A top cyclist has just created an epic new video showing why cycling one of Scotland's most famous road trips can be even more enjoyable than driving it.
Edinburgh-based Markus Stitz, 42, set out to show why cycling can be a healthier and greener alternative to enjoying road trips such as the North Coast 500 (NC500) by car.
Teaming up with the NC500 and Bikepacking Scotland, Markus, who became the first person to cycle around the world on a single-speed bike in 2016, has a huge Instagram following, regularly blogs about his cycling adventures and helped to create a new alternative route for cyclists.
"A lot of my work focuses on sustainability and behaviour change, trying to show people that walking and cycling can be a great alternative to enjoy their holidays," explained the freelance filmmaker, who is originally from Germany.
"I saw a lot of cyclists on the NC500 when I was visiting in June last year, and started a conversation with North Coast 500 Ltd how we could encourage people that travel the route to stay longer in places and use walking and cycling as means to get around.
"They are not only activities that are good for the environment, but also have massive benefits for people’s mental and physical wellbeing."
The result was a shorter 200-mile alternative route, which takes in Shieldaig, Ullapool, Invergordon and Inverness, and was designed for cyclists (the normal 500-mile route can take up to two weeks to cycle in its entirety), combining the main route with off-road sections and was accessible by train.
The video for which, Where Roads End - A Slow Journey on the North Coast 500, you can view on Youtube here.
Markus added: "I wanted to find a good balance between cycling on the road, and alternatives that take people off the beaten path, where they have space and time to connect with nature."
Taking on the route at the start of April, the writer and tourism consultant said there were lots of highlights on the trip many of which would have been hard to discover if you were driving.
"I love to explore stuff and the good thing about a bike is that you can stop at most places, wheel your bike off the road and explore.
"One of those places was a loch, Loch Dughaill, which I passed just before I finished my first day in Shieldaig.
"It was lined by Scots pines, that were majestically dancing in the wind, with the sun slowly dropping behind the hills to the west.
"I sat on the shore and looked at the scenery; this could have been a painting. It made me realise how important it is to not only use travel as a tick box exercise of Instagrammable spots but to allow time for those random stops."
The full trip took him just four days with 50-mile journeys taking place on each and although the experienced cyclist has cycled many parts of the route over the 16 years of his time living in Scotland, he stated that doing the trip in the "shoulder months" of April and staying hotels and B&Bs (necessary with the logistics of filming) really showed him how incredible the hospitality in this part of the country really was.
"Doing it in the shoulder season meant that traffic was mostly light, which helped," he explained. "The hospitality of the people that welcomed me was great, they helped find a secure place for the bike and were really flexible to accommodate early starts and late finishes, something which is common for travelling by bike."
Curious to see how his alternative route would pan out, Markus was relieved to discover it was a great alternative to cycling the whole NC500. He recommends tackling it in the months of March to May or September to October, particularly because traffic is lighter but it also means not having to deal with one particularly ferocious native predator.
He quipped: "We have midges in Scotland, and it’s not pleasant having to fight them every time you stop to enjoy the scenery, and those months are mostly midge-free.
"Plus, there is enough daylight in those months to have a nice breakfast, enjoy the day and end the day with a nice dinner, and accommodation providers are often grateful for extra custom when it is relatively quiet.
"With the right clothing cycling is very enjoyable in those months. And while the conditions I was cycling in the first two days, frequent snow showers, were not ideal, the food in the evening tasted even better with the extra sense of achievement."
He also thanked the local bike hire company Ticket to Ride, which he couldn't recommend enough for anyone else looking to get the perfect bike for the trip.
Markus added: "The decision to take a hire bike on the journey was deliberate. Ticket to Ride in Inverness offer great bikes, which are up for the job, and I want people to support as many local businesses as they can.
"I hope the film encourages people to slow down a bit and think about walking and cycling. If they pick up a bike, even better."
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