Bagpipes but no Nessie!
From: Jacqui Mortlock, Kelly Phillips and Helen Arnold
Last month, on the 26th of April, Helen, Kelly and Jacqui, took on the famous Etape Loch Ness — a 67-mile cycle ride around the stunning shores of Loch Ness.
The day started very early with a 5:30am wave start, and it’s fair to say the Scottish Highlands reminded us who was boss! Temperatures were chilly enough that some of us were wearing five layers before even clipping into the pedals. We looked less like elite cyclists and more like Michelin men on bikes.
As the sun slowly came up over the loch, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Calm waters, dry roads, very little wind, and thankfully no rain made for near-perfect cycling conditions — although a little extra warmth wouldn’t have gone amiss. We kept our eyes peeled for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, but unfortunately Nessie must have decided it was too early for public appearances that morning.
The route itself was incredible, winding through spectacular Highland scenery and along quiet roads that are usually closed to traffic just for the event. At over 800 years old, the Great Glen and Loch Ness area are steeped in Scottish history, with ancient castles, forests and mountains surrounding the route. It certainly helped distract us from the burning legs on some of the hills!
We completed the full 67 miles with a couple of well-earned pit stops along the way. The sausage rolls were highly appreciated and probably responsible for at least 20 of those miles. However, I do need to officially raise a complaint on behalf of the team: there was a shocking lack of hot coffee available. After hours in the cold Scottish air, a steaming cup of coffee would have been worth more than a medal to warm our little bellies and keep us awake!
Despite the early start, tired legs and slightly frozen fingers, we all completed the ride successfully and rolled back into the finish feeling proud (and ready to sit down). Afterwards, we met up with fellow cyclists, shared stories from the route, and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon soaking up the fantastic atmosphere.
All in all, it was an unforgettable experience filled with laughs, determination, beautiful scenery, a bagpipe welcome at the top of a climb and plenty of memories. The only thing missing was Nessie herself — maybe next year!