I'm planing to do a slight variation on the "normal" Glen Muick circuit in that I fancy missing out the Moulzie - Bachnagairn section and instead head up Glen Doll, up the Jocks Rd zig-zags and then across and down to Bachnagairn bridge via the (fantastically named) Glittering Skellies. I've walked over Jocks Rd before and so I know what to expect - but has anyone biked the Glittering Skellies path? Any views on it and especially the descent to Bachnagairn?
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Why I'd like to ride Jock's Rd
Glittering skellies looked a bit daunting last time i looked at it (but that was december a few years ago and i was contemplating trying to get a kid with cerebal palsy over it).
I'm interested in how you get on. Is it possible to link into what is a great bit of singletrack at capel mounth? If so very interested in how you get on.
Kevonakona - yes, the idea is to get down to Bachnagairn Bridge, up and over to Loch Muick via Coire Chash descent and then the Capel Mounth (including it's incredible descent) back to my starting point at Glen Doll...
So what is Jocks road like as a ride? I'm planning on riding from Braemar to Ballater in the Spring via Jocks road so would appreciate a heads up on what to expect. Hikey bikey doesn't put me off but it would be good to hear from someone with first hand experience.
I saw the trail you mean (Glittering Skellies) accross the Glen from the top of Corrie Chash a couple of weeks ago. It didn't look too technical from a distance but up close could be different.
Cheers
Sanny
Sanny, we did the whole Jocks Road thing from the Braemar side/A93 turn off to Glendoll Lodge as the last day of a 3 day Loch Muick and beyond circuit. What I remember of this was,
Auchallater to Loch Callater, no probs. Loch Callater N side singletrack, v nice. S side road a lot faster but dull.
From the end of the loch, a combination of pushing and carrying after about 1k of singletrack including the Scottish Rain Gully Bunnyhop Challenge, where the looser gets pinchflats. This bit was a bit dissappointing as we had hoped to ride it. At the end of Glen Callater, have a rest by the fingerpost and contemplate the almost 350m vertical ascent ahead. Its not a bad carry, the ground is good for zigzags and it didnt take too long.
Off the top its a great ride in open ground to the start of the descent to the shelter high up in Glen Doll. We did think about going round to Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn but it was late in the day.
The descent past the shelter is great, loads of jiggy bits and a top way to finish. Could pick up the Glittering Skellies path as an option before the descent. Again this is what we had hoped as our car was in Braemar..... couldnt face the hike a bike back up to Corrie Chash and had been offered a lift to Braemar....
It was great though, exactly what biking Scotland's natural trails is all about really
HTH
Rickmeister - that's some good information, thanks. By the sounds of things, my memory is working in that the path from Glen Doll up as far as the wee shelter ("Davie's Howf" if memory serves) is in good nick - I've always fancied it as a climb on the bike - so we'll see how it goes on Friday when I give it a go....
Swello, I have some pics, I will try to dredge them out.... Thats one techy climb me thinks....
Here you go, there near the end...
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/musselburghbikers/sets/72157605021095704 ]Circuit from Glen Doll[/url]
Thanks for the Photos - the photos of Jocks Rd just encourage me 🙂 I know it will be a techy climb - but I fancy the challenge as the alternative route is a fairly long carry anyway...It looks like a great descent route though - must fit that into a route sometime....
Good effort, looking forward to hearing about it..