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I did Merrick last year.
Not much up top tbh, mostly sanitised and agrassy/muddy path to summit.
Although I hear there's a path not marked on map, heading north..
Bennachie near inverurie is s laugh. More of the same, steep, rocky. Sneaky lines if you look hard.
Anyone done tinto hill?
Tinto would be a good evening ride. A few friends have ridden it. They all rate it.
Troutwrestler
MacDhui is a classic and a favourite of mine. A real day out.
Cheers
Sanny
Bishop forest hill between Milton and shawhead, down to the quarry. My father in law maintains that theres a distinct rocky path. Many hills and forests around Nithsdale could hold surprises.
Also skoeoch hill from Irongray has a steep rocky path built by the covenanters.
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This was the view over Auchencairn Bay from the top of Screel Hill yesterday as the sun rose.
Nice, but not a Munro, eh?
*itching with the lack of snow at the moment*
Ace pic ahhhjrene, the views are one of the many reasons I head into the mountains... and I don't care what height it is 🙄
The Buchaille is not possible to ride 100% of the way, if you fancy it you had might aswell take in the exposure and do curved ridge as either way you will be carrying.
Nice, but not a Munro, eh?
indeed
Thread resurrection time 😀
Thread resurrection time! 😀
I was up Dreish and Mayar on Sunday on a perfect Spring day. I've written a ride report with pics which you can find by clicking on the link below. Hop you like it?
http://www.gmbc.org.uk/kilbo-path-and-jocks-road-biking-the-munros/
Two big mountains, two classic technical descents and a seriously steep and tech descent that's planned for a future return trip.
Now all I need is for the weather to be good this weekend for another cheeky adventure. The Inverar Horseshoe could be on the cards. 🙂
Cheers
Sanny
ahhhjrene - i only live round the corner from Skeoch how do you get up there?
pass it all the time on the raod bike but as theres nothing marked on the OS never thought to take the MTB up it
Will
Another fine day, another Munro. Schiehallion was the option for today as a bit of overnight snow made me decide to go for the easy option over the Inverar Horseshoe. Schiehallion is a fine descent. We reached the summit with less boulder hopping than I remembered from walking it and had great fun on the rocky traverse which became rideable several hundred metres of boulder hopping from the summit. A great little ride though a bit short for my liking. Worth doing for a quick big mountain hit. 😀
I was up Schiehallion recently (walking) and thought it wouldn't be worth taking the bike past the cairn at the top of the old path.
To be fair, after the cairn, on the way up it's a carry to the summit but on the way back just as you reach the first steep section, the jaggedy boulders are very rideable. It's loose and rocky but lots of fun as you pick a line through. The summit is only for the committed but I knew what to expect so the carry was worth it. 😀
And you should be for trying that! 😛Sanny - Member
The summit is only for the [b]committed[/b]
Ha! Ha!
It really wasn't that bad. Boulder hopping on Schehallion is pretty straightforward and besides, you can't say you've been to the top with the bike unless you've actually done it!
This thread must never die!
Today I made my excuses and abandoned work to do the Glen Strathfarrar Munros, 3 of them 8)
Totally knackered now and well tanned!
After a 20 minute drive I left the van at Struy then biked the 7.5 miles to the start of the climb. Nearly froze riding up the frosty glen at 7.30am. It was rather picheresk.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7021241359_b93fa4ac97.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/7021241359/ ]DSCF5676[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
At the start of the off road. The snowy peak in the middle is about half way round the planned route - this is a big day out!
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6875152884_f06675a4f9.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/6875152884/ ]DSCF5701[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Getting onto the first top is a huuuuge slog. Pushing all the way on grassy/heathery/slightly boggy slopes. This phot is from the summit looking along the ridge where I am heading for.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7021262771_75091c3385.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/7021262771/ ]DSCF5709[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
The downhills are almost all rideable, only the odd rocky step here and there which stopped me. I wasn't trying any heroics up a remote munro on a Tuesday in March. Never saw a soul all day.
This climb ahead is onto the peak you can see in the pic from the start of the climb. I was getting tired by now and looking at this prow was a bit daunting.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7021269141_541826e1b6.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/7021269141/ ]DSCF5721[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Looking West, very hazy now...
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/6875168452_97c112ce54.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/6875168452/ ]DSCF5729[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Looking back, now that's a downhill!
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/6875170842_f73c8ef57b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/6875170842/ ]DSCF5733[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Looking down the long final descent - the loch is about half way down.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6875173686_df13a15f64.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/6875173686/ ]DSCF5738[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
After the loch, the path turns into a very washed out landy track which was an absolute hoot.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7021281207_a209cc8130.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/7021281207/ ]DSCF5741[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
A fine day out. Anyone planninig this looking for a nice bivvy spot should seek out the old lead mine about 5 mins walk from the start of the climb. It's marked on the 25000 map.
I will definately be camping out here sometime soon.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6875148264_508deed1ef.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60407271@N04/6875148264/ ]DSCF5693[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60407271@N04/ ]LOVATSTOVES[/url], on Flickr[/img]
The ups were 100% pushing. The terrain is mostly good so the bike will roll along okay. There are two short boulder flields onto summits where I carried the bike. This was only about 30 mins total though.
The descents are all rideable except maybe around 150M of rock field in total.
9hrs 15 mins total, including a stop on the way down to soak my legs in the baltic river.
[url= http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map3_12ln.shtml ]the route[/url]
According to walkhighlands it is 4 munros. Bonus!
Bedmaker
You legend! I'd wondered about riding those. They are now on the list.
I'll see your 4 and raise you 7. Captain Mainwearing, my mate Donald and I decided to take advantage of the weather on Sunday and knocked out the seven munros on the Ben Lawers massif. It was a big day but a brilliant one at that. A really hard first summit and careful route choices on An Stuc were rewarded with some stunning views, top notch descents and some quality banter. The descents off of Ghlas, Lawers and An Stuc are ace.
Nice one, that sounds like a hoorovadayoot!
Ben Attow is next on the radar. Next Monday a possibility weather permitting as I'll be in Kintail with the family.
What a thread , more routes and ideas than I have time for. Ace 🙂 🙂 '
Ben Attow. There are some great route pics on Walkhighlands for that. I really fancy giving it a go.
I'm gutted only to have just found this thread, so awesome.
What about the 5th sister of Kintail? the other 4 are probably a bit too gnarly and shes not a munro but would be pretty fun to play around on and come back down by the burn ...?
Nice thread. I'd be very keen to hear about anything in the Loch Lomond area other than Ben Lomond. I've tried Ben Narnain which was a bit much for me. There were a lot of loose boulders which I didn't fancy riding as it was so cold and the consequences of injury could have been quite nasty. Very muddy in places too, lower down near the Cobbler.
Not a Munro either but Ben Venue looks good and I've ridden the Glen Ledard bit down from the track west of Creag a Bhealaich which is very nice (very rocky and rooty).
GiantJaunt, theres plenty around Ben Lomond area. Depends if you want monroes or not, as there's plenty of good descents in/around Aberfoyle Ben Ledi/Ben A'an are great starters..check out my post on the 1st page for a decent monroe
eat_more_cheese - Member
GiantJaunt, theres plenty around Ben Lomond area. Depends if you want monroes or not, as there's plenty of good descents in/around Aberfoyle Ben Ledi/Ben A'an are great starters..check out my post on the 1st page for a decent [s]monroe[/s][b]MUNRO[/b]!!!!
Sheesh!
:). Thanks. I've done some of the Aberfoyle stuff and walked Ben A'an but not had a look at Ben Ledi yet.
Well chuffed to see this thread active again! Rode Ben A'an and Dumyat yesterday which although not Munros are fun in their own way. Ben A'an was pretty hardcore and had to walk some bits, but was great to experience the techy nature of that in the morning and the all-out speed of Dumyat in the afternoon.
So, the big question - of all the places mentioned so far, which offer the toughest descents?
In the meantime a video of [url= http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/Joe-Barnes-Ben-Aan,8205/MTBCUT-tv,6 ]Ben A'an ridden by Joe Barnes.[/url]
Ben A'an is is not a Munro, either.....
bedmaker - how technical are the descents on your strathfarrar route? Am thinking it looks like the kind of thing my wife might enjoy as long as she doesn't have to push all of the downhills!
Another weekend, another few munros ridden. This time it was the Invervar horseshoe with an ex Royal Marines Commando Instructor. It was his first experience of biking in the mountains but he loved it. A great route as after the initial carry, subsequent carrys are short and the final descent is a joy!
As for tech, I rather fancy Corrie Fee off of Mayar. I carried up it a couple of weeks ago and I want to go back. Glas Alt Shiel off Lochnagar is lovely if you enjoy the techier side of things.
Ben Venue down to Forest Hills is ace. See www.gmbc.org.uk for a write up last week.
My favourite descent is probably off Beinn Ghlas and down the northern side. However, there are loads I've not ridden yet so there may be many more!
My favourite descent is probably off Beinn Ghlas and down the northern side
Really? I thought it was good, but only good....
Anyway, where are the pics of your Lawers epic?
Ben A'an is is not a Munro, either
Never said it was 🙄
decent monroeMUNRO!!!!
Guilty...sorry. Sir Hugh would never have accepted that!
Help needed to put the mountains into mountain biking - riding the [b][u]Munros[/u][/b]
Hi Matt
It's my current favourite descent of the past few rides I've done in terms of a little bit of everything. It's not the longest nor is it in any way very technical but combining the views with the flow of the trail and it's a lot of fun.
Of course, my favourite changes every week! 😀 The descent off the Invervar Horseshoe on Saturday was ace fun. It's too difficult to nail down one specific descent as there are so many good ones to choose from and so many more to explore.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55229898@N08/
A few pics on the Captain's Flickr account. There will be more once I send them to him to upload.
Cheers for the info re An Stuc. That worked out really well for us.
Just waiting for the right day to try the Ring of Steall. The video posted earlier in this thread has had me psyched to give it a go this Spring.
Sanny, which route did you take for the Lawers group? Impressive that you knocked 7 tops in an outing, I doth my cap sir. As soon as this snow melts I'll be following your trail. 😀
Help needed to put the mountains into mountain biking - riding the [b][u]Munros[/b][/u]
Sorry, forgot you couldn't give advice on this forum 🙄
Hi eat more cheese
We headed up Lawers Burn onto the first munro. It's a bit of a brutal carry as there is little path to speak of onto the first summit. After that, the track is easy to follow. An Stuc is the only real problem as we dropped down into the bowl to the north to take the bypass path to come round and up onto the summit as opposed to the grade 1 / 2 scramble. The path had a heavily corniced snow section so we dropped down further into the glen for super safety.
The path onto Meall Corranaich is a steep carry up and down. The exposure was just too high to try and ride down it to the bealach so we didn't bother and walked for a few minutes. We took the path round the back of Beinn Ghlas and it is mint! If you want the highlights, I'd say try Ghlas, Lawers and possibly An Stuc as well.
Oh and seeing as I started this thread, I don't care if you say munro or monroes or whatever. 😆 Oh and if we want to talk smaller hills, that's fine by me too! It's my ball and everyone can play!
We would have done Meall nan Tarmachan too if we hadn't started to run out of light as both my mate Donald and I felt pretty fresh. One for another day.
Wow some beautiful scenery you're seeing there. Very jealous!
grade 1 / 2 scramble
When you say grade 1/2 scramble, do you mean the main path from Meall Garbh to An Stuc? We followed this at the weekend, was interesting as there had just been a fresh fall of wet snow so everything was a bit wet and slippy.
The only reason I ask is that I'm still trying to figure out what grade I'm comfortable at, only have the Stuc a'chroin 'scramble' and the Ben Alder Long Leachas to compare with so far (oh, and the Tarmachan ridge 'scrambly bit' but we descended it so it was really just a bum scoot).
Has anyone ever looked at Slioch? Its been a good while since I climbed it but from what I remember I think it might be almost all ridable, and pretty spectacular..
Whilst not a Munro, The Merrick is well worth a ride. 3 of us had a dawn raid on it this morning - on the summit at 2700 feet for 9.30am!. Cracking descent, Starts off wide, wet and lumpy, turns to fast and loose chipped, then a lakeland style rocky-tech-bridleway type section through the trees. The final section from Culsharg bothy is really technical, off and on the bike lots.
Excellent winch and plummet, then back in time for a backshift 👿
I'll post up some pics tomorrow.
Right then, I need a little bit of help please oh knowledgeable brothers from the land of heavenly trails...
Off up to Scotland for a full-on tech-fest of a weekend next week and have a day on the itinerary to fill. We're staying at Culdees Bunkhouse on the North side of Loch Tay near to Kenmore and so far have 3 of the 4 days planned. They are:
Ben Lawers
Ben A'an & Ben Vorlich
Ben Lomond
Can anyone offer any advice on what we can do to fill the currently unfulfilled day? I have been keeping tabs on this thread and have noticed Schiehallion mentioned and it is not too far a drive from where we're staying - is it worth a look? Is is enough for one day or will we need to combine it with something else? Any other hills within a 1-1.5hr vicinity that are worth considering?
Thanks!
Culdees? Have you stayed there before?