Let’s dive into the details of this historic winding single track road called Bealach Na Ba. Elevation Gain: 1,679m. Before we hit the road, remember that we will pronounce the name of this road as Bee-al-uch … Sign up for Strava to save this route and share it with your friends. 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. 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. I can see Huw, our support vehicle driver, has pulled his van over in the lay-by at the top of climb. Applecross Highlands Strava Routes. Starting from near sea-level it rises 626m in 9.1km of uphill – reaching 20% at its steepest gradient. The Applecross Peninsula is renowned as a gem in Scotland’s crown of natural wonders. View route map, weather, streetviews, images, slideshows, videos and more for this cycling route to the top of Bealach na Ba (Applecross), United Kingdom. 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. Bealach na Ba is one of the most scenic, challenging and exceptional climbing experiences in the UK. This is plenty exhilarating enough. 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 shorter (43 mile; 69km) Bealach Beag takes place in May, while the longer (90 mile; 145km) Bealach Mor runs in August. 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). Another left hook, bike and I were lifted from the road, knocked left and dropped to land unceremoniously in a … Summiting the Bealach na Ba is a rewarding experience. The Bealach na Ba is situated in Scotland. Simon’s local knowledge again comes up trumps. One of the greatest climbs in Britain. Bealach-na-Ba – Scotland. Restaurants near Bealach na Ba Road: (0.51 mi) Kishorn Seafood Bar (1.00 mi) The Bealach Cafe and Gallery (4.46 mi) The Bistro, Lochcarron (4.73 mi) The Shores (6.24 mi) Carron Restaurant; View all restaurants near Bealach na Ba Road on Tripadvisor $ Bealach Na Ba: "Admiring the stunning Scottish landscape after climbing Bealach Na Na, one of the toughest climbs in the UK. We can see for miles. The highlight is the crossing of the 2056 foot high Bealach na Ba which gives superb views back towards Loch Kishorn and onwards towards the islands of Skye and Raasay. Essentials: Distance: 128km. 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. We encounter only a single hairpin bend, quite early on, before the road takes a course of long traverses across the open moorland. When cycling up mountains, being lightweight (63kg for me, another 8 or so for the bike) is usually an advantage. Fortunately, there’s no such warning to discourage cyclists. 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. If the climb itself doesn’t wipe you out, then perhaps the weather around Bealach-na-Ba will. Somewhat disappointingly, there’s no response from my rear derailleur as I press the electronic shift button on my Record EPS lever, searching for one more gear to ease the burden on my legs. We’ll need to keep something in reserve for those. Finally to Huw, our heroic support vehicle driver. Starting from Tornapress, the Bealach na Ba ascent is 9 km long. Bealach-Na-Ba really takes the breath away and offers a great cycling challenge. Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. As part of Karen Newman’s series on cycling the NC500 – Karen has provided a suggested alternative to cycling the Bealach na ba. The Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. It is set in a fabulous unspoilt landscape with outstanding views of the sea and hills. Check out the cycling attraction Bealach na Ba! He’s finding the going tough, as are we all. Big Ride: Bealach Na Ba pictures Read More I’m lost in my own thoughts, my legs turning metronomic circles, when I eventually glance up and realise the end is in sight. 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. Strava Cycling Route Bealach na Ba climb! Iconic German sportswear brand releases 'The Road Cycling Shoe'. Prices start at around £100 one way. the Bealach na Bà is just one feature on this road, being its highest point and site of several corries. It has a maximum elevation gain of 1,905 meters. 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. It is set in a fabulous unspoilt landscape with outstanding views of the sea and hills. 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. The Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. However, the wonderful views are ample reward for the amount of effort required. 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. # cycling # roadcycling # gcninspiration # roadbike # bicycle # bike # cyclingphoto # gcntech # gcn Bealach na Ba The Bealach na Ba is a historic and quite famous pass through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula. 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. Even with the benefit of compact gearing, the chain is already nestled on the largest cassette sprocket. Let’s dive into the details of this historic winding single track road called Bealach Na Ba. It’s more up and down than a decade at the stock market, and I realise I’ve made a mistake in assuming that the Bealach na Ba would be the end of our struggles for the day. Arguably the toughest 45 mile circuit you could find in the UK, this route crosses the 2056 foot high Bealach Na Ba to Applecross. Other sides of this climb: As we round the northern corner of the peninsula, now on the shores of Loch Torridon rather than the Atlantic, I’m enjoying something of a second wind. 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%. 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. Cycling the other side of Bealach na Ba - from Applecross. It starts out steady before steepening in the final third, ending in several switchbacks on the steep corrie headwall. 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. Beware, the climbs aren’t limited to the stretch over the Bealach - the coast road also provides some surprisingly tough little climbs. Cyclist™ is a registered trade mark. Located in the Applecross Peninsula, in the Scottish Highlands the the name is Scottish Gaelic for Pass of the Cattle, as it was historically used as a drovers road. Starting at sea level and rising to 626m in 9km, the road resembles one more often found in the French or Swiss Alps. Bealach na Bà is a winding single track road through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Recommended by 11 other cyclists, browse 17 pics and 3 insider tips—and get there with komoot! 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. Bealach na Bà is a curvy mountainous road located in the Applecross peninsula, Highland, Scotland. 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 Bealach is the UK’s biggest road climb with an ascent of 626m from sea level in just 10km. 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. 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! The idea of a sportive belongs to local cycling legend Clifford Davidson. Bealach na Bà features in the 70 km Bealach Beag event in May, and the 144 km Bealach Mór in September. So here we are. Cyclist rode the Bealach na Ba in Scotland to find out. In his book 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, author (and occasional scribe for Cyclist) Simon Warren scores this climb as 11/10 for difficulty. 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. It’s not my lungs, on the verge of collapse, or my screaming quads that have prompted the comparison. With one final swooping left-hander, we again meet the A896 which heads southward around the eastern flank of the mountain. All rights reserved. breakfast. Before we hit the road, remember that we will pronounce the name of this road as Bee-al-uch nu Ba(h) and that in English it’s named Pass of the Cattle. Over the years, I’ve sought to climb as many hills as possible. Just as the pretty row of coloured houses comes into view we turn off down what almost feels like a slipway into the loch, such is the village’s proximity to the water’s edge. If you ever get a chance to have a call at this is thoroughly recommended." The Applecross Peninsula is renowned as a gem in Scotland’s crown of natural wonders. In Warren’s own words: ‘This is it: the Holy Grail.’. I’d imagine it would be a pretty bleak place up here when the weather closes in, so I’m thankful we are blessed with only partly cloudy skies and even though we all choose to stick on a jacket to protect us from the noticeably more chilly air up here, no one is in any particular hurry to start the descent. The Bealach na Ba via Applecross is ranked number 2 of the Scottish Highlands. 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