Highland Trail 550

The Highland Trail 550 is a bikepacking route designed by Alan Goldsmith that threads through the most remote and beautiful parts of the Scottish Highlands. From Tyndrum in the south to Inverness in the north, the route follows stalkers' paths, old drover roads, and occasionally no path at all across open moorland that is wet regardless of the season.

The HT550 is run as an annual mass-start event in May, but it is rideable year-round by those who understand Scottish mountain weather. The event format is ITT — individual time trial, entirely self-supported. There is no sweep vehicle, no checkpoint support, no marking on the ground. You navigate, you carry what you need, and you sort your own problems.

The terrain is deceptive. The elevation is modest by alpine standards — nothing exceeds 900m — but the ground is the challenge. Peat bog, river crossings that require wading, and technical rocky singletrack make average speeds much lower than the distance suggests. Riders capable of 150km days on hardpack regularly average 60-80km in the Highlands.

Midges are the subject of almost every trip report and not without reason. In calm conditions between May and August, they are genuinely debilitating. Wind is your friend. A midge net for your head is not optional — it is essential kit that experienced riders carry regardless of forecast.

The Scottish right to roam means camping anywhere is legal. Water is abundant. Resupply towns include Lochinver, Ullapool, and Inverness, each requiring short detours from the main line.