3rd – 6th June 2023

This was my first time away for an overnight with all my camping gear on the bike. It was also the first experience I had taking my bike on a train so it turned out I had quite a lot to learn.

I planned and booked the train journey as far in advance as I could and although I intended to cycle the last twenty odd miles, I booked a return from Glasgow Queen Street to Dingwall. I arrived early for the train in order to get my tickets from the machine before boardiing. it was good that I did so as it meant I could find the cycle compartment and get my bike on first. There was a spare seat right beside the cycle rack so I settled down for the journey. At least this was a direct train.

In Inverness I met up with my brother who, after we had a coffee, pointed me in the direction of National Cycle Route 1. The first section, out of the city was marked, until a large roundabout when the signage became a bit unclear. I had to cycle down two exit roads for a bit then back up the other side before I got back on the cycle path. From the Kessock Bridge the cycle route runs beside the A9 for about six miles then after a confusing junction where the cycle route goes under the main road and then back beside it but on the other side. This section wasn’t too pleasant as the traffic was heavy and right beside the cycle path. Vehicles weren’t moving out of the way as they would if they were overtaking and the wind from some of the larger lorries was buffetting. I was glad that section didn’t go on too long.

The cycle route then leaves the A9 and goes along the A835. This was a much more pleasant ride through some pretty countryside. There are sections which are on the road but the traffic was light so it wasn’t too bad. A lot of the riding was on old roads with no traffic at all.

The final mile into the town of Dingwall was on a shared cycle/foot path. Then it was on the main street until I got down to the station and the campsite just beyond it.

The return journey on the train was no where near so straightforward as the journey up. I decided to take the train from Dingwall rather than cycle back to Inverness. When I booked I couldn’t get my bike on a direct train because it was a Sunday so had two changes – in Inverness and Perth.

There is no ticket office in Dingwall so I would need to pick up the tickets from the conductor. I just had to hope that there was space for my bike. The conductor on the train couldn’t issue tickets so when I got to Inverness I had to go to the machine to get tickets. That was a real pain as there was nowhere to prop up my bike and the station was really busy. Eventually a member of staff came over. She was the ticket collector from my train so she took me on to the platform. Turned out the train was fully booked for bikes but eventually we managed to get everything loaded on. There were a couple of cyclists who go on at a later stop who had to leave their bikes to come back to collect them later.

The staff on the train from Dingwall had suggested that I stay on the train to Stirling rather than changing at Perth but when I asked for more information I decided against it. The change in Perth was a few platforms away but at least there was a 20 minute wait whereas at Stirling there was only a few minutes. It was the same train I’d be getting on but I couldn’t be sure that my reservation would still be there unless I got on at Perth.

The rest of the journey went fine except the cycle path out of the town centre was closed for repairs so I tried a detour and ended up in traffic at Cowcaddens.

I arrived home with experiences which would help the next time I went on a train with my bike. The main things was to always be prepared to remove luggage. Although some trains have space for bikes loaded up with panniers, many don’t and you probably won’t find out until you’re getting on. So plan in advance to ensure the least amount of disruption. Speak to other cyclists and arrange with them how the bikes are loaded. When four of us got on at Perth, we all stacked our bikes. It turned out that the guy whose bike was in first was getting off before the rest of us. He waited ’til the last minute before trying to remove his bike. Also, unless you are getting off at the end of the train’s journey, prepare your bike to get off well in advance.Take it to the doorway and have all your bags at your feet. I find it easier getting all my luggage on to the platform then going back on for the bike. You may get in the way of other passengers who always seem to be in a hurry to get off but that’s better than leaving something on the train.