I'm sure it was great in part not just because of the scenery but also as so much was so quiet. The use as a cycle route of the old A9 is a great facility and I think I was see more of this tomorrow as I head further south.
Leaving Inverness to the east, the route took me past the Culloden battlefield - site of the last battle to take place on UK mainland in 1746, Jacobite rebellions and all that. I didn't stop here preferring to view the slightly older Clava Chambered Cairns (although I've since read there are well preserved chambered cairns on Orkney).
Pictish history (3-4 thousand years ago). Also info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clava_cairn. It must have been a fun activity to see the sun shine through a different angles into the structures during the course of a year. However, I can see how Christianity had a few things going for it - probably more of an indoor focus must help. Anyway - very solid designs. |
Further south along the same railway line and adjacent to NCN7, I came across this interesting wooden viaduct; it turns out that it was refurbished and strengthened in the last few years and won some awards.
I was relieved to reach the A9(T) and the Slochd Summit, which at 406m was the highest I was going today, as I my fingers have starting hurting from the cold! Fortunately the cycle route soon fell away from the busy trunk road, where the dedicated cycle track seems prone always to have glass on it, and back onto the quieter back roads.
The NCN Route 7 runs down towards the River Spey and is clearly marked on either side of the road with large signs every 1km or so and all drivers I came across were particularly well behaved I thought.
The route leads through a number of villages includes Carrbridge, see bridge below, and Boat of Garten where one of the stations of the Strathspey Steam Railway is situated; alas I couldn't try it out as although it still runs in September, its working week starts on a Wednesday.
There are many off-road bicycle routes through the area which look spectacular. However, although the surface on the photos didn't seem to harsh, I did consider it wise not to risk losing all the panniers and rider into a teaming burn at this stage on my journey.
Bridgetastic day! A trio of very different arch-type structures, all fascinating in their own way.
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