[Closed] Ben Arthur / Beinn Narnain

Narnain and the Cobbler are a bit steep to ride, it would be mostly hike a bike. They are a good walk though.

The Glen Loin loop and Ardgarten Circuit are worthwhile local rides. Glen Loin goes around Narnain and has a belting singletrack descent. Ardgarten is mostly fire road but has fine views.

EDIT, Ben Lomond has some rideable uphill sections and is a big old descent. It is often busy with walkers at the weekend but far quieter during the week.

If you leave the carpark at the head of Lough Long and wiggle up onto the forest track that runs parallel with the A83 it loops right round the back of Beinn Narnain and stops in Gleann Leacann Sheileach. Leave your bike here locked to a tree.

Iirc its a bit of a bog fest up to the paths on the Bealach a Mehaim but you can access both peaks from there.

I came back down that route in the dark with no lights. Probably the most fun ride I have done.

It's a nice hike. Quite a few people take a bike down from the summit of the Cobbler, it's far to difficult for me though. Most people will just ride and push up the main path to Bealach a'Mhaim and then start the descent from there. It's a great track but do it early or late in the day when it's least busy. This can be combined with the Glen Loin loop for a longer ride.

I've never seen anyone taking a bike down Narnain. Beinn Ime is popular enough though. Ben Lomond isn't far away and is a popular descent.

To be honest Ben Lomond on a Bank Holiday weekend would IMHO be a bit of a nightmare, with lots of daytrippers it is very close to Glasgow and popular for a reason, it is a classic ride though, the cobbler will also be rammed to the gunnels, from the bealach is the route of choice.

PS. if you just want a classic high mountain walk,  a great horseshoe/ traverse is Narnain by the south ridge, Imme, Cobbler, if you are feeling less energetic just Narnain and the cobbler crossing the bealach, this route would be less busy.

Still a fair bit of snow on the summits when I was out on Sunday looking across from the Campsies.

Ben Lomond is ace. Hike up, ride down - I did a route guide for the mag a few years back.

Narnain and Ime - only ever ridden them in the snow with ice tyres on. They were a hoot and finish with The Cobbler descent. I really like The Cobbler from the saddle down. Never ridden from the summit - either too icy or on the drop bar bike so not ideal for the stone steps. Must revisit it soon.

They are big mountains so prepare accordingly. Plan your kit so that if you have an off, you are warm and dry and could survive a night out on the hills in the cold. Not trying to scare you off but it is easy to come a cropper up there. Better to be cosy in your bothy shelter than shaking like a shi#ing dog from the cold!

cheers

sanny

Sanny while you are on here! What do you know about the ridgeline descent on Beinn an Lochain, have walked there a few times over the years but can't really remember how ridable it would be.

Be aware the upper slopes of Ben Lomond still have an extensive covering of snow on them, with more falling over the next few days. I’d imagine Arrochar being similar.

Fergal

Not ridden it but looks like I may now have to! Looks interesting and was once a Munro too!

Cheers

Sanny

Ben Ime is a bit of a big from the top to the bealach, and Narnairn is hard down to the level of the bealach. I think the cobbler is the most rideable, I'd ride down to the bealach, head south on the fun swoopy trail and then just before the tree line head left and take the next descent on the right which is the track with a pipeline going down it.

Lots of valid points, forget BL or the Cobbler on a bank holiday, unless it's late. Cobbler brilliant wee run from Bealach down, less so from the summit unless you like really steep unrelenting steps, Narnain would be shite, never done Ime.

Thanks all sorry taken me awhile to get back.

Quite likely be riding post Easter Monday to avoid the crowds. Should have mentioned the walk will be with the family so if it's straight forward paths/trails which it looks like it is that's great.

Thanks Sanny for the advice.

So Cobbler from Bealich down and Ben Lomond hike a bike and all the way down. Would you say Ben Lomond comparable to something like Snowdon then?

Aye, pretty much, it's all rideable really bar one steep slab near the woods at the bottom IIRC.

I really liked Ime and Narnain but the snow meant we could pick any line down we wanted.

Ben Lomond would be my choice.

Thanks Munro think I found a video on YT

Beinn an Lochain north ridge? I walked it a few times years ago. Seem to remember the bottom half being pretty steep and a step halfway up needing a wee traverse off then back onto the ridge. Wouldn't think it would be a great ride.

As already said the main path into the bealach is a short but ok ride and then a few trails in the forest that's on trail forks which are pretty good but short.Ime is not too bad in the bike just straight blast down, Cobbler is hard going down with lots of steep steps, Narnain is not too bad either on the bike there's a new path built which is ok but hike a bike to get onto the summit.

Having taken the bike onto being an lochan ridge can say it's not really worth it.Small sections we're rideable then had to carry or push but someone of more talent might ride more of it.