Bikepacking The Scottish Highlands - An Adventure Based On The Southern Loop Of The HT550
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- Опубліковано 21 бер 2024
- Hi all!
I spent 4 amazing days up in the Scottish Highlands in March 2024 covering just over 300km.
The route was based on the HT550 southern loop and it didn’t fail to impress.
A lot of you have helped by buying me a slice of pizza here; buymeacoffee.com/allenboardman so thank you for your support, you each bought me a third of my burger at the Real Food Café!
Sit back, grab the biscuits and enjoy the film!
-Allen
You can also see the southern loop route including the middle and the northern loop that makes up the infamous Highland Trail 550 here; highlandtrail550.weebly.com/r... - Спорт
Enjoyed your adventure. At aged 86 I can only enjoy your experience on my exercise bike.in Scotland at the moment and will follow your current journey. Graham Smith
Found you from Barry's channel, you both have great adventures and always inspiring to watch 😁
Hi! I'm glad you enjoy both of our channels. Thank you for watching. :)
I commuted for 25 years, 34 miles per day, 5 days a week through very cold winter weather as well. I found that a motorcycle under helmet balaclava, was the perfect article of clothing to keep your head warm, that can also go under your cycling helmet. It also prevented your face hurting with hail or snow striking it.
Thanks for the advice! Yeah you can see how my face is affected with the cold for sure. I may just experiment for next winter! Thanks again for watching.
Challenge and discovery is the essence of bikepacking, and this video captures that perfectly. Very inspiring production, thanks Allen
It truly is! Thanks for the comment and watching!
Hi Allen, that locked gate should be reported to Outdoor Access Officer, totally against the SOAC, there should be access for walkers & bikes.
As a fellow Bikepacker I enjoy tour Videos Allen.
All best.
Hi! Thanks so much for watching! I just thought it was funny 🤣 thanks for the feedback! See you out there! -Allen
A beautifully made video in a beautiful area, thanks very much for that Allen 🚲⛺👍
Thank you so much. I’m really happy you enjoyed it. ☺️
@@AllenBoardman I always enjoy your videos, even the penguin 'jokes' ... 🥺🤣👍
@@tonypaddler haha just making sure people are watching 🫣 they’re bad ain’t they. Thanks again!!
@@AllenBoardman they're so bad they're good!
Can't wait until December for your Christmas cracker jokes 😱😂
It's actually a great type of humour to put in a video, I enjoy it 😁👍
@@tonypaddler now there’s a though!! I’ll be sure to remember that one. That would be ace!
Greetings from California. Just found your video, subscribed. Great editing. Like the fairy lights .. great idea, probably not to heavy either? I’m taking on the Great Divide and bought a GoPro to record with. Will be amateur hour but will give it a go. Thanks for sharing and will definitely watch future posts !
Hey! Thank you for watching the film! The fairy lights take up no space at all and are super light. They really help make things feel warmer. The GD will be an incredible adventure - I’m jealous! Thank you again.
The tubs on there side are used for Rumevite blocks (sheep or deer licks)
Amazing! Thank you. It was so confusing.
nearly 30 min of scottish higland nature pr0n? You are spoiling us Allen, so keep up the good work.
Hehe yeah it’s a little longer than my usual, but it was such a fun time! Glad you enjoyed it.
What a challenge on your own at this tlme of the year, very remote. Pity Barry hadn't been with you, it's a long time since he's been on UA-cam. Very well done, Amazing.
It is! I’ve just screenshotted this and texted it to him. I’m pestering him to get back. I’m sure there’s plenty of trips he wants to share with everyone. I’ll get him out this year for giggles and copious amounts of ice cream!! Thanks very much for watching.
Thanks Allen another great video . i enjoy your style and never get boardman.
Haha, that’s good to hear 🥳 thanks for the watching!
Thank you for taking the time to make and upload this video. It is amazing.
The pleasure is all mine! Thank you for watching 🤩
What an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing and putting the effort in capturing those cosy and not so cozy moments :)
I like the way you put that! Thank you for watching!! Loved the trip. 🤩
What a great video i hope you keep it up your a cut above the usual UA-cam crowd. Thanks
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like the edits :)
Absolutely brilliant Allen ! thanks for taking us along. fantastic documentation of your experience, would have happily watched you do the entire 550 trail.
Thank you!! 🤩 thanks for watching it! I’ll likely only take a phone on the HT550 this year, but we will see what happens 🙃
Great trip, thanks for sharing. Was a great watch 😊
I’m happy you liked it! Thanks for watching 🥳
Respect. I know exactly the route you've gone and how tough that would have been, outstanding.
Thank you! It certainly had its rewards though. What a place! Thank you for watching.
Cracking adventure, excellent capture and production. Thanks for sharing Alan.
Thank you so much for watching ! It was an amazing trip. 🥳🥳
Hey Allen that was truly awesome amazing epic enjoyed that so much cheers 🍻🤘🏻
Hi! Ah good to hear, thanks for watching it!
Wonderful scenery man. Tough place for long distance adventures!
It’s beautiful isn’t it?! Thanks so much for watching!
Really looking forward to this one!!!
I hope you enjoy it!! Let me know 🤩🥳🤩
Wow, beautiful part of the world!
It truly is!
Another brilliant video and really enjoy watching what you do and thanks for posting
Thanks for watching another edit of mine, really pleased you like the films. 🥳
Horseshoe viaduct looking fabulous in all its glory. Think the thing you asked about could be a pheasant feeder, but then could be wrong. Great video do love that part of Scotland 😊
They really confused me! I was ok until I kept seeing them, then I couldn’t help but ask what on earth they were! Thanks for watching though - Scotland is one of my happy places 🥳
Great video Allan! What a beautiful part of the world.
Aunt Arctica 😂😂
🤣🤣 penguins are great for morale support. I’m pleased you liked it!
Thingy by the Lyon dam is a salt lick.
I’m confused, one of them was an old sink that deffo wasn’t salt?
@@AllenBoardman I have put salt blocks in old sinks, saves them dissolving into the ground. Could also be used for supplement blocks.
@@richardwebb5317 that’s not ever what I thought it was going to be. Thank you so much for clearing this up. I’ve wanted to know since I seen them 🤣
@@AllenBoardman And that climb by the dam is a right PitA
@@richardwebb5317 I’m glad it wasn’t just me!!
Love Scotland and really enjoyed the video.
We’re in the same boat. There’s just something about the place. Thank you for watching.
Great video Allen. Thanks for sharing. Very well made.
Thank you so much! Really happy you enjoyed it.
1. The gate is super locked so us locals can drive it. 😉
2. Take two bin bags for dry feet on occasional crossings. You can tuck the handles in your belt.
3. I think the barrels on their side are salt lick or grit holders.
Haha so funny I lifted it over rather than inspecting!! Love the idea of the bags! And salt lick sounds like a winner! Thanks for watching :)
Really enjoyed that Allen, great video! Showcasing wonderful Scotland. The light on the mountains was absolutely banging! A friend was asking recently if I'd considered doing the HT550 and I'm not quite ready yet, but I was thinking about doing one of the loops or part of the trail this year on the HT. This has been just the inspiration I needed to plan a wee trip so thank you. Just need to find a pal to join as I don't fancy sleeping in a bothy solo with strangers 😬
Thank you so much Charlie! I’m with you about the light on those mountains, absolutely breathtaking!! Maybe consider next year Alan is always looking for women to join. I’ll deffo be watching your dot if you did!! Yeah sleeping in a bothy with strangers is odd, but you get used to it haha. Thanks for watching!!
Thanks Allen. Another great video. I'm off on the HT550 in a few weeks, it looks fairly wet up there still? Hoping it dries up a bit soon.....🙂
You’re most welcome! I’m glad you liked it buddy. Enjoy your adventure!
That was a great adventure mate , captured it lovely atb Dave
Thank you! I’m happy the film reflects how much fun I had!
Hello 🙋♂️.
Brilliant bike 🚴 ride, and spectacular
views !!
Re: the MT basins. It’s to store all
the Scottish 🏴 GOLD ⚱️ you find
whilst; hiking 🥾
camping ⛺️ cycling 🚴
Did you not know 😉😳🫣🙄??
Another commenter said it’s a salt 🧂 bucket. 10/10 their are right… However, I am a tad
surprise that they are located there. The only animals there are sheep; 🐑 🦌 🐇 The landowners don’t normally have beef 🥩
or dairy cattle 🐄 roaming around freely !!
I also read that as the weather is getting hotter 🥵☀️🌞😎 year on year and the small rivers,
ect ect dry up each year - it’s a way to keep all the animals (wild as well) hydrated in the summer months !!
How else do you expect the midges
to survive if they can’t get a drink 🥃
Thanks 🙏
James 🫶✌️
Hey!
Thanks so much for watching! Is that why they’re all empty?!
Yeah those midgies need to keep hydrated so they can annoy the life out of us! Imagine Scotland without the midge. Sounds like heaven!!
Fantastic video Allen, maybe your best edit yet. I havent been to Scotland in about 18 years. I backpacked the West Highland Way and always said Id come back with a bike. Yours and @barrygodin7538 Scotland films always tickle that itch and make me start planning. Cheers
Thank you! Yeah Barry is a huge inspiration to me and a great friend. I was pestering him before to get editing. He’s got some amazing footage to work through! Scotland is probably a little busier than when you last went, but you’ll still barely see anyone! Thanks again!
Superb, not the easiest winter route and some soul-searching places to push on into. I hope you get the weather in May to see it in a spring light to compare. See you in Arnside…
Thank you so much for watching. Yeah, it was rather wintery in places! I also hope may is kind to all the riders. See you in Arnside!
Quite excellent video of your adventures... Nevermind the bloke killing himself outa Kinlochleven, your legs appear to be in good shape... I hope to explore a little more of the Badger myself later this year... Im waiting for the midge... Im hardcore,. 😉 Thank you for sharing 🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️
Haha! Those midgies! Thank you so much for watching. He earned his beers that day! Thanks again for watching.
Stunning thanks for sharing 👍🏻 🏴🚴♂️
And thanks for watching!!
Another great adventure,some epic photography as always I really like stagg they have a good feeling about them. Just a thought you could take some scuba boots for river crossing to keep feet warm and dry 😜
I need something don’t I mate haha. Thank you for having a watch. The stag are incredible. They always make me smile!
What a great adventure! Some of these roads I recognised from doing the Badger Divide.
Beautifully shot and edited, thanks for sharing!
Hey! You’re right, there’s a fair bit from the badger there. So happy you enjoyed the edit! Thank you for taking the time to watch it.
Loving the recent videos, have saved me from going stir crazy dealing with a slipped disc 😢. Not sure about your cooked breakfast with no haggis😅
Oh no! I’m glad that it’s keeping you entertained! I wondered if anyone would pick up on one of the breakfasts I had…snuck it in there as I knew nothing would really be open in Kinlochleven 😀 thanks for watching another!
Magnificent beautiful challenging trip. Thanks for sharing. As you could probably tell from the replay, though, there was so much wind and background noise and your deep voice mumbling made it impossible to hear a large part of what you had to share. So, thoughts for next time, have a much better windproof mic and talk very distinctly please
Hey, thanks for your feedback! I’m still learning so I appreciate your comments! I’d need to find something that doesn’t add time to the shot as I don’t always stop - I grab the phone out of my pocket whilst riding. I’ll be searching for something I can add to my phone case maybe. Thanks again. ☺️
once again allen brilliiant
Very kind of you, thanks!
Great journey and well documented! Maybe share a link to your GPS track for those who don’t know the route?
Thanks so much. Really pleased you enjoyed it. I’ve taken your advice and updated the description to include the link to the whole thing. Thanks for watching, I’ve enjoy your podcast too! Always well put together. 🤩
@@AllenBoardman Thanks Allen. If you would like any ideas of keeping the wind-noise down and getting clean audio, I'll happily share a few tips. I don't wish to presume.
@@alwaysanotheradventure absolutely. I have zero idea how to stop it! Really appreciate it if you could.
@@AllenBoardman I'll ping you an email later
@@alwaysanotheradventure legend. Many thanks indeed.
Subbed👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧
Aw yay! Thank you!!
Amazing video, Allen. What camera did you use?
Thanks so much! I use an iPhone 15 pro and a DJI Mavic Mini 2 :)
Hi Allen. What Garmin version do you use? Great adventure 😊
Hey! I’ve just changed and bought a Garmin 540 solar. Non touch screen. For now, it appears to work rather well. Only charged the battery from 40% to 80% on day 4. Pretty decent!
Nice one Allen… what’s the full weight loaded of bike and kit ?
And how much of that is your drone and go pro and filming stuff ?
Thank you! I think the bike and kit was around 60lbs for this ride. I keep meaning to weigh all the filming stuff because I’m keen to know how much it all weighs. I’ll have to do it at some point!
Great video allen... Is that a tailfin rear... How do you find it? Worth the investment?
Hey! It is a Tailfin :) it’s solid as a rock, well made but just isn’t for me. I’ve gone back to a saddle bag system that I’ve used for around 5 years from Acepac.
That thing is so you can take a pee in private.... Since there's no trees anywhere they had to make something to stand in front of 😂
Haha love it!! 🤣🤣
👍🏽
Thank you!
The bucket is for food for the deer.
One of the comments suggested that it was for a salt lick for the sheep…. 🐑
@@AllenBoardman a bit high for sheep, Rumevite for the deer I reckon, but did you see sheep out there where they were this time, or just deer…
@@freeforester1717 yeah I did see sheep actually! More than I expected.
@@AllenBoardman then you’ll be able to determine what they were for. Remember that the upper limit of trace copper (the main trace element which the area is deficient of) for sheep is 12-13ppm, deer can take more than double that figure. Salt is usually light in colour, rumevite and other such supplements tend to be dark in colour, often mixed with molasses or similar looking dark mash/cake.
@@freeforester1717 I wish I stopped and inspected more now. I’ll have to have another look in May when I’m back up there. :)
I wish ❤
🙂
I enjoyed thaat Allen. Thanks.
You’re most welcome!