Right, I'm staying up in the Trossachs for a week next weekend, and we're gonna be literally half a mile from the car park to the north of Ben Venue. I've watched a couple of videos, and had a look on Trailforks and it looks like it might be worth a blast, probably early in the morning or in the evening. Sounds like the very top is a scramble, but I'm not fussed about that.
It's not a biking trip but I will have a bike with me - I was going to take my gravel bike but actually if I can do a mountain (and have the option to slope off up Ben Lomond if the opportunity arises) then that's definitely preferable. I can always use the MTB to potter around on anyway.
Anyone ridden Ben Venue? Looks like a fairly built track, so I shouldn't be tearing it up if it's a bit wet.
Granted sometimes helmet cam makes descents look a bit shite.
But that looks shite. 🙂
Go to Ben Lomond, or Ben Ledi.
Gravel group ride on Saturday starting from Aberfoyle, sorry that doesn't answer your Ben Venue question but the route does a bit of the Ben Venue approach 😉
http://www.albannach.cc/makegravelgreatagain/
Cheers @cosmokramer that looks rather nice - but as I'll have the Mrs and 5 month old in tow I can't really commit to anything really long or any specific times, it'll be a case of grabbing the bike when it suits.
@Nobeerinthefridge point taken, but believe me when you live in Hull and rarely get to ride more than half an hour's drive from home your standards take something of a hit.
That said Ben Ledi looks like it could be a do, if I get the time - looks like I could head up the Glen Finglas road to Stuc Dhudh then Ben Ledi and Kilmahog. That looks like a grand day out.
I'm gonna keep Ben Venue as an option though, reckon I could knock it out in a couple of hours or so, which makes it easy to squeeze in. I've done Ben Lomond before and would happily do so again (it's bloody ace) but it's an hour drive to get there, which takes a much bigger chunk out the day. You never know though...
Never cycled Ben Venue, but ran it plenty of times. Two obvious routes:
1) From Loch Ard: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map2_25ll.shtml Probably less suited to bikes at the start through the woods due to narrow paths and undergrowth, but once you get onto the hillside the ridge route is stunning and such good singletrack.
2) From Loch Achray: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map2_23ll.shtml Gravel forest path all the way to around 2,000ft, with the final section the same as the first route. Less singletrack, and probably less fun overall, but a very quick way to get up high!
Enjoy, such a great hill, and the views are awesome.
Ah nuts, just done a bit of googling and I've got it the wrong way around - I thought the Loch Achray track was the interesting one, and the Loch Ard track was potentially horribly boggy. Looks like it's the other way round!
If I do it it'll be from Loch Achray, it's about 10 miles from where we're staying (over the Dukes Pass) to the bottom of the Loch Ard descent which makes it less of a quick 'n' easy option.
Quick way to get high and good views works for me though to be fair!
