Cycling with GCN to the most remote pub in the UK

The UK’s most remote pub certainly lives up to its billing. The Old Forge Pub in the Scottish Highlands is accessible only by sea ferry, a 30km hike or as we now know, by bike! As far as we are aware, GCN’s own James ‘Hank’ Lowsley-Williams and Mark Beaumont have become the first cyclists to ever undertake the 75km off-grid route from Fort William to Inverie and pay a visit to the pub.

Always the man for such an adventure, Hank ignored the locals’ advice of arriving by ferry or helicopter and instead teamed up once again with his travel buddy and record-breaker, Mark Beaumont. The Scottish ultra-endurance rider has quickly become a dab hand at conquering GCN’s epic adventures and this time around he could feel at ease on home roads. Although that is not strictly true, because there are no roads…

Remarkably, as well as no phone service and no street lights, there are no roads leading to The Old Forge either. In their usual daring spirit, such a hiccup would not deter Hank and Mark, who forged their own trail through the Scottish wilderness on an enjoyable gravel exploit.

There may be 46,800 pubs in the UK and millions of customers who pass through their doors, but we feel pretty confident in suggesting that no customers have gone to greater lengths to order a pint than our two adventurers. Over 75km and 1,201m of climbing, Hank and Mark pick their way through the Knoydart Peninsula and are reduced to carrying their bikes on multiple occasions, such was the remote nature of their journey. You can check out how the pair got on in our latest video on the Global Cycling Network YouTube channel.

Is this the world’s toughest pub ride?