Day 23, to Inverness

This morning Paul set off in the car, and I followed on my bicycle (rather more slowly) down a sunlit lane. Intermittent showers, but still with plenty of sunshine, was the pattern for the day. At Fort Augustus I saw the impressive site of the road bridge swinging open to let the boats down the canal.

I had wanted to get onto the Caledonian Canal Cycle Path to get to Inverness, but the Caledonian Centre advised me that it would lead me into the Great Glen Way – which is better suited to mountain bikes than touring bikes (especially not touring bikes carrying panniers!)

The road now ran alongside Loch Ness, and was up and down all the way until past Drumnadrochit where it flattened out a bit, and shortly afterward I met up with Paul again (now also on his bicycle). Then came my big moment, when I unexpectedly met Nessie. You can see how well we got on from the photo.

Onward into Inverness, to the SYHA hostel which was thankfully easier to find than it was in Glasgow. The Inverness Hostel is a large but welcoming hostel with a relaxed atmosphere. It is marvellous to have a single room here, and so welcome after sleeping in dormitories.

Tomorrow I will get off the A road and then I will take a small road through the mountains, heading towards Invershin. What a relief it will be to escape the traffic. It will be harder because it will be steep and difficult, but maybe a little shorter.

Stats

40.7 miles (791.01 miles total), 2,125ft ascent, 2,275ft descent