The Badger Divide

i rode an turas mor a few years back - i couldn't find a path around loch dionard - i went around the west side and it was a hike a bike i wouldn't have fancied if the ground was much wetter than it was. good few times i was throwing bike across streams and leaping over hoping it wasn't too boggy. got around though. that was in early June

Has anyone done this + the west kernow way and could take a stab at how much harder the badger is? It sounds rough with the hike a bike and stream crossings etc.

Thinking about trying this in September, need to see some of Scotland, looks really good. Is late-summer a decent time to go?

Yes, no midges!

Late summer will be fine but you can still get midges in September. But don’t let that put you off.

If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me. I’ve ridden it a bunch of times so can recommend places to stay/camp etc based on how many days you want to do it over.

Ah well I guess they’re somewhat inescapable unless you go when it’s colder? Midges and all manner of blood sucking absolutely love me, so they are kinda a factor to be fair. But then, if they’re still around in September maybe I should go earlier in Summer when they’ll still be around but the weather will be nicer… what ya think?

The hell of midges is real. They are so stealth, cheeky buggers.

Just go for it. They’re only a problem when you stop cycling. You can always pick up one of those full body midge nets and a can of Smidge.

It’s happening! Booked a ticket to Inverness in August, the train from Kings Cross that doesn’t get there till 8pm mind as seems like a lot of people are taking bikes to inverness that week… I figure I can just cycle a bit out of the city and slip into a bivvy in the dark without too much hassle

Definitely will be packing the smidge, any other tips n tricks welcomed

Nice one! How many days are you aiming for?

Theres limitless bivvy spots after just an hour or so cycling out of Inverness, although it won't get dark until super late that time of year, so you could probably ride further and hope for a nice sunset.

Edit: Turns out Avon isn't good for midges anymore (moral questionability remains).

@ojwithbits They’ve changed the Avon recipe (possibly)so that doesn’t work anymore. (Plus funding MLMs questionable…) Smidge is best for Scotland, and a head net+long sleeves!

Ah! Useful to know. Ta.

I think 4 maybe seems like a nice target that’s challenging enough but still gives some time to enjoy the scenery.

And that’s good to know about bivvy spots, fingers crossed for good weather and nice sunsets 🤞

@PeteJChurchill @C4r1s in an effort to avoid moral dubiety, long sleeves and smidge will be put in the list

John Mackenzie set a new FKT (s-n) at the weekend there.

16hrs 16 mins 🫨

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsR-J3boKCa/?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==

Okay so in prep for this I thought I’d ask here to get any advice for anyone who has done it or knows some about the ride.

Im going in August, getting to Inverness on a Monday at 8pm, planning to ride a bit out the city and camp.

I’ve booked a train back from Glasgow at 3pm-ish on the Friday. So that gives me about 3 2/3 days to do it, roughly 100km a day.

• What are some key resupply points along the way that I should look out for?
  
• Any sights not to miss?
  
• I’ve whacked some 45mm grav tyres on to absorb some of the lumpy bits in the first half of the route. Going to get my brakes fresh n primed before leaving. Decided to just deal with the max 40/42 gearing setup and commit to obviously hike-a-biking often. Am I silly? Should I try get a bigger granny gear? All depends I guess.
  
• A slight aside, but anyone have any recommendations for long sleeve wicking t shirts? Looking to protect me little arms from the midges
  
  

Cheers all

Three days is a really nice time to do it over.

Plenty of camping spots after 30 mins or so cycling out of Inverness.

After Fort Augustus you’ve got one of the toughest sections (Corrieyairack Pass) as well as the most remote so stock up with snacks.

Corrour Station House is a must but I’d recommend booking. Even though it is literally in the middle of nowhere, it’s sometimes full with large walking groups.

There’s also an apparently a good goat ice cream place just off route called Achrey Farm but I’ve never been.

Bridge of Balgie/Glen Lyon Tea Rooms also strongly recommend.

Good camping spots around Loch Laggan on the first day and around Glen Ogle/Loch Earn on the second.

Have fun and share some photos when you’re done!

Sweet! Thanks for the info. Got that stuff jotted down.
I booked the trains without properly sitting down and planning it, so the closer to 4 day time should make it pretty chill to be fair. 15km the first evening, 80-100km the next 3 days, 60-odd km to get into Glasgow for the 3pm train to Euston on the final day. Must remember that I’ve actually got some time to enjoy the place and not just get lost in the pedalling like I did in the only other ‘big trip’ that I did. Otherwise I’m gonna end up on the outskirts of Glasgow with time to kill…

hollow__legs with a load of excellent pointers there.

I rode the Badger as far as Lochearnhead, with overnights at Fort Augustus and Loch Ossian YHA. Useful bits for us were:
*Abriachan Cafe Campsite did really good cake, but very pricey. I think I'd not have bothered if we'd known in advance how much it would be: https://goo.gl/maps/H2nuoQLSuNFpaEMu7
*Fort Augustus to Corrour Station is a long way, especially with a headwind. We stopped at Melgarve Bothy to warm up, dry out, and have a brew after a cold and wet traverse of the Correyairick.
*The fish and chip van at Killin is good: https://goo.gl/maps/i17p5WBgCDmG7Yk39

No worries.

Forgot to mention Mhor Bakery in Callander. It’s slightly off route but worth if if you’re not in a rush. And the coffee shop opposite, Ben Ledi Coffee, make great coffee and cakes (and once let a bunch of us bring our wet and muddy bikes through the cafe so we could warm up inside).

Email Corrour Station house in advance and if you say your rough time and are cycling, they told me they'd be happy to fit me in on the sofa/bar if necessary
Rannoch station tearoom is also pretty good for cakes, busier
Mhor bakery is indeed banging - everything they make is great, as is the green pie shop next to it
Another detour from Innerwick/Glen Lyon - I'd actually recommend the Fortingall Hotel cooked breakfast, the place has been stuck in time in the best of ways

ps if you find a Garmin rear light on the Rannoch-Corrour-Innerwick stretch.. it somehow flew off my bike last weekend!

4 day time should make it pretty chill to be fair.

Another way of looking at this is to use the spare time as an allowance to possibly wait out bad weather. As others have said some sections are exposed and probably best enjoyed not in the rain/strong winds.

Plenty of camping options in the stretch between Inverness and F.Augustus, so if you feel good and have daylight you can crack on as much as you want, I think from memory the section around 45-50km was a bit gnarlier.

Fort Augustus to Corrour Station is a long way

But also the best part of the route imho

Baking is my gig so I reckon I will have to add Mhor onto the list now it’s got two recommendations, would be stupid if I didn’t visit.

Where is that bothy @Bearlegged? I had a little google but couldn’t find it on a couple of the bothy map websites. Probably user error.

It’s finders keepers right @Nerv?

And yeah that is a good point I haven’t really thought of @giofox, cheers. I’m not going till the 14th but this run of weather really isn’t filling me with hope of sun shine and smooth sailing

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PRu3AQJ8dwiVkN3U7