Beinn a'Ghlo – over the tops

Started at the usual carpark, and pedalled up Glen Tilt. It is years since I was here – 1998 to be precise – and the experience this time was ace. Sun, wind at your back. I felt strong. In 1998 it had been wet/snowy, headwind and a heavy 50lt rucksack on my back after a nights cr*p sleep in a tent that leaked.
I had already thought that if things were not favourable (i.e. me not up for it) I would just do a round of the valleys via Loch Loch / Glen Loch. However, my first break was at the bridge of decision where the Allt Fheannach spilled down…and I chose up. It was sunny, what’s the worst that could happen? I could see a faint stalkers track zig sagging up, and headed off to find it.
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
The track quickly headed up and the bike was on my shoulders for an hour. Awesome singletrack descent…DrJon has done it, and although steep, is a doozy. It is now on *the list*.
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
The top of the Meall a’Mhuiric was lunch stop no.1. Great view to the Cairngorms. Some intermittent riding along flatter bits and lovely stony singletrack.
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
A further carry to the top of Carn nan Gabhar, with a few bits of riding. A few incredulous walkers…
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
The rattle down the superb rocky descent was interrupted in a lovely way – someone shouting ‘are you Matt?’ – it was athgray of this parish 😀 The bottom got steep, and I had a few moments overcooking turns. It was only at the bottom I realised that my brakes had faded (Juicy 3’s) and just were not offering as much power as normal…they did smell a *tad* hot ….
At the bottom of the belach I got serious cramp as soon as I started the ascent of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, so a slow climb with the bike on shoulders at times was called for, with lots of stretching stops. I guzzled all my water here thinking that might help. An Opsrey flew by, enjoying the breeze. A super spot on the top to admire the ridge I climbed and descent down.
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
The drop down off here was steep, rocky and twisty. I had one missed corner / off and added a couple of scratches to the cranks 😕
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
At the bottom of Beinn Mhaol I felt knackered – and broke into emergency food rations for one of them new-fangled energy bars. And a 10 minute lie down. It was a head game to head up the initial steep climb for the final summit of Carn Liath – it was only a couple of km/200m climb, but it was sooo tempting to head down the Corrie in to the Allt Coire Lagain with all the walkers, it looks decent singletrack.

I had the last bit to myself – no-one visible on the other hills, a lovely pedal up the rocky ridge and a last 50m push to the summit. Great. Three munros in the bag, now time to get off safely.
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
The energy gel had worked, but the drop off Carn Liath was steep, rocky, loose and in my tired state, not good…I had a couple of offs, sliding the front wheel off corners. I took to the heather and fall-lined it down – much gripper and more straightforward, despite being so steep.
I was glad to reach the bottom on one piece – a few rocky sections caught me out with the brakes unable to stop me or slow me down properly.
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
A lovely spin down the last bit of track, and an ace descent down the road to the carpark. A win of a day.

[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[/url]Beinn a’Ghlo munro’s by bike[/url] by matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr

34km and 1780m of climb and descent, about 6 hours

Mountains, bikes, decent weather – looks rubbish.
Get yourself onto a damp trail centre to repent – we don’t need your sort around here! 😉

*anticipates pics from Sunday’s adventure.

Have you had that beer Matt? I walked down the stalkers path you climbed. It was a brutal hike down Glen Tilt to the bike at Clachghlas. Good day though. Glad you got off ok.

Beer and curry consumed. Aftersun applied. It was an aced day.

I bet walking back down the valley was tough – we should have swapped bikes!

Wow, hard day out! Looks great.

Thanks for posting. Looks ace. Need to get back up there.

I love an old school epic. Great pics.

Scotland is the best trail centre in the UK, hands down.

What a day! Nice one 🙂

Brilliant

Thanks for posting

Tony Wilkinson will like that plug for Sanderson

Yeah, I only run one ‘superbike’, rather than a fleet. 😆

Great stuff. I decided to walk these last year as the bike wasn’t in the best of nick on the day (those that know me might ask ‘is it ever?’). I was so glad of that decision as I would have ridden the same way I walked – which would have been soul destroying on the boggy path back on the east side. It was bad enough without a bike.

That initial stalkers path is quite well hidden but good in equal measure. Ace photos, you look like you’ve had a good day out in the last self portrait 🙂

Ooooh! The stalkers path descent sounds like one to try although I really like the rocky loose descent you went down. Oddly, it’s good in the wet as the water tends to bind the rocks or at least, it felt like it did when I rode it.

Great pics and write up!

Looks cracking