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At the end of June, Toon and three cycling friends set off for a new adventure in the rugged wilderness of Scotland. Their mission? To ride the legendary Badger Divide, a mostly off-road gravel route stretching nearly 400 km with over 6,000 meters of elevation — from Inverness to Glasgow. 
Day 1: Warming up along Loch Ness
From the very first day, it was clear: this wasn’t going to be a smooth ride. Much of the route led over steep hiking trails — and the choice of a 42 front chainring quickly proved to be… ambitious. Hiking up +12% gradients with a fully loaded bike became part of the routine.
But just as quickly as the gearing regret set in, so did the awe: only 10 km outside Inverness and we were already deep in breathtaking desolate Highland nature.
The first stage took us from Inverness to Fort Augustus — 65 km with 1,250 meters of climbing. We spent most of the day tracing ridges along the famous Loch Ness, a perfect warm-up for the tough days ahead.
Day 2: Straight into the Queen Stage
The second day brought the hardest segment right away — the queen stage. From Fort Augustus to Corrour, and early on: the Corrieyairack Pass. A 17 km unpaved climb, mostly on steep, narrow trails, with gradients up to 22%. A monster.
After a 760 m ascent, we reached the highest point of the Badger Divide and were rewarded with jaw-dropping views over the Highlands — followed by a wild descent full of rocks, streams, and footbridges.
The rest of the day undulated through remote deer forests and finished after 80 km in Corrour — a tiny settlement only accessible by train… or bike. Luckily, the train station also had a small restaurant with amazing food.
After a quick evening skinny dip in Loch Ossian, we bunked down with about 20 other adventurers in the only cabin around. A quiet night’s sleep? Not exactly.
Day 3: Wind, Salmon & the Long Haul
Day three took us from Corrour to Killin, a charming village known for its waterfalls and smokehouse. The longest stage of the trip — 94 km with 1,400 m of climbing — featured steep climbs, technical descents, and a relentless headwind blowing 6 Beaufort. Riding with two full bags on the rear rack didn’t make things easier.
But true to Scottish hospitality, we were welcomed at the finish with warm smiles and freshly smoked salmon — the perfect way to end another tough but unforgettable day.
Day 4: Ferns, Midges & Rain
As the wind finally died down on day four, the midges came out to play. These tiny Scottish bugs arrive in swarms when the air is still — and there’s only one solution: keep moving.
We left Killin and headed for Gartmore, starting the day on a fern-covered trail so overgrown it turned into a 3 km uphill hike-a-bike session. And then… our first true Scottish rainstorm. We had packed for five days of rain, so getting wet only on day four felt like a small miracle.
We arrived at the Gartmore campsite soaked but smiling, where the friendly owner welcomed us with stories of his own self-organised gravel race from a few weeks earlier. A classic example of Scottish charm.
Day 5: The final push to Glasgow
The final leg brought us from Gartmore to Glasgow City — 55 km, mostly following the famous West Highland Way. The path slowly became busier with walkers (we’d only seen a couple a day until now), and a few steep, rocky climbs reminded us the adventure wasn’t quite over yet.
But after 35 km, the spell broke. We hit the suburbs. The wide, wild Highlands faded behind us. Though the official end of the Badger Divide lies in central Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park, a sunny terrace and the promise of a cold lager convinced us to stop just 2 km early.
After all, a well-earned pint hits very differently after 5 days in the saddle.
Steeds in eerlijke omstandigheden gemaakt voor een eerlijk loon.
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