Forum menu
me and mrs t are heading up to Aberfoyle for a few days in Oct, we usually head a bit further north to Aviemore, but fancied a change.
i have ridden through the Trossachs in the past, but never spent time riding the area.
looking for some nice pottering routes up to 40ish miles.
like the look of Loch Katrine and possibly riding around it.
any info greatly appreciated.
What days? If you're up for some fellow potterees, mrs_oab and I are local.... Pm me.
Katrine loop - it's mainly tarmac/ all tarmac, but don't let that put you off. It's also hillier than you might expect. Best clockwise....
There's some really, really nice pedals more Aberfoyle - Gravelfoyle site has good routes from locals. https://www.gravelfoyle.com/waymarked-routes
There's also lovely riding Calender - Lochearnhead - Killin and return. 95% off road trails too. One of our autumnal favourites....
Oh and you *have* to go to Archray farm for home made foraged ice cream.... https://achrayfarm.co.uk/icecream/
A circuit of the loop at Glen Finglas may be worth considering.
A circuit of the loop at Glen Finglas may be worth considering.
Lovely though that circuit is, it's not pottering so much as challenging....
Have a look on my Strava, today’s one had a lovely variation in the first half which was quite flat.
Lovely though that circuit is, it's not pottering so much as challenging
Indeed, one person's potter is another person's challenge 😃
We did it (clockwise) years ago on a blistering hot day - never to be forgotten 😀
Thr other classic in the area (and a change of scene from Gravelfoyle) is up and over from Callendar to Comrie via Glen Artney. A nice scenic doubletrack but with a steep tarmac climb out of Callendar.
From Conrie you can follow the lovely and relatively quiet road over Langside Moor, drop into Braco, check out the extensive remains of a Roman Fort, grab coffee then take the much more gentle gravel climb out of Braco up to the Braes of Doune windfarm. Plummet back down to the old railway and follow it back into Callendar.
60km I believe but with three relatively substantial climbs, so perhaps not a potter. Lots of coffee stops though 😎
^ my issue with Komoot in the area is:
- it's significantly influenced by riders who bang out 120km off-road changes each day
- it's significantly influenced by visitors who don't know the good routes
- it self generates routes, which include sending people up the A84 or A811 which are literally lethal for bikes...
I did a lovely figure of eight loop last October. Colours were amazing and is was very still so everything was reflected in the lochs as well. There was some detours as I headed north due to felling I think and if I was doing it again I wouldn't go as far west before turning back.
That was about 70km and 5000ft of climbing. Takes you near the ice cream place and you can refuel in Aberfoyle.
That was about 70km and 5000ft of climbing. Takes you near the ice cream place and you can refuel in Aberfoyle.
Lovely though that circuit is, it's not pottering so much as challenging....
Indeed, it's getting on for forty years since I last did it but the name still strikes fear into me!
Start with the 3 main loops on the Gravelfoyle page - Lomond, Aqueduct, Fairie. Theres quite a few boards in aberfoyle, and one on the main street next to the Foth Hotel. The trails are waymarked. Them have a look at Kerry MacPhees Komoot Collection for others (short/long/easy/hard)