Satellite Tracking and Emergency Assistance Sorted

I've now booked a SPOT satellite tracking device to give me, friends and family piece of mind during the parts of the trip that I'll be doing solo. The device runs on two AA lithium batteries and will spend the week updating my location on Google maps, allowing me to send pre-determined 'I'm ok' texts and emails to friends and family as well as having a non-emergency help button and an emergency rescue button in case of a severe accident.

OutdoorGB.com have agreed to hire me one on a 7-day rental agreement. I think that they are one of the few places in the UK that hire them out. To buy these new would set you back around £150 and then you need to subscribe to the SPOT service at around $99 per year.

Date Set For Trip - Sponsorship Needed

The date for the trip is now set. I'll be leaving Kyle of Lochalsh on Friday 22nd of July and aiming to arrive in Montrose on Thursday 28th.

I will really be hiking up the sponsorship effort over the forthcoming weeks to try and reach the target for both Charities. I am hoping that the family bike events planned in June raise some money but I need much more.

I've contacted several people recently to ask for help and advice and have had lots of useful hints and tips, especially regarding the Corrieyairack Pass and I'd like to give particular thanks to Gavin Brebner at Angus Council's Outdoor Education dept for organising the hire of a BOB bike trailer for the trip and at a really good price too. Thanks Gavin.

 

Coast to Coast Route Decided

Following some looking around, I've decided to follow Tim Woodcock's Scotland Trail from Skye Bridge to Montrose. Here is a brief breakdown of the route as taken from the companion pack.


View Skye to Montrose C2C in a larger map

Day One - Skye Bridge to Arnisdale & Corran via Carr Brae and Bealach Ratagan

Day Two - Arnisdale to Fort Augustus via Glean Dubh Lochain, Cadha Mor and Choire Pass

Day Three - Fort Augustus to Glen Feshie via Corrieyairack Pass

Day Four - Glen Feshie to Tomintoul via Ryvoan Bothy, Carn a Chnuic, Eag Mhor Pass

Day Five - Tomintoul to Ballater via Culardoch and Felagie

Day Six - Ballater to Edzell via Mount Keen

Day Seven - Edzell to Montrose

I will likely be doing the trip solo but have some bike-minded friends who have said that they are interested in accompanying me on some sections. If anyone has any advice please feel free to leave comments below.

Thanks.