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| River Shin |
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| Evanton-Dingwall back road |
The kettle was on by 6am, but I was a bit lethargic and didn't get on the road until 7.20. It was a drab morning and I was lit up like a Christmas tree with 2 front lamps and 4 flashing red rear ones! It wasn't much of a downhill to Lairg, and the headwind was already blowing despite the early hour. Although everything was blanketed in cloud I had a cheery 'Lovely morning!' from a local. Maybe this was good weather for Lairg! I crossed the river for a back road past the Falls of Shin, then a brief bit of A road before crossing the river via a pedestrian way that had been clipped onto the side of the Inver Shin railway bridge. This led to a lovely off road to Culrain Station, then a quiet backroad to Ardgay and a coffee in the cafe. Rather than follow the A road to Tain I took the B9176, the turn-off ominously signed as Struie Hill. Hill roads don't normally get their own name, so I expected the worst, but in fact it wasn't too bad and I made it to the viewpoint with one rest. There was no view though, despite it being a 'Lovely morning!' The traffic was surprisingly busy, and the occasional inconsiderate driver made the leg more stressful than it should have been. It was nice to have a big downhill into clearer weather, and then a traffic-free cycle path into Evanston where I stopped for some malt loaf and energy drink in the village centre. There's no off road route from Evanton to Dingwall, but the back road was really quiet, and it wasn't long before I was through Dingwall and on the cycle path over the Conan River beside the busy A9, then up a wee side road to join the B9169 into Muir of Ord. From there it was a brand new cycle path all the way through Beauly, and over the Lovat Bridge to the turn-off for Kirkhill and home. Apart from the traffic on the Struie Hill it had been a good day. Headwinds not too bad, the third day without rain and home by 2.30 with almost 100 k's under the belt.
Day stats 92km 754 Metres of ascent
Off road 11km
A road 21km (7km single lane A road)
B road 39km (6km single lane B road)
Unclassified road 21km
