"The future is not a spectator sport" Jeremy Lent, Web of Meaning​
The 2024 edition has unfortunately been cancelled (28/8/2024) due to logistics issues,
​but we'll be back again in 2025... dates to come

overview

A long weekend of tree planting and biodiversity conservation with a pretty long cycle in the middle
Bikes, Bees & Trees Rally:
  • Start: morning on Friday 20 September, Dumyat, Stirling
  • End: lunchtime on Monday 23 September, Glenaros, Mull [with ferry connection to Oban]

After a brilliant inaugural edition in 2023, we are back for a party paced exploration of the Scottish highlands. You will be tasked with carrying out conservation work at two fantastic sites, connected by a >200km gravel ride. As per normal, there are no ride leaders or support. 

​​​Key objectives:
  • Contribution to nature restoration and discuss how land is managed in the UK
  • Brainstorm session to steer the future direction of self-supported riding and sustainability
  • Opportunity to ride and chat with people you’re normally racing against

Itinerary overview:
  • Friday will be spent at Dumyat Estate, a 480ha area of land near Stirling, where we’ll assist with reforestation and biodiversity projects on the site.
  • Saturday will be spent cycling to Mull. It’s a rally not a race, set off when you'd like, but you’ll want to make it onto Mull for a Saturday evening sat by the fire.
  • Sunday will be spent at Glenaros Estate on Isle of Mull where we'll get stuck into removing invasive species and looking at peatland restoration. Second night around the fire and on Sunday evening.
  • Monday, good breakfast, followed by some remaining tasks before packing up and heading back to civilisation.

entry

Tickets will be required to cover the costs of hosting the event and will be available on a first-come first served basis... until then you can also sign-up to the Strava event - here
Who's it for?
  • Anyone interested in long-distance cycling and doesn't mind getting their hands dirty

What’s included?
  • Conservation tools (saws, spades etc)
  • Friday afternoon pre-cycle food at Dumyat Estate
  • Saturday & Sunday evening dinner and night camping at Glenaros (Isle of Mull)
  • Sunday & Monday morning breakfast
 
What do you need to bring?
  • Sturdy shoes you’re happy to plant trees and walk on steeper slopes with. These can also be your cycling shoes….just don’t turn up in road cleats
  • Gloves, you may be using saws, spades etc
  • Warm stuff and food (except Fri aft, Sat&Sun night and Sun&Mon morning)
  • Camping gear - bivvy or tent

This event is being run in collaboration with ​The Future Forest Company - who are they?
  • ​The Future Forest Company is a private company managing 11 sites across Scotland covering over 2,800 ha. Their mission is to plant enough trees to remove 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2030. They plant native, broadleaf trees on our UK sites to create thriving habitats for wildlife.
  • This isn’t the only way to achieve these objectives, but they’re keen to share what they do to inspire thought and conversation. Oh and it helps that their forest manager is a keen ultra-distance cyclist and GBDURO alum.

itinerary

This isn’t a school trip or guided tour. But on privately managed sites we do need to take health and safety seriously. The Future Forest Company will have risk assessments in place for practical work on site. All cycling is entirely at your own risk. 
  
A full itinerary will be provided when tickets go live.  

Route

  • We recommend riding our ~230km mixed road and gravel route, but of course feel free to plot your own course to Glenaros
  • Originally we'd planned to approach Mull from the north but the Corran Ferry is out for several weeks so have re-planned
  • The route is now available to download below
Download to your GPS device prior to the trial
​Navigate to this page on your mobile, then download KMZ file (you may then need to unzip it by using a File Manager app), and then open in Maps.me app to use as backup navigation