Loch Linnhe, over the Ballachulish Bridge into Onich where you can fill up about 3 miles before the Corran Ferry.
Corran Ferry starts at 06:30 from this side and runs every 20 to 40 minutes and costs £1.50 for bikes
Make sure you get there when the ferry is on the East side or you'll lose up to 45 minutes
After the ferry turn left on the A861and follow the road for about 24 miles to Salen then turn LEFT onto the B8007
Follow this road to Kilchoan then follow signs for the Lighthouse which is 6 miles further on. Take your photo then head back the way you came.
Once you get back to Salen, turn Left back onto the A861 and keep going to Lochailort where you turn RIGHT following signs for Fort William. At the T junction at Fort William turn left onto the A82 where there is a BP Garage immediately on the left after the lights. A fill-up here should get you to Kinlochewe.
After turning left onto the A82, head towards Invergarry, turning LEFT onto the A87 then LEFT after 13 miles (staying on the A87) heading towards Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye but turning RIGHT onto the A890 towards Strathcarron.
After Strathcarron (and Lochcarron where there is a fuel station) take a LEFT onto the A896 which will lead you eventually onto the Drover's road over to Applecross. Be warned this is a serious tight road with stunning views - look out for slow and distracted drivers.
You are now REALLY in the wilds. Up and over the Drover's Road and down into Applecross, turn RIGHT and follow the road until you reach the T junction at Kinlochewe. There is 1 turning but keep yourself right by following the coast (it's a left turn)!
At Kinlochewe turn LEFT (there's a filling station here as well) and continue through Gairloch (filling station), Poolewe and Laide until you come to another T junction. Here you turn LEFT from the A832 onto the A835 into Ullapool ((filling station). Turn RIGHT after the petrol station and stay on the A835 until you reach the A837 when you turn LEFT.
Now you are heading NORTH along the A837, then the A894 past Kylesku and Scourie until you turn LEFT at Loxford onto the A838 which takes over the hills to Durness, where the roiling hills suddenly become the cliffs of the north coast.
Follow the A838 through unspeakably beautiful scenery to Tongue and the road becomes the A836 to Bettyhill, Strathy, Reay, Dounreay and Thurso where civilisation begins again. Now you are about half way.
About 9 miles after Thurso start looking for signs to Brough and Dunnet Head. Turn LEFT onto the B855 to Brough then LEFT again up to the Lighthouse. Photo time then back again, turning LEFT again at BROUGH following signs for John O'Groats (JOG).
Head along A836 to JOG for a cheesy pic then start heading south on the A99. Watch out for Police and boy racers. Follow signs for Wick and Inverness. The A99 joins the A9 at Latheron but keep heading for Inverness.
At Inverness follow signs for the A96 Nairn. You'll find a large Tesco (with petrol) and the exit for the A96 is soon after that.
Follow the A96 through Nairn, Forres, Elgin and Fochabers where the road becomes the A98 which goes all the way to Fraserburgh. DO NOT TAKE THE SHORTCUT!
Take the A90 out of Fraserburgh to Peterhead where you have to find the Fishmarket or Harbour and take a photo.
Back onto the A90 and follow it all the way through Aberdeen to Dundee.
At Dundee check your mileage. You should be at about 995 miles by the GPS
If you have done 1,000 miles or more (and you are 100% sure your odometer is accurate or are using GPS like we did) then head straight for St Andrews over the Tay bridge
If you have missed some miles then head onto the A90 to Perth then M90, A912, A913 to Cupar and then follow the signs to St Andrews
In St Andrews head into town over the first roundabout, RIGHT at the 2nd, straight at the top of the hill and you'll see the Shell Station at West Port. It is open 24hrs.
If you then want to head home the off you toddle.