The Roam Scotland Rally is a ride organised by the Roam Scotland Bikepacking Society, and this year the route was going to be from Edinburgh to Inverness over seven days. I’d been looking forward to the Rally for a long while, and at last the day of departure dawned. I packed the panniers, handlebar bag, accessory pack and loaded up the bike. With rain possible by 12:45 I set off at noon hoping to keep dry.
I made good progress, passing through Haslington where a fair was underway and hopped onto the cycle path at Crewe Green roundabout. This took me rapidly to the station where I found my way to platform 11 where the Edinburgh train was due. By chance the Midland Pullman arrived on an adjacent platform with the “Lord of the Isles”, passing through on its way to Inverness.
My train came in on time and I loaded my bike on alongside one other, then settled into my seat for the journey. At Preston another cyclist boarded and introduced himself – he turned out to be another Roamer, Jason, who was also doing the Rally for the first time. We chatted until Penrith when his mate Mike boarded, also riding the Rally for the first time. After heading through a slightly damp Carlisle we headed into southern Scotland, passing many fields full of sheep and lambs before finally arriving in a chilly Edinburgh. I left Jason and Mike here after printing my tickets for the return from Inverness and headed out into the streets of Old Reekie. I found my way onto a very good cycle lane that ran alongside the road and soon arrived at the Central Youth Hostel where I was staying. I checked in and was shown down a couple of flights of stairs to the secure cycle storage and my room (coincidentally next door to each other). I left my bike in the store alongside several others, and as I knew there a couple more due I wondered where they’d fit them all. I settled into my room and then went to the cafe to get chicken strips and coffee for tea, with a double Glenmorangie to finish to get my tour underway.
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