Embrace the Freeze | Cycle Touring the Scottish Highlands in NOVEMBER?!
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- Опубликовано: 11 ноя 2023
- Embracing winter & late autumn while cycling through the enchanting Scottish highlands, en route to Shetland!
Our cycling journey through the Scottish Highlands to the most remote cinema in Britain continues! Despite the freezing weather, the beauty of the Highlands during the quieter winter months took our mind of the cold, as we followed the North Coast 500 (NC500). The Highlands had transformed into a quiet, empty landscape as we pedalled between mountains dusted with snow.
From nights of cold weather camping, to cosy evenings with local families thanks to the kindness of strangers, we battled to stay warm and make the most of the Highlands' rugged beauty. Fortunately for us, highland hospitality didn’t disappoint! We'd cycle north from Oban to Mallaig, then on to Ullapool, Gairloch, and Durness. The remote NC500 was absolutely stunning, but the relentless wind and rain forced us to stop several times to wait for the stormy Scottish weather to pass.
We visited Highland villages, cycled through dramatic mountains, and experienced local culture in some of the most remote parts of Scotland. This was one of the most challenging parts of our cycle tour of England & the Celtic Nations, and the last leg of our bike trip on the UK mainland.
2023 Update: These cycle touring videos were filmed back in 2021. As of 2023 Jill and I are no longer together and Jill is not affiliated with this channel in any way. Wishing her all the best for the future!
#cycletour #visitscotland #biketour #biketouring #scotland
2023 Update: These videos were filmed back in 2021. As of 2023 Jill and I are no longer together and she is not associated with this channel. Wishing her all the best for the future!
Sorry to learn that Tieran - you had an epic journey together that will provide memories that will be with you for ever, best wishes and luck to both of you for the future.
You made a lovely couple, hope your still friends
Having grown up in the Highlands my whole life, even I wouldn’t dare brave cycling out here as I know how cold it is, absolute hats off to you as that’s some feat! Gorgeous footage too, just love seeing everything all the amazing footage you’ve gotten (“lovely” weather and all).
Also LOVE seeing Highland kindness is still more than alive and well, it’s something I’ve grown up around and I’ve always been grateful for, so seeing it being extended just makes me really happy, I’m glad yous were looked after!
Thanks for the kind words, so glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah the weather was really brutal. Honestly this section of the trip would have been MUCH harder if it wasn't for the highland kindness we experienced on the way. Every time we felt like we were getting a bit run down or unmotivated, we'd have a lovely experience meeting or staying with someone local and that would bring the motivation back up again. Stunning region as well, couldn't believe I waited this long to visit! Which part of the highlands are you from?
Brilliant, loved that 👍
You could tell he was so much more drained then she was by the last push of the trip. But, he held strong and tried to remain as positive as he could for her. I don't blame him, she's gorgeous! Great job guys!
I did the nc 500 in Sept during a heatwave, was incredible. Scotland blew my mind ,surely one of the most beautiful places in the world , especially the west coast .wow 🤙
Oh wow, lucky that you got some amazing weather! Yeah it is absolutely stunning. I'd never been to Scotland before this trip so it totally blew me away. Were the roads busy at that time of year?
@@TieranFreedman Haha.... the roads are empty for a reason.
I did LEJOG, finished by 9-19-23. I was very lucky having exceptionally fine weather through the Scotland portion of my journey. Only two days of rain!. You guys are beyond incredible congratulations on a fabulous ride. Great cinematography too!
Wow, good weather in September, that is lucky! A friend was up there around the same time and it looked amazing. How was it for the rest of your trip, and how long did it take you? Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! 😁
Cattle grids always give me the fear 😂
Scotland is the best Wee Country in the World, glad you experienced our hospitality ❤
It was stunning, and we would have really struggled without the kindness of the people we met along the way!
Congratulations. I watched some of your earlier video's & somehow haven't received notification of your more recent ones. My loss but I can now view them in retrospect. Giving both of your personalities I cannot imagine any of them being in anyway negative even though you must of had tough times. Well done the Strachan family for treating you so kindly.
Haha gives you the option to binge watch them 😜 Thanks for the kind words! This entire journey would have been MUCH harder without the kindness of the people we met along the way, it really blew us away.
its so bizzare living in argyll and bute and seeing someone be so impressed by the scenery when im so used to it
puts things into perspective
I've felt the same when I've had friends visit me near the South Downs. Admittedly it's nowhere near as dramatic as the highlands, but I've always taken the countryside down there for granted.
This is Bazaar, you cycled past my home in Ayrshire in your last vlog and in this one you stayed along the road from our holiday home we use in Ardarroch just along from Achintraid, with the “green witch” should have went over the Bealach na Ba, highest road in GB. Went over it myself a good few times now on the bike. Might have been a bit more difficult with the weight on your bikes though. The coast round from Applecross to Shieldaig then Torridon is amazing. Well done cycling in that weather. 👏🙌
Oh wow haha, we could have given you a wave! Achintraid was such a lovely break from the wind and rain, and a beautiful area! Jill was actually more keen on Applecross than I was. It was a pretty rainy and stormy day when we would have been heading in that direction, so not sure how the conditions would have been up there. Impressive that you've done it multiple times though!
Thanks! Was a pretty brutal time to be pedalling up there haha. Glad you enjoyed the video 😁
Well done guys, cycle touring in Scotland in November ! ...far too damp and unpredictable weather-wise...you did it with positivity and smiles, I’m sure you had your moments we all do. Brilliant.
Thank you! Haha the initial plan had been to make it there by September, might have been slightly less challenging. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Enjoyed your film. Scotland is gorgeous in any weather. I just did October/November in Scotland and it rained every day except for two. I didn’t find it cold, but I did find it very wet. The rain and storms seem to follow me lol😂 Still very beautiful and worth it. I wild camped the whole way, with Scotland allowing wild camping it very easy to find a place to camp every night.
Glad you enjoyed the video! That's a tough trip to do solo, fair play. The autumn colours are absolutely incredible at that time of year though. I remember the journey along Loch Linnhe being really stunning because of that. What route did you take?
This is a very well put together video.... Well done for producing such a visually stunning film.... Congrats too on being on your bikes for the months in question....This is remarkable in itself.... Thank you for posting the video for the enjoyment of others... Inspirational....
Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed it 😊
As always ,,stunning ,,fantastic,,beautiful,,funny ,,sooo glad you made it safely. Looking forward to the movie night ,,cheers
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Stunning cinematography! Beautiful country
Thank you! 😁
Love the landscapes..sights and sounds..
It was really stunning!
An amazing and remarkable journey, adventure and documentary. Well done to you both. I've just watched through this playlist and what comes across most is your energy and enthusiasm to see these everyday places we see the names of on a map and the everyday people that live in them. The British Isles are a complex mix of accents, cultures and communities, all bound and separated by hundreds of years of history, some pleasant and some horrific. Travelogues like this show the kindness and the generosity that strangers can offer to others, if only they venture out and see what can be found out there. We're all just people after all, some bad but mostly good. 🙏🏽
Thanks for the kind words, so glad you're enjoying the videos! I was totally blown away by the diversity of languages, cultures, and histories right on our doorstep. It definitely made me appreciate this part of the world a lot more!
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. You guys are my heroes!
So glad you're enjoying the videos! 😊
love &enjoy from Nepal
😁🇳🇵
Welcome to Scotland🙂🥃! Surrounded by rain and being pushed off the bike by wind ha ha.. Inspiring adventure indeed and great documentary too. Well done!
Haha the warm reception from the people we met along the way more than made up for the weather! Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the video 😊
You are both charming and inspirational!
Thanks for the kind words Bob! 😁
You’ve got one tough lady there,thanks for the entertaining videos 🚴🏽♀️🚴♂️👍
Glad you're enjoying them!
Wet cold 🥶
Came here for the Scottish scenery stayed for the whole adventure. Amazing trip, thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your filming and documentaries are fantastic! Well done, and keep them coming. I'm enjoying following your travels!!
Thanks so much, glad you're enjoying them! Many more videos to come (currently editing the next series as we speak) 😁
Wonderful, thank you for sharing !
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow! Very beautiful scenery.
It was incredible (albeit very cold)!
Amazing footage of 🏴 🤩 I admire you both bikepacking in all weathers the length of the British Isles safe travels 🚴👍
Thanks for the kind words! We'd initially planned to make it to Shetland by September. Might have made life a little easier 😅 Glad you enjoyed the video!
Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you, glad you liked it 😁
Massive props; what a journey!
Thank you, it was one hell of a ride!
Ya shoulder seasons are one thing, but this is nuts.
Haha at least the roads were quiet 😅
Salute.
Very well done, such an achievement, and remember Tieran " nobody likes a show-off"🤣
😂 Thank you, glad you enjoyed the vid! Still have all our fingers and toes so the cold can't have been that bad
Wonderful and inspiring guys… wow
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! 😊
NC500 un rêve pour moi , continuez et bon courage . HelloFromparis 😊
J'espère que tu y arriveras finalement!
Wow, what a trip! Scotland is such a beautiful country, I love it. I admire the both of you! The cold, the rain... Next year me and my husband will be makinga cyclingtrip in Scotland, starting in May. There will be cold nights in the tent, I know. It will be our last cyclingtour with campingstuff in Scotland, we think, because the hills are pretty steep and we are 61 and 67, but we're looking forward to it. Watching your video's made me longing for it even more. Thank you so much for 'traveling' with you. Take care.
Thanks so much, glad you're enjoying the videos! That sounds like a lovely trip, how long do you plan to be on the road for? I think May is a smarter time to go haha, there were a couple of moments on this trip where we actually got worryingly cold. If it wasn't for the hospitality of the people we met, this section of the trip would have been much harder. Good luck planning your trip!
It'll be two or three months, depending of our condition, the weather aso
Wow ❤I can't believe you guys are biking the route we did in our van last summer. Great job guys!!! O and I agree with eating blue cheese outside😅
It was a stunning ride (despite the tough weather), but must have been awesome in the summer! Was that including the route through Ireland as well? Haha maybe I should have gone for a less offensive cheddar 😂
Love it, congrats
Thank you!
Greetings from Denmark. So stunning landscape in Scotland. I musst visit one day. Best wishes fra Anders
It is really beautiful! But maybe slightly earlier in the year would be a more sensible time to go 😂 Hope you make it out there eventually!
When I first moved up to Scotland many moons ago my new friends in Edinburgh invited me on a tour for a few days finishing in Pitlochry via Oban , Glencoe etc on hogmanhay but at least we were hostelling! Some tours are wonderful , especially once you're home . But it's pretty addictive I'm afraid.
Definitely very addictive. Can't really plan a trip anywhere now without trying to bring my bike haha. Hogmanhay in Scotland must have been an awesome experience! But an even more brutal time weather-wise. Did you get much snow?
Loves from🇳🇵Nepal
Hope to visit some day!🇳🇵🇳🇵
A cruft😂😂😂😂😂, it’s a Croft
You were lucky with the weather, been a lot of snow and hard frosts since then, thanks for the video
It didn't feel it at the time haha, but this was actually filmed in 2021, I'm only just getting round to publishing the last videos from the trip now! Glad you enjoyed it 😁
awesome work, great vid well done
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Scotland is absolutely stunning. Great achievement, the both of you. As a long time mountain biker, I've always wanted to visit. Someday, perhaps. Cheers!
Thank you! Definitely recommend cycling there, but maybe a little earlier in the year haha. I'm sure there's a sweet spot in the middle where the midges from summer aren't around any more but the weather hasn't turned awful yet 😅 Hope you make it there eventually!
@@TieranFreedmanearly autumn, September and early October can be some of the sunniest weather and out of midge season. Unfortunately you got caught by one of the stormiest weather in years. Where you were cycling along canal West of Edinburgh is where I live and let's put it this way I have cycled to work far less this autumn due to the weather. Was just blast after after blast of storms. April's and may is normally good as well.
Amazing footage,well deserved fanfare at the end ))
Thanks so much! Yeah the unexpected concert was a wonderful surprise 😊
Great attitude guys !!! Enjoy the weather whatever it brings. Just remember most people are genuinely NICE !!! if ever you get to Wales there's a bed for you here. P s. I love Scotland too x
Thanks for the kind words and offer! 100% agree, and cycle touring is such a good way to remind yourself of that. If I'm back touring in Wales again I'll let you know!
@@TieranFreedman hi check out my channel for some Scotland and other SUNNY destinations !!!!!
잘 보고갑니다.
늘 안전한 여행되십시오~^^
감사합니다 😁
Very inspiring. I'm planning a bike pack somewhere over there and came across your series. Watching all your videos. Love them. Can't wait to see what film you and Jill pick. Heck of a first date!
Oh cool, when are you setting off and how long will you be gone for? Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@TieranFreedman Originally planned to ride from Lisbon to Gibraltar, cross to Morrocco then back but with the state of the world at the moment decided to do Ireland. Likely May 24.
@@Bertie.. Oh wow, hope you get to do that trip eventually! But Ireland is absolutely incredible. Stunning country with a fascinating history and great hospitality, you'll have an amazing time! Have you toured much before? And what will your route through Ireland be?
@@TieranFreedman Not much touring. Mostly overnight bike packing on the gravel bike. Want to do the west coast. I use Komoot to plan gravel rides. Goal is to ride as much back country dirt as possible.
nearly there!
Took us long enough!
22:22 the north west highlands. my favourite place in the world
That stretch of road was absolutely unreal
wow very interesting experience friend
Thank you! 😊
you're welcome@@TieranFreedman
Found your channel by accident 😂.
Well at least you're here now! 😁
Looks like some cold, cold magic!
It was stunning, and that cold kept the infamous midges away, so an added bonus!
@@TieranFreedman did u guys have any problems with ticks? Or was it cold enough for them to be gone as well?
We didn't thankfully! The only uninvited guests we had were some slugs in the tent in the mornings haha, but I'll take those over ticks any day 😅@@WaywardLifeSailing
@@TieranFreedman so much better than ticks! 😅
Thanks for bringing back memories of our just as heavily-loaded cycle touring around the north of Scotland . Ortliebs really are life savers.
Why no gloves though?
They're the best waterproof panniers I've ever used! But my rear ones were Thule and didn't hold up anywhere near as well.
I had to be able to quickly operate the camera/gopro/phone, and gloves got in the way so I often didn't wear them. But there were times where it got so cold that I had to give in and put them on haha
There can be only one! Highlander! And how is the kingdom today? Is it united?
Hahaha to be fair that scene is a fairly accurate depiction of the storms we cycled through. And it remains tentatively united...
Very nice trip ! Thanks a lot for sharing. Would you mind sharing the .gpx ?? Thanks in advance
Thank you! I actually didn't record the route on anything unfortunately, so I'm not sure how to do that 😬
Amazingly done video. Lovely story telling. loved the composition. Would love to know the equipment you used.
I did the NC500 last July and many of the places were familiar. But doing it with wild camping, carrying everything in November is epic! Cudos to you both. Keep going...
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! I had a Sony A6400, GoPro 8, DJI Mini 2, and a Samsung S21 phone for filming, plus a H4N Zoom Pro mic 😁
It was such a stunning trip! But yeah, a couple of months earlier would have been nice haha
Excellent, thanks for sharing. It brought back many memories as I cycled along much of that route over three decades ago. I still use the same bike - a Dawes Super Galaxy, that I bought with my first pay packet. Where does the time go?
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it and that it brought back memories! It's such a beautiful route. Were you there during summer? We didn't experience them but I've always wondered how bad the midges get up there. And Jill was on a Dawes as well, it seemed like a reliable bike!
Yes we were there in Jul/Aug on two occasions after college closed. And yes the midges were terrible. Even worse than in the west of Ireland where I grew up!
You two are as tough as a boiled owl, thank you for the journey. How do you decompress from such a trip. You should tell us please. ❤️
Glad you enjoyed the video, I haven't heard that phrase before! When we got back I spent 9 months editing videos and then set off on an even crazier trip through the Middle East that'll be up on here later this year. So I'm still waiting for the decompression 😅
Awesome. My dad and his pals used to do this kind of thing back in the late 1950s. They pedalled all over the highlands on steel 10-speed touring bikes.
God only knows what kind of knee-knackering gearing they were running! My knees hurt just thinking about it.
Your trip looks super cold. But, on the plus side, the icy weather might keep the midgies away?
Cheers
Wow they were definitely doing it back before it was cool! It's an absolutely stunning place for touring. Bet it was a big challenge on whatever they were riding.
Yeah a lot of people told us that the major benefits of being there at that time of year were the lack of midges (which I've heard can be horrendous) and the totally empty roads. Was absolutely brutal weather at times though haha
Us Ian’s rock
Please pass on my deepest thanks to the Council of Ians
I've missed a few meetings of the Council and need get back on track.@@TieranFreedman
Hey Tieran... I've been watching your videos since your first adventure into Europe. I love your video editing; your story telling and the historical tangents you take along the way. I rode across the US in 2021 (Soulmate Cyclists on RUclips) so I'm very familiar with Warm Showers. I'm also comfortable with wild camping. What is not part of my repertoire is knocking of peoples front doors and asking to pitch a tent for the night! Can you explain exactly how that worked for you two please? Did you develop a "script"? Did Jill do the asking? Were you successful on the first knock every time? Any additional advice for this approach to finding a place to lay your head? Cheers - Optimistic Chris - from Deal in Kent.
Hey Chris, so glad to hear you're enjoying the videos (and that you followed them since I did that first trip several years ago)! Currently working on the next series, so there's a lot more to come.
Knocking on people's doors was always a fantastic way to meet people, and often meant we could charge up our lights and other electronics and top up on water. I did the asking, and just explained a bit about the project (filming the trip and finding stories along the way), that we were looking for a spot to pitch a tent and if we could borrow their lawn or field for the night. We only really asked in rural areas, and usually the first door we knocked on said yes. There have also been quite a few times where I haven't even had to ask, and someone driving or walking past has extended the invitation. The hospitality we experienced really blew us away, and there's several people I've met that way on my various trips that I'm still in touch with 😊
@@TieranFreedman TY for the insight. I have never found myself in the position of needing to utilize that strategy to find somewhere to crash but it does speak to the fact that there are wonderful, caring, trusting people all over the world. I find that most comforting.
It is not strictly a tricycle, it is a recumbent.
Excellent video, you’re doing well in the highlands in winter. Although it stressed me out with how loose your helmet straps are 😂 that wouldn’t stay on your head in a crash
Haha thank you, glad you enjoyed it! A couple of months earlier might have been a better idea 😅 That's actually a good point, I should sort that.
What an achievement to do
Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant (once again!)
We have been enthralled by your adventures so far!!
Do you have any plans in the pipeline for your next adventure?
Can I ask you what program you use for your editing please? I am looking for something to use other than my pc's Clipchamp. I'd be interested in your opinion 😊
Thanks so much, so glad you're enjoying the videos! This is a bit of a spoiler but I actually got back from a cycle tour across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia earlier this year (craziest experience of my life) and am currently editing the episodes together now. They'll start coming out in late winter/early spring, but keep an eye out for a trailer before then! The one after that I'm hoping will be Japan and S. Korea 😁 What about you?
I use Premiere Pro for video editing and After Effects for animating the maps. They do have quite steep learning curves and aren't particularly intuitive, though, especially After Effects. It took me a good couple of months editing videos full-time and watching lots of RUclips tutorials to start feel confident-ish with them. Hope that helps!
@@TieranFreedman wow!!! It must be particularly poignant with everything that's happening out there right now 😱 we will wait with eager anticipation for the new adventures ❤️
Thank you for your advice too x
I too have toured, only I have a Catrike Expedition recumbent trike.
Question... how long does it take you two to pack up all your gear into your panniers every morning... from the time you wake up to all packed up and getting on your bicycles?
That's awesome, those things look like a lot of fun and quite comfy! Usually it took about 1.5-2 hours including some time to relax in the morning before setting off. What about you?
@@TieranFreedman
Thank you for your compliments on my Catrike recumbent trike.
Yes! they are a lot of fun. No sore back, shoulders, neck or butt because I am sitting laid back.
They are probably a bit slower than a upright bicycle but...I don't really care about average speed or hurrying miles per day.
Yes, it takes me a while from waking up to all packed up.
As you know EVERYTHING has to be folded up, rolled up really tight and small in order to fit back into the panniers.
Kinda a pain really.
Unpacking is a lot easier than packing up.
Check out my channel "Firefly Recumbent Trike Aventures"
I'm going to do a overnight stealth camping trip and make a video of it today and tonight if the weather isn't too bad or cold/windy.
Awesome video and trip you two did. How cold was it on your trip? It looked quite a bit uncomfortable for sure.
No midges in November TFFT,why do touring bikes have drop handlebars?
Yeah we heard horror stories about them during summer, so it was a silver lining with the cold weather. The handlebars we used just make it easier to vary positions, as it can get uncomfortable being stuck at the same angle all day.
May I know the bike equipment you were using in this journey? Thank you.
We both used ortlieb front and rear panniers which were great and totally waterproof, and I think my handlebar pack was Topeak, though that didn't hold up quite as well because I overfilled it for most of the trip. I had a ridgeback voyage touring bike and Jill had a Dawes. Hope that helps!
Out of curiosity, why do you choose to ride with flat pedals and boots?
Those boots kept my feat so much warmer and drier than anything else I've worn. But to be honest I'm not super clued up when it comes to gear so maybe there are better cycling options 😅 Do you have any recommendations?
@@TieranFreedman I'd say any type of shoe/pedal combo designed for mountain biking or cyclocross/gravel. This would allow you to walk in the shoes but also connect or clip into to the pedals. You'd gain a ton of efficiency by having the second half of the pedal stroke (the pulling up and over, rather than just stamping down). Some neoprene shoes covers would keep you warm and dry. Your low tech set up makes your accomplishment more impressive!
First, once again
Haha welcome back Thomas!
If you can survive that you will definitely survive the Zombie Apocalypse
Haha to be fair the Scottish Highlands wouldn't be a bad place to retreat to
No Gaelic? 🙁
A "cruft"? "Knocked on a crufters door"?? It's croft!
Haha this is the second comment that's mentioned this, must be my accent
As you can pretty much wildcamp anywhere in Scotland why do you keep knocking on peoples doors to camp in their gardens?
Great journey though 😊
It's a great way to meet people you'd never cross and learn about the local culture. And from a practical standpoint it also meant we could charge up our lights and have access to water and sometimes a place to dry our clothes after all the cold rainy days. But sometimes you just don't pass a suitable wild camping spot for a while and are too exhausted to keep going, especially in the dark.
Glad you enjoyed the video 😁
@@TieranFreedman definitely a game of jeopardy 😁
I have been offered accommodation without asking which is fantastic. Equally I have been sworn at and told to go away (not quite as polite as that!)
Fab you had a great experience, well done to the people living up in that part of Scotland!
Great job on this mates, lovely landscape where my grandmother was born. You folks from the U.K.have something about your adventurous personalities that add to the mood and feel of the whole thing! Many thanks ❤🙏
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video 😊 Do you know which part of the highlands she was from? It is really stunning up there (although the conditions were a little brutal in November haha)!