Had already decided that this is the year where I start exploring the hills again and had already done a 35miler before reading Dave’s Helvellyn blog. So last Fri I was meeting a couple of newish mates for a ride who have mentioned they would like to tag along on one of my “epics”

We met at Ae cafe & bike shop and set off from there. The plan being to ride through the forest/wind farm and then hike up and around Queensberry and descend to Burlywag bothy, down to Mitchellslacks and back to Ae. Turned into a 22ml hike`a bike including a fair bit of snow!!

A few snaps…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rqy2Mz]Queensberry epic Rad, Scott, John[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/rqy2ti]Queensberry epic Scott 2[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/r8YBP9]Queensberry epic Rab Scott6[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/r8YBsY]Queensberry epic Rab Scott11[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rqr9NP]Queensberry epic Scott 14[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Before laptop /page froze I was going to update/edit to say the first pic was reached via http://www.southofscotlandcountrysidetrails.co.uk/uploads/pdfs/HST_INF_ITT_020-Temporary-Diversion-of-Countryside-Trail.pdf
Exiting the forest at Pot of Ae

Good stuff Johnny Boy! Yer more than welcome to join us on any of our exploration rides this year, heading to borrowdale Yh in a few weeks, planning in knocking out the 4 passes on the Saturday, possibly ullock pike on the Sunday, would be mint to see ye there.

I’ve a wee hankering to try corserine ridge soon as well.

Last time I did the 3 passes I swore never again, bad cramp set in after Garburn and getting back to Staveley was agony 🙄
Only weekend I have free in March is 14/15th..

4 passes JH, over scafell way. I’m in lakes with the family that weekend, though I may sneak the bike in the car….. 😀

Nice one :o)

We’ve got the next one shot, should be going live soon…

Nobeerinthefridge – Member
4 passes JH, over scafell way. I’m in lakes with the family that weekend, though I may sneak the bike in the car…..

Tried some of that a few few years ago on a very wet and windy day, never again 🙄

Dave – Moderator
Nice one :o)

We’ve got the next one shot, should be going live soon…

Cheers. Seriously boggy up there but for now it is mostly frozen. Spotted another potential ride option down to the Daer Res which we could see from the top of the hill 😆

Previous ride a few weeks ago was a 35miler from home, door to door 😆 similar route but in the opposite direction.

Still need to fathom out where all the new roads built to accommodate the wind farm go to, still finding too many dead ends 🙄

Epic2

We have a few long distance walks around the area, D&G. Having talked about having a go at http://annandaleway.org/ I set off from home with a “plan” to ride the nearest section of the `Way up to Beattock and then back down to Dumfries via Ae forest. The only distance I Knew for certain was the 22ml from the top of the Squiggly Road nr Beattock back to Dumfries was 22ml through the forest and back road from Ae village(cafe & shop for coffee and cake :lol:)

10ml from homw near Templand I picked up the `Way which was a short forest section.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/raUCUR]P1030033[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

The `Way travels through a lot of farmland where you either need to go around the edges of fields or occasionally straight across. There are a few gates.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/rcBVLu]P1030061[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rrUpXS]P1030062[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Fair bit of boggy moorland!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ru67eg]P1030058[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Livestock.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/qxqbzK]P1030055[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Go right..
Next trip will come from the left…
[url=https://flic.kr/p/rucEZZ]P1030054[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Lunch stop.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ru7nCm]P1030051[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Overlooking the site of the Eden Festival on Raehills Est.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/qxqL6c]P1030047[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/rcDUo7]P1030043[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

End of the `Way above Moffat.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/rubPmF]P1030069[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

Last photo, battery died!!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/raS5XD]P1030074[/url] by john_henry_mtb, on Flickr

45ml round trip 😆