Charlie and the Magic of Glen Mhor Estate

We caught up with Charlie, our man on-site at Glen Mhor. Charlie is in charge of all the logistics and smooth running of the Glen Mhor Estate and is looking forward to welcoming the small gang of test riders this September in preparation for the full-scale launch next year.

GN: Tell us about Glen Mhor – what makes it so special, and what keeps you here?

Charlie: Glen Mhor is such a special place, and it’s hard to put into words the stunning beauty that mother nature has provided for us up here. To me it’s one of the last remaining unspoilt landscapes in the UK. The sheer scale of the Scottish Highlands provides a dramatic backdrop to our 4,000 acres. There’s always something new, something to see, but at the same time the peace and tranquility are simply unbeatable.

GN: What are your thoughts about bringing riders to this place?

Charlie: I think it’s a good thing. Traditionally, the Highlands have been all about deer stalking and other traditional outdoor pursuits but gravel riding brings an entirely new dimension. Fundamentally, if we want to keep places like this thriving, we have to embrace new sports and new visitors and I am really excited that so many people are going to get to experience Glen Mhor at its stunning best – in September.

GN: How are you going to play host to the riders?

Charlie: We have plenty of space and facilities here. We also have our own gravel road climb which (I’m no cyclist) I’m told is going to be a highlight for the riders but I must admit, 6k and getting on for 400m of climb and around 7% gradient all the way up doesn’t sound like much fun to me. It’s tough even to drive the landrover up! In terms of other stuff, thanks to Mr Musk we have Starlink up here and there’s a shop in the village which serves one of the best haggis pies I’ve ever tasted!

GN: What is the gravel riding like around Glen Mhor?

Charlie: Well there’s lots of quite rough stuff, and also plenty of smoother estate roads, forest tracks and suchlike. We are in the shadow of Bealach na Ba here and so everything is pretty steep as well. Some of the glens have truly amazing routes through them, albeit often these are very remote – I hope everyone knows how to fix a flat tyre without much help! I know that down towards the Isle of Skye there are lots of amazing gravel roads as well and I’m sure they will all be incorporated into the event – I don’t have much to compare it to to be completely honest but the riders should come prepared for a real adventure.

GN: Finally, what advice would you give the riders?

Charlie: Like I said I’m no bike rider, so I can’t say much on that. But the riders should come prepared for all weather and a real mixture of terrain. Anything can happen up here. It should be OK but in a tent it will get cold. We are at sea level but the nights can still get quite chilly that time of year. I would also strongly advise midge repellent and a midge hood – they can be truly awful in the height of summer. Hopefully by September the worst will be well and truly behind us but you never know! If we have excellent weather I’d recommend a pair of swimming trunks since our little loch makes for a wonderful mid-afternoon dip on sunny days!