There's 5 of us off to Scotland on 24th August, & I'm looking for a base camp (wild-ish, but from the car) & 2 longish day routes, maybe 25-30+ miles. Due to time constraints I don't want to go much farther north than say, Lochearnhead. I know I know, someone's gonna say 'Torridon' & 'Skye' but because we can't go till Tuesday & must be back in Yorkshire before 11am on Friday theyr'e not possible.
Also, no trail centres, (I've done G/T & Keilder & I've got Dalby on the doorstep)
I've got O/S maps 50, 51 & 57 in my hand & MM on the screen.
Thank you, please.
Loch Lomond Arrochar Alps Trip
Start arrochar up cobbler start and then bear right round to dam, downhill (rock n rubble- nice)then left up only bit of tarmac (but single trak) then down winding zigzags onto a82- along road for mile or two then back up into cobbler country and over the lumpy bumpy descent back into Arrochar
Is braemar too far north?
Ben Lomond. Stuff round Glen Ample too.
Lots shorter round Stirling also, Dumyat, Ben Cleuch, North Third.
MM I thought I had MM installed in this PC but I dont, sorry was gonna give you grids that you can link up.
Arrochar is good start point as 2 longish routes available from there and you could camp wild on Loch Lomond 🙂
Hmmm
I tend to know the non gnarly routes more.
In your position I would go for a campsite - showers at the end of a day and pubs nearby. I don't know any good spots that you can camp roadside anymore. I'd also go further east. Pitlochry or Blair atholl for a base perhaps.
There is the Beinn a Ghlo circuit that I really like - 35 miles, 5000 ft of climb and a very remote feel. There is the route the TBC lot did around pitlochry, there is a nice ride around loch ordie / loch ordiquish (sp) from Dunkeld. Ben Vrakie for a big climb and singletrack descent.
Wild camping on Loch Lomond has been banned in part and under scrutiny on the rest of it ( if not now banned) because of overuse. You would be likely to get partying folk from the cities anyway.
There's a new bothy on the Ardgartan Peninsula, which puts you in a prime position for Arrochar stuff (the Ardgartan loop is like an easy red route at a trail centre, but is scenic and has some interesting sections along the way). The Coire Gartain route rep341 describes is short but also very good (buy the Kenny Wilson book for better descriptions of both).
Inveraray isn't too much further and presents the option of the Auchindrain/Leaccan Muir route to Ford and back, also with a bothy en-route. This is an epic track in terms of wetness and rockiness, but with two or three very good descents.
Lochearnhead sits at the the foot of Ben Vorlich, and I reckon the track up Ben Vorlich would a) be rideable for most of the way up and b) be VERY rideable for most of the way down (awaits squawks of protest from TJ 😀 ). If you chose this you could dump the bikes near the top and do the rest on foot for the views from the top.
You could also do a loop from Lochearnhead along the Glen Ogle sustrans path (v.easy, but scenic) to Killin, then come back via Glen Dubh and Glen Kendrum, which looks to me to be a descent from 600m on twisty landrover track, could be fun!
Camp on one of the Islands- theres a NT owned one where you can book and reserve- bit of an experience. You leave from Balmaha on a ferry boat- cost about £2 for the ferry!Thenn on that side of the Loch you have the west highland way and to ride and Ben Lomond at night (too busy during day)
ben vorlich sounds like and interesting option. I have no issue with that at all. I have wondered about it myself
Agree with TJ that the Beinn a Ghlo circuit is classic - just a superb route. Blair Atholl / Pitlochry is a wee bit closer to Edinburgh than Lochearnhead in terms of time, too, so you're only looking at about 1 hour 30 mins of easy driving to get up there once you're past Edinburgh.
If you fancy something more hairy-ersed, you could do the Ben-Alder circuit from Dalwhinne a bit further up. This is epic, although maybe a bit much if done the day after Beinn a Ghlo. Probably be OK if you're fit.
Another vote for the Bienn a'Ghlo circuit. Superb. Plenty other good stuff around Blair too, including routes using the train to get back from, say, Aviemore.
They sound good, off to work soon but I'll check those out tomorrow. Blair Atholl sounds good time wise (& I've done Glen Tilt before so I know It's a good area)
Thanks everyone up to now.