Cape Wrath trail (part 2)

 

Finally the time arrived to go back to the Cape Wrath trail! We were a bit apprehensive given the remoteness and all the other challenges (weather, logistic, bog, pathless bits, lack of resupply points etc), but equally exited at the idea of going to get lost in the hills far away from anything and anyone. It definitely delivered what was on the tin (in 70km we haven't met a soul), just a pity we had to cut it short due to the weather, but this means that one day, hopefully next spring, we will be back. It's certainly not an easy route, but not impossible either, and there is something about this trail that gets in your blood and becomes an obsession. Despite being around for only 3 days it definitely left a mark which I doubt will fade any time soon.

We both upgraded our sleeping bags (mine a winter Alpkit Skyehigh 900), and I got a new rucksack (65l), we waited until the last min forecasts which were decent enough for this time of the year and bought our train tickets to Achnashellach.

September mini cycle adventure

 

This year we have neglected Scotland. This was in part because the weather is always a question mark and doesn't allow for far ahead planning, and by the time we decide to go somewhere the accommodation left is either extortionist or non existent, and then there was the additional complication of the train strikes which didn't really help the planning... Finally we had a long weekend and Paul got to check the maps and plotted a short route that would take us on a couple of gravel stretches that we have never done before.

Eastern Alps cycling trip - Aug 2023

Hiking in Valle d'Aosta - July 2023

 

This will be remembered as one of the best hiking trips we did. I don't even know why is not more popular (I hope it will never be...), as the abundance of wildlife and stunning places should place it high up together with the TMB and Dolomites. The route is given in 14 days, but we couldn't be bothered to sleep in Rifugi and add the volume of the sleeping bag to the rucksack so we planned it in 5 (ending in Cogne), with a day off in the middle. It's definitely doable but you need to get good weather and early July was probably too early (we did get the random patches of snow and had to miss a day for ice). We used running shoes and we were happy with the choice.

 https://www.lovevda.it/en/sport/trekking/alte-vie-trails/alta_via_2

Ride to the Sun - 24 Jun 23

 

I have always wanted to cycle at night in open countryside but I was always too scared. As soon as I heard of this ride, I was in and have no regrets at all! Not sure I'll do it again, as you end up wasting 2 days for just a ride, but sure it's something all cyclists have to do once in their lifetime.

https://www.ridetothesun.co.uk/

The Wolf's Lair - May 2023

 

We normally spend a week cycling in the Highlands in May, but in between the train strikes and the temperamental weather, I threw the idea of going to sunny Italy and give the Wolf's Lair bikepacking route in the Abbruzzo region a go. 

Asturias 2023

 

C2C Easter cycle 2023 (Girvan to Alnmouth)

 

Lanzarote 2023

 

 

After a long winter it was time to heat up our bones, and we couldn't have chosen a better week...every day since we left we kept getting yellow warning alerts of ice and snow in Edinburgh, never a better timing!