Much of Applecross’s attraction lies in its remoteness, so we know there won’t be many opportunities to refuel for a while beyond this picture-perfect coastal village with its symmetrical row of white cottages. It is set in a fabulous unspoilt landscape with outstanding views of the sea and hills. Another left hook, bike and I were lifted from the road, knocked left and dropped to land unceremoniously in a heap of … It’s perhaps the least interesting part of the ride but we are recharged after the cafe stop and have been joined by another rider passing by, so the four of us put in a bit of sustained effort (which later turns out to be good enough to take KOM in the Strava segment there). It has a maximum elevation gain of 1,905 meters. Let’s dive into the details of this historic winding single track road called Bealach Na Ba. Bealach na Bà The closest to an Alpine mountain climb that the UK has to offer is Bealach na Bà (“Pass of the Cattle” in Scottish Gaelic) on the west coast of Scotland. Essentials: Distance: 128km. # cycling # roadcycling # gcninspiration # roadbike # bicycle # bike # cyclingphoto # gcntech # gcn Rooms from £30 per person incl. The westerly view is no less spectacular, with the Isle of Skye and its Cuillin ridge and, as Simon tells us through gasps for air, in the far distance is the Isle of Rum. The idea of a sportive belongs to local cycling legend Clifford Davidson. Check out the cycling attraction Bealach na Ba! The Bealach na Ba via Tornapress is ranked number 3 of the Scottish Highlands. All the info (difficulty, distance, altitude gained, elevation, average grade) you'll need to climb Bealach na Ba (Applecross) by bike. You’re unlikely to have ridden it because it’s set in a remote part of the West Highlands, the Applecross Peninsula, so it’s very beautiful but also difficult to get to. A classic 90 mile circuit crossing the famous Bealach na Ba to Applecross where the wonderful views and sense of achievement compensate for the effort required. Admittedly here it’s on a much smaller scale than the Galibier but the way the road encounters the remainder of this climb feels remarkably similar. Cycling the bealach na ba The Bealach na Ba or Pass of the Cattle (known locally as ‘the Bealach’) is a very ‘significant hill’ as described here. As part of Karen Newman’s series on cycling the NC500 – Karen has provided a suggested alternative to cycling the Bealach na ba. Maybe it’s because we know this is the final effort of the day, or perhaps our thoughts have already moved on to the well-earned beer and a home-cooked meal of Highland venison casserole that awaits us back at the B&B. Before we know it we’re back in Tornapress and on the edge of Loch Kishorn, once again passing those large warning signs at the junction with the Bealach na Ba. When someone suggests a climb is tougher than any other in the country, well that’s just like dangling a carrot in front of us lot at Cyclist. Elevation Gain: 1,679m. pictures for big ride bealach na ba. In the second half of the ascent, the road stretches out into much longer and straighter segments. Our route, which on the map looks like a slightly deflated balloon on a string, is almost complete, although the ‘bit of string’ does have a sizeable hump in the middle of it which we had all moaned about having to ride up with stone-cold legs first thing this morning. He’s finding the going tough, as are we all. The Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. The two sides eventually converge to form the ridge at the summit and it’s this panorama that’s got me reminiscing. It’s the view before me that’s sending memories flooding back. It has a maximum elevation gain of 1,905 meters. The Bealach na Ba ("Pass of the cattle") is not a single attraction, it doesn't have a visitor centre, and there are no visitor facilities as such. Route map for 'Bealach Na Ba / Applecross Circuit' - a 88.0km cycle route near Lochcarron, UK. Just looking at the photos makes you want to go and visit. The Bealach na Ba via Applecross is ranked number 2 of the Scottish Highlands. Route map for 'Bealach Na Ba Circular' - a 68.3km cycle route near Strathcarron, UK. At that time it was the only way to access Applecross by land. We hug the coastline with the ocean lapping to our left, but being at sea level in the Scottish Highlands can mean only one thing – and sure enough, it’s not long before we’re climbing again. The Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. If you wanted to do an ‘everesting’ challenge, it would only take 14.1 times to climb the 8,848m. Arguably the toughest 45 mile circuit you could find in the UK, this route crosses the 2056 foot high Bealach Na Ba to Applecross. Now back in familiar territory, and as our new addition to the group swings off with a nod and a wave of appreciation for the company (and a wheel to sit on) there’s a feeling of satisfaction that we’ve now broken the back of this epic. Iconic German sportswear brand releases 'The Road Cycling Shoe'. breakfast. This 90 mile circuit, the route of the classic “Bealach Mor” cycle sportive can be considered one of the best as well as one of the toughest circular routes in the country. The Applecross Peninsula is renowned as a gem in Scotland’s crown of natural wonders. For me, along with the Ventoux at some point, the Bealach na Ba has been on my cycling ‘must do’ list for quite some time. Bealach Na Ba: "Admiring the stunning Scottish landscape after climbing Bealach Na Na, one of the toughest climbs in the UK. In Warren’s own words: ‘This is it: the Holy Grail.’. Do not push on over the Bealach in adverse weather conditions – it is potentially dangerous in strong, gusty winds. It has got us excited, The three time Tour de France champion has returned to the bicycle game with a new, high-end e-bike, The Endura FS260-Pro Thermo are insulating, supremely comfortable three-season bibshorts, The Slovenian duo both set to return to Tour, reigniting yellow jersey rivalry, The reigning WorldTour champion is focusing on the cobbles in 2021 and eyeing up a second stint in, The Solidarity Challenge on Zwift will see Cancellara and other sports stars in a pursuit against. Plotted with the plotaroute.com route planner. The big and beastly Bealach-na-Ba ascentCycling Supernanny Husto and I had a great time, catching up on gossip, talking about cycling and taking in the scenery. Having written and published the extremely popular ‘100climbs’ … Rising from sea level to 626 metres over a stretch of 9.2km, Bealach na Bà has the steepest gradient of any road climb in the UK. The idea of a sportive belongs to local cycling legend Clifford Davidson. Glen Quaich and Pitlochry. It rises from sea level to 626m altitude in 10km. Glancing down momentarily on a long straight section, through slightly watery eyes, I see my Garmin is reading 79kmh and I’m not even pedalling. The idea of a sportive belongs to local cycling legend Clifford Davidson. You’re unlikely to have ridden it because it’s set in a remote part of the West Highlands, the Applecross Peninsula, so it’s very beautiful but also difficult to get to. I’m tempted to put in a few revolutions to try and get into the 80s, but decide not to push my luck. The Applecross Peninsula is renowned as a gem in Scotland’s crown of natural wonders. The Bealach na Ba ("Pass of the cattle") is not a single attraction, it doesn't have a visitor centre, and there are no visitor facilities as such. ... #68 Bealach-na-ba Cycling Inspired Notebooks The slope is hovering around 8% with occasional spikes of up to 12% just to put the boot in, with nothing to break up the persistence of the climb. The road hugs the right-hand side of the valley and up in the distance, I can see it topping out with a final flurry of hairpins, just like the French monster. The Letras allegedly holds the dubious honour of being the longest cycling climb in the world, with the Strava segment for the climb rounding off at a whopping 80km at an average gradient of 4%. Bealach na Ba is one of the most scenic, challenging and exceptional climbing experiences in the UK. But right now I’m enjoying the relative tranquillity of being here without hordes of other panting, sweaty cyclists. The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic, Bealach nam Bò, meaning ‘pass of the cattle’ as it was historically a narrow gravel drover’s road renowned for being frequently inaccessible due to bad weather. If you ever get a chance to have a call at this is thoroughly recommended." In fact, we’ve not even left the UK mainland, yet I find myself roughly halfway up the famous Bealach na Ba on the western coast of the Scottish Highlands having flashbacks to the ascent of the Col du Galibier. The Applecross Peninsula is renowned as a gem in Scotland’s crown of natural wonders. Fortunately, there’s no such warning to discourage cyclists. Keep a log of all your rides and cycling achievements with these high quality cycling notebooks. As we turn a corner, a couple are having a minor domestic at the roadside, and a few angrily delivered expletives momentarily fracture the peace. It is set in a fabulous unspoilt landscape with outstanding views of the sea and hills. Other sides of this climb: He has proven to be a fountain of local knowledge and trivia, and until now he has been in full flow, but the gradient has finally stilled his tongue. Summiting the Bealach na Ba is a rewarding experience. It rises from sea level to 626m altitude in 10km. Starting from Tornapress, the Bealach na Ba ascent is 9 km long. In his book 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, author (and occasional scribe for Cyclist) Simon Warren scores this climb as 11/10 for difficulty. The shorter (43 mile; 69km) Bealach Beag takes place in May, while the longer (90 mile; 145km) Bealach Mor runs in August. Cyclist 100 Climbs - Bealach Na Ba is an expert road ride: 90.5 km and takes 04:33 h. View this route or plan your own! However, the wonderful views are ample reward for the amount of effort required. The Bealach na Ba is situated in Scotland. The Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. Let’s dive into the details of this historic winding single track road called Bealach Na Ba. Another left hook, bike and I were lifted from the road, knocked left and dropped to land unceremoniously in a … If anyone fancies joining me, let me know (approx 20th August tbc). It seems a much easier climb this time though. It’s relatively new, only fully completed in the 1970s as a means to provide alternative access (other than by sea) to Applecross when the mountain is impassible. For about 12 years in fact, which was the last time I ventured into this part of the Highlands of Scotland en route to Applecross, then Torridon. Shieldaig itself is just a mile or so down the road, albeit in the wrong direction for home, but is apparently very pretty, so we turn left. Vital statistics Length: 8.9km If you’re not driving, you’re best off renting a car for the final part of the journey to access the rugged western peninsula. It’s considered a main road in these parts, the artery that joins Shieldaig to Kishorn, but it’s still not much more than a single-track road, and there’s no traffic in sight. The historic mountain pass was built in 1822 and is engineered similarly to roads through the great mountain passes in the Alps, with very tight hairpin bends that … NB. # cycling # roadcycling # gcninspiration # roadbike # bicycle # bike # cyclingphoto # gcntech # gcn Not so that day on the Bealach na Ba. One of the most beautiful climbs in Britain – if not one of the hardest. The Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. This road is one the farthest outlier of all Britain’s 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, situated in the far northwestern Highland Council Area of Scotland. Bealach na Ba, meaning pass of the cattle, was used in earlier days to drive cattle from Applecross and surrounding settlements to other parts of the Highlands, it was not part of the historic Drove Routes. Simon’s local knowledge again comes up trumps. It feels like just reward for the efforts of the climb up, and once we have all regrouped on the final part of the descent approaching the village of Applecross, we're all buzzing from the adrenaline rush and agree that it was the best direction to have ridden over the Bealach na Ba. Bealach na Ba The Bealach na Ba is a historic and quite famous pass through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula. Returning to the reason for my flashback, the first time I rode up the Col du Galibier (from the Valloire direction) the lasting imprint on my mind was the way the landscape opens up impressively in its upper section, leaving nothing to the imagination about what lies ahead – a succession of gruellingly steep hairpin bends, saving the hardest part until last. It doesn’t look very far above us, but our route to the summit is far from direct and gradients of up to 20% lurk in these final twists and turns. The climb is ranked number 2 in Scotland and number 3748 in the world. Bealach-Na-Ba really takes the breath away and offers a great cycling challenge. Bealach na Ba The Bealach na Ba is a historic and quite famous pass through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula. Until this point, the contours of the mountain and the meandering nature of the road on the lower section of the climb have hidden from sight the dramatic upper realms that now confront me. Bealach na Ba is one of the most scenic, challenging and exceptional climbing experiences in the UK. Maybe lunch is finally kicking in as we press on through a series of short climbs and fun little descents on our way back inland. The only downside of the climb it is that it is not so accessible. Bealach-na-Ba – Scotland. Behind us, facing east, is a stunning vista with Loch Kishorn far below, framed by a perfect glacial creation and providing instant gratification of how far we’ve just ridden, and how high. Recommended by 11 other cyclists, browse 17 pics and 3 insider tips—and get there with komoot! Bealach na Bà features in the 70 km Bealach Beag event in May, and the 144 km Bealach Mór in September. To Ben and Dougie at Nevis Cycles in Fort William (neviscycles.com) for the use of their workshop and a heap of invaluable local knowledge. pictures for big ride bealach na ba. It’s a tough climb certainly but in my opinion it’s not nearly as hard as the remainder of the route. The road leaving Applecross is almost as delightful as the food we’ve just consumed. Bealach na Bà: One of The Greatest Roads for Cycling November 12, 2015 The road to Applecross is notorious in the Highlands, not only as one of the most beautiful and dramatic driving routes; but also as one of the most terrifying. Cyclist rode the Bealach na Ba in Scotland to find out. So it’s Warren’s fault that I’m here today, grinding out a rhythm on this arduous beast alongside Kate Hewett, a former rider for Les Filles RT racing team, and local filmmaker Simon Willis. This road is one the farthest outlier of all Britain’s 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, situated in the far northwestern Highland Council Area of Scotland. Cyclist stayed at The Old Manse Guesthouse in Lochcarron, a restored vicarage where hosts Stuart and Susan provided a warm welcome, comfortable rooms, somewhere to store the bikes and plenty of hearty Scottish cuisine, not to mention the added bonus of fantastic loch-side views. We can see for miles. As you might expect, it’s a fairly quiet climb to take your bike out on, with onl… Bealach na Ba, meaning pass of the cattle, was used in earlier days to drive cattle from Applecross and surrounding settlements to other parts of the Highlands, it was not part of the historic Drove Routes. So far I think we’ve encountered more animals on the roads than vehicles. We pass one or two houses, but this whole area is very sparsely inhabited and the landscape is as remote as you’ll find in Britain. It’s the only one to be bestowed such a grade. Rivaling many a Swiss mountain pass, it winds its way from Lochcarron up 2,000 feet to the Bealach and Applecross, offering breathtaking views of Highland alpine crags, the Isle of Skye, and even the Outer Hebrides farther out to sea. With one final swooping left-hander, we again meet the A896 which heads southward around the eastern flank of the mountain. When cycling up mountains, being lightweight (63kg for me, another 8 or so for the bike) is usually an advantage. Lochcarron is about an 85-mile drive north-west of Fort William, which is around a two-hour drive from either Glasgow or Inverness airports. Big Ride: Bealach Na Ba pictures Read More It rises from sea level to 626m altitude in 10km. It starts out steady before steepening in the final third, ending in several switchbacks on the steep corrie headwall. Starting from near sea-level it rises 626m in 9.1km of uphill – reaching 20% at its steepest gradient. If the climb itself doesn’t wipe you out, then perhaps the weather around Bealach-na-Ba will. On the lower part of the climb, the winding path of the road helps to keep the gradient to a manageable 5-6%, but that’s gone now. the Bealach na Bà is just one feature on this road, being its highest point and site of several corries. 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