The family and I are staying on the NW shore of Loch Fyne for May half term. Our eldest, (10yrs) did the red at Glentress comfortably at Easter, our youngest(7yrs) competently managed spooky woods and the two sections below it, but needed some help on the ups. So, is there any good riding we could do as a family where we are going?

Thanks for your help.

Get a map. Auchendrain to loch awe and back. (emphasis on the drain, river crossings)
Fire tower trail at lochgilphead is glentressy.
Three Lochs way
loads of forest road loops over near crinan loch sween. Not technical but scenic.

Auchindrain is a bit much to be asking kids of that age to do tbh, Firetower trail is okay, but if they are expecting GT, they’ll be disappointed. Not much else around there though.

Firetower trails is the nearest you’ll get to trail centre action. There’s a couple of trails starting at Ardgarten car park, then across the road following bike trail-head over to Arrochar via the zig zag descent for cake and back via the glen loin/succoth climb, to rejoin track at top of zig zag descent. Prob 5-6km’s worth-can easily be extended by doing the Glen Loin loop, but that involves a hefty forest road climb

Look up the Glen Loin loop if you fancy a technical challenge for the kids (and a couple of bits of walking) – we did it a couple of weeks back: https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/sets/72157651604707439/
The classic Ardgarten loop also has some shorter bits and out and back.
There is lots of riding above Inveraray, IIRC there is an active local club.

None of it is Glentress marked, or graded. It is 90% natural and hard work.

thanks for sharing ideas guys. We live in the Lakes so quite used to ‘natural’ riding – I just put the GT stuff in to give an idea of ability level. How long did the Glen Loin Loop take?