WHEN a friend from southern England asked if I'd like to join her and her young son for dinner at one of Scotland's most remote pubs, I decided I would turn the trip into an adventure.
Like Myrid and Rowan, it would have been possible for me to travel by train on the West Highland Line to reach Corrour Station House Restaurant, at the heart of the vast Corrour Estate on the edge of Rannoch Moor in the Highlands.
I could have also booked into the Signal Box Accommodation, just like the mother and son, for a comfortable overnight in a quirky B&B, located on the platform of the UK's highest mainline station.
But, instead, my aspirations were for a wilder and more budget-friendly experience. I came up with a two-day plan for a bikepacking trip that would include the dinner with friends, a wild camp and a hike of three mountains.
I invited one of my local friends - Cath - who, like me, was happy to eschew the modern luxuries of railways and a room with an ensuite.
Aside from the train, the only way for the public to reach Corrour is by bike or on foot.
So, while Myrid and seven-year-old Rowan enjoyed the train journey, Cath and I cycled on a rough and undulating track to the south of the estate, having left a car at the side of a narrow, no-through-road between the small settlements of Kinloch Rannoch and Rannoch Station in Perth and Kinross.
At the first hill, which came quickly, we could feel the sudden heaviness of our bikes laden with packs full of all the items we would need for our adventure. Instead of trying to push too hard, we dropped gears and settled into a slow ascent, sometimes getting off our bikes to walk and push.
As we cycled and walked, we chatted not about the challenge but happily about the fabulous sense of freedom that comes from a self-supported trip in Scotland.
Bu hikaye The Scots Magazine dergisinin August 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Scots Magazine dergisinin August 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A Scot Going Places
Ayrshire lad Hugh Allan built a transport and finance empire in his adopted home of Montreal, and survived a political scandal
Into The Woods
Maverick Gary Munday is scaling new heights in conservation
- FROM THE – VAULT
Strange tales from the archives. This month, troubles brew during Perth's seventh lean harvest
Hero In The Making
A fiery process of transformation reveals the true and complex character of Bladnoch's The Dragon Series
Sonic Inspirations
Harpist Esther Swift on the fun and the fury behind creativity
Chapter And Verse
As she launches her second children’s book, author Nadine Aisha Jassat shares her poetry-writing evolution and novel inspirations
Beavers By Moonlight
Once away from the shadow of the hill, Jim's infinite patience is rewarded with the memorable moment he has been waiting for
The Ideal Host
Euro 2024 host Germany promises a feast of football, fun and culture for visiting fans
The World At Her Feet
With no women’s game at home, Rose Reilly helped Italy win the World Cup
Tartan Army On Tour
Scotland’s fans have travelled the world, but for this younger generation, the Euros in Germany is the tournament they've all been waiting for