Sanny, shame we didn’t get a chance to meet when I was up in May. That Macdui loop sounds fun- let me know when you’re planning it and I’ll see if I can come up. Made a not of your Coniston route!

Houns- I treat them as little holidays and always share lifts (or use the company van). We went up in a camper in May (a 2.0l non turbo petrol camper!) and that cost a fortune- it could only do 12mph up the Lecht. Generally, though, try and do two or three a trip, make a weekend of it, take a mate and having a car that does 60mpg helps. I’ll leave work at 4pm or earlier on a Friday, drive to wherever and get on with it. I try and fit as many in to bank holiday weekends as I can, or sneak them into holidays with the wife. £40 on a weekend biking vs £40 on new shiny bits? No contest.

Grum- we saw that at the bottom but were in a group of 10 and weren’t too sure about the quality of it. Having had a bit more of a nosy online since if I went back with a smaller group I’d have another crack.

Rusty Mac- if you’re in Aberdeen Jock’s Road is a perfect starting point. It’s an hour and a half from you. I’d recommend either doing it as a loop going up to Bachnagairn and over Glittering Skellies, which is a bit of a slog but makes it a full day out, or just doing it as an out and back, turning back where the Glittering Skellies trail joins Jock’s Road. Beyond that it’s all bog. You could do it on a lazy summer afternoon, it’s pure fun from top to bottom.

Hi Wilde86, glad it’s made such a difference. Even posting and writing the threads can keep me motivated when I’m not feeling too bothered by bikes, which is where I was at the start of last year. Then I wrote last year’s thread, thought “those were great trails” and strove to do it more and I think it’s helped contribute to one of the happiest years I’ve had as a proper grown up.

The memory of all the trails in Scotland earlier in the year is still very fresh in my mind, it was such good fun. We’re doing it again this year.