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Soooo, I was supposed to be riding the west highland way again in Easter, but my buddy can't make it, so I looked for a short alternative to do for a few days starting from the central belt. I came across the John Muir way, it's 134 miles, but pretty flat. I am thinking that it should be doable in a couple of days, has anyone riden it?
Failing that, does anyone have any good little bikepacking routes starting centrally? Maybe something down towards the tweed valley or something?
Ta
Should be doable in one day?
CX bike would be ideal
Cross bike. West to east. Wind assisted. One day.
One day on the CX was my thinking 🙂 Might need to do a few 100 milers first though.
One day would be a blast, but wanting to take it a bit easy, besides I don't have a cx bike anymore, looking at doing it on a rigid 29er. Mmmm. I could borrow one....
Rigid 29er would be fine. Ridden almost all of it at various times. Most of the climbing is at the very start. A longish day would be both doable and enjoyable. If you want to do two days, I would suggest staying in Edinburgh to make for a sedate second day. Alternatively, why not go to Edinburgh on Day 1 then ride the Fife Coastal Path on Day 2?
just do Dunbar to Helensburgh on a roadbike. none of the off-road bits are interesting terrain
Off-road bike packing towards the Tweed Valley?
[url= https://fearlessandunique.wordpress.com/capital-trail/ ]what about this?[/url]
Interested by the road bike comment. I have to admit to really liking the trails over on the east coast. Nothing technical but some really nice flowy stuff and big scenery around Gullane and North Berwick. On the west coast, there are several alternative routes you can enjoy such as adding in the Kilpatricks or just sticking to the normal route that includes the Blane valley past Dumgoyne Distillery. For me, it's all about the journey and there is an awful lot of interesting stuff to see en route.
Yeah, there is that Sanny.. it's still all about the terrain or the speed for me though I'm afraid. Plus nice as they are, I've seen all of East Lothian's trails and views far too many times to ever see them as interesting anymore.
Do you ever bring a normal mtb over? next time you're at Coastkid HQ we should meet up and we could show you some inland E.L. trails, mibbie stop at the local distillery or a nice wee local pub.
What's wrong with the WHW? It's different ridden North to South and I find the logistics work a lot better as you can get the last train up and not have to worry about bike reservations on the way back from Milngavie.
Last train up and start riding straight away, and you can bivi en route to Kinlochleven, then get a couple of decent days back to Milngavie.
WHW is great, but I have done it. John Muir just appealed as the in laws live half way on it, so if I did a two dayer I would have free accommodation.
Hi Mtbel
That makes sense. I really like the stuff away from the coast in EL. Coastkid has shown me a lot of the non beach stuff which I really enjoy. Will be in touch.
Cheers
I'm doing this in a a day with a mate in May. 134 miles will be a test.
If you want to consider alternatives then maybe the Rob Roy Way might suit. It's all pretty easy riding but it is quite a journey. I did it last year by getting the first train to Milngavie and riding the first section of WHW to Drymen where the RRW starts. I got the last train home from Pitlochry but it was a bit of a dash as I did fanny about a bit on route. I did make up just enough time for a quick pint before the train. It's a good route with some short cut options. Top tip: if it's been wet then take the sustrans route from Aberfoyle past Loch Drunkie down to Loch Venachar. The alternative RRW part turns to swamp.
Some of it is on my local patch and there are some nice off road bits now. If you were to do it from west to east you would have a nice descent from Ben Bowie down the recently completed Killoeter Escarpment path and on down the Stoney Mollan into Balloch. This section is shared with the Three Lochs Way and it's described on their website. I don't know much about the rest of the JMW.
I can't imagine the JMW being anything like as technical as the WHW. Good call on the Drunkie route for RRW. The bit past the Menteiths Hills is great in the dry but it's been wet and there's been forestry work churning up bits too in recent years.
[quote=Kunstler ]If you want to consider alternatives then maybe the Rob Roy Way might suit. It's all pretty easy riding but it is quite a journey. I did it last year by getting the first train to Milngavie and riding the first section of WHW to Drymen where the RRW starts. I got the last train home from Pitlochry but it was a bit of a dash as I did fanny about a bit on route. I did make up just enough time for a quick pint before the train. It's a good route with some short cut options.
A great suggestion. Don't make the mistake I did and ride it East to West. http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2013/04/making-connections.html
This, however, is sacrilege as the route through the Menteith Hills is one of the highlights. 😆Top tip: if it's been wet then take the sustrans route from Aberfoyle past Loch Drunkie down to Loch Venachar. The alternative RRW part turns to swamp.
Maybe Scotroutes, but we have a responsibility not to cause excessive erosion.
John Muir Way is a good ride route for MTB or CX. Have just completed it with John Houlihan in 10hrs 35mins unsupported. It's a great way to see Central Scotland and the trails belie that fact that it passes through some conurbation.