Overlander: Bikepacking coast to coast across the heart of the Highlands

by Alan Brown

"Sensitive, personal and culturally informed." Andy Wightman MSP

Seeking a temporary escape from city life and a world gone mad, Alan Brown plots out a personal challenge: an epic coast-to-coast trip through the wild and lonely interior of the Highlands. He traverses paths historic and new, eschewing creature comforts and high-tech cycle gear, trusting his (mostly) serviceable bike. Armed with the essentials and a sense of adventure and curiosity, he discovers more about nature, history, people, his country, the concept of risk, and himself, than he ever thought possible.

Alan traces a route from Argyll’s Loch Etive across remote Rannoch Moor, dramatic Grampian terrain and the beautiful glens of Strathspey to reach the Moray Firth at Findhorn. Ready for all weathers and obstacles, he succumbs to the hypnotic daily routine of ride, eat, sleep, repeat. He’s savouring the landscapes, the wildlife and the solitude, and relishing the self-reliance. He is also picking up clues to past lives, and discovering how the land has been altered by industry, game sports and, sometimes, conserved for wildlife and trees. It’s a route where Alan gets to spend time with nature and himself, where he takes his time, wild camping under the stars, on a journey of discovery in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 29, 2019

About the author

Alan Brown was brought up in Aberdeen and studied environmental and physical chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. He then worked as a research chemist, a translator in France, and a freelance programmer.

Reviews

[Sunnysidepete · Rating 5 out of 5]

With my cycling days over, this was the next best thing. I felt that I was riding both the beautiful and barren glens and passes, accompanying a man in tune with his bike and nature on his journey. The bothies and tents felt so cosy and comfortable. The cold-hearted feeling of loneliness whilst riding through the Gaick Pass and the risk of lying injured in such a remote area, was so vividly described. You've got to love a man who has no truck with modern prima donnas when he says in a heavy Highland downpour "A bit of rain is not gonna kill ya."

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An heroic adventure that many would be too scared to take on. It's sad to see the land being wrecked in the pursuit of dumb animal shooting by the wealthy classes especially when the owners have their companies registered in offshore tax havens, but still seem to be able to collect £100,000s per year in state handouts. Nonetheless an interesting read for the cycling, the all too rare people and the challenges.

[Claire Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read this book over a few days I now want to get out and explore our beautiful country on my bike and on foot. A book that describes well both the scenery of Scotland and the issues with land use that tarnish some of the best landscapes there is.

[Kim Threadgall Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice enjoyable read however, I didn't like his attitude that he seemed to be something special and above everyone else at times for doing what he did. Bike packing for a week isn't 'extreme' but great trip to do and it certainly affected his life for the better.

[Gráinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book. Enjoyable read. Makes me want to get out on my bike more.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written travelogue, enjoyed this read. Solidly researched, with nature and social history interwoven to provide a fuller picture as we follow the author on his off-road adventure.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coast to coast cycle trip across Scotland that’s both inspiring and thought provoking. A great read.

[Ewan · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than just a description of a cycle ride, this is a celebration of what’s out there to be enjoyed.

I liked all the bits which went off on a tangent about the history of a particular path or gave views on how the countryside might be looked after better.

A memorable read; I’ll never look at a plastic bottle quite the same way again...