Hey folks,
I've been riding in the campsies a couple of times and ridden from the viewpoint on the crow road over the plateau at the top over towards Meikle Bin and then returned back to crow road via a different route - was fun but I've always wandered if it's possible to ride from crow road viewpoint over to the tops to Earls Seat and Dumgoyne?
Anyone already done it? I'm in the mood for exploring anyway but would be good to head up something someone has already done as a started for ten 😀
Cheers heaps
Dan
PS if anyone sees a big guy on a Heckler stuck on top of Dumgoyne on Friday, please wave and then get help 😆
there's a guy on here called Sanny who knows the area very well.
My own experience is limited to getting lost on the descent off Meikle Bin trying to make it along the Kilsyth hills to Tomtain and the tak-ma-doon road.
It's very flat and boggy up there although there is a path shown on the OS map that goes past a run down farm above Queenzieburn over the top past the head of the Birkenburn Reservoir and joins the Meikle Bin path. The path has been 'made' (can see it as a light colour from miles away snaking up the hill - hardcore maybe to allow vehicle access up to the reservoir perhaps?) in recent years and is apparently rideable but i'd have my doubts due to the steepness of it. When I last did it it was a really steep, grassy push to the top. At the top there are railway sleepers in the ground and snow poles to show you the way.
there is also a path shown on the OS map that goes from Kilsyth Lennox golf club up towards Tomtain and should bring you out near the top of the Tak-ma-doon road however I can confirm that this path does not actually exist!
Did I hear my name?
Not done it and I suspect it would involve a fair bit of off trail portage. There would be two valleys to get across if memory serves me. I've ridden up the valley to the west of Wheelcraft. Big Land Rover track that peters out to not very much. I'm not sure if there would be a sheep track that could then be used to Earls Seat. There is also a distinct Land Rover climb up behind the farm about 1.5km outside Blanefield on the Lennoxtown Road that will take you to Earls Seat.
An alternative is to ride up from Cantywheerys, go round the base of Dumgoyne (pretty darn exposed) then do a short carry up to connect onto a trail that heads to Earl's Seat.
There is an easy to follow Land Rover track that heads up from just outside Killearn on the water board road that joins onto this track.
Options thereafter are to head over to Slack Dhu and descend down the northern edge or ride from Earls Seat across to Fintry. On the ground, there are quad and sheep tracks you can follow that aren't on any map. I just went up and explored on my bike. The Fintry option is ace as you end up skirting round the edge of two big corries.
All good. Post pics of your ride.
Cheers
Sanny
Cheers guys much appreciated! Will take plenty pics and stick them up here! Wicked