I find it frustrating that I can’t seem to find anything much to ride too, so I always head to a trail centre. I’m sure there are some gems to find, maybe this is the year to search them out!

There’s some decent stuff built in the woods by auchincruive, mibbe a 30 minute ride from you.

20 mins drive and there’s some cracking stuff up behind west kilbride, fairlie and largs.

Gimme a shout if ye want GPX of either matey.

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First play with the Hero8 last night, went for a play up the locals, grand.

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Some stunning hills in Galloway Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is a favourite of mine. Mullwharchar too, long walk in from Glentrool, sometimes used to kip at Culsharg. Mullwharchar isn’t a big hill but on the right day the views are great

Never been up mullwharchar big Gordy, need to change that!.

There’s some great walking around Afton reservoir by new cumnock too, stunning.

There’s some decent stuff built in the woods by auchincruive, mibbe a 30 minute ride from you.

20 mins drive and there’s some cracking stuff up behind west kilbride, fairlie and largs.

Gimme a shout if ye want GPX of either matey.

We actually went over to Auchincruive the other day, was a nice ride out along the River Ayr Way. We weren’t really sure where to head once we were at Auchin but did find a short section with a couple of jumps in. Ran out of time to explore properly, and then headed back. A GPX would be ace for next time we head if you don’t mind?

I do keep meaning to explore Fairlie – will definitely head there this summer.

No worries, I’ll head up river at the weekend and get a decent run in, with all the good wee bits in it, and send you a GPX.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the journalists asking questions at wee Nic’s lockdown presentation last night. Most of the questions about the easing of restrictions can be summarized thus:

“so eh, wee Nic – wi these changed rules does it mean wi can get pished ootside, sunbathe and hae a shag again coz its gonnae be pure taps aff this weekend and mah burd/ fella lives in a different street. Ken eh? It’s shan if ye cannae huv a shag and a shandy when it’s bilin”.

Sadly, my girlfriend lives too far away fur a shag (9 weeks – brutal!), but I will be sitting in a camping chair in the Meadows with my shirt off, factor 50, kindle and a coolbox of beers this afternoon.

Sadly, my girlfriend lives too far away

Shan.

Sadly, my girlfriend lives too far away fur a shag (9 weeks – brutal!), but I will be sitting in a camping chair in the Meadows with my shirt off, factor 50, kindle and a coolbox of beers this afternoon.

And that’s why everyone hates east coasters.

Last time I had a drink I got a £60 fine for my bother, I’d been at sea for 3 months and the bastards had criminalised it whilst I was away.

13 year old daughter went a walk with her bestie today, was lovely to see how happy they were to see each other. 😊

13 year old daughter went a walk with her bestie today, was lovely to see how happy they were to see each other

Nice.

We rode across to mates in Avoch and had a beer in the garden in the sun. A much needed moment of normality.

Happy days, Spin.

Loads of motorbikes out today on the A82

The car parks at the Loch Garten RSPB reserve are now open, with sigbs saying they are there for folk travelling less than 5 miles.

Avoch

That’s within walking distance… are we ‘neighbours ‘?

Against the actual guidence but I am so desperate to go camping. Cycling 25 miles to camp in a pals garden and pee in his bushes – whats the view?

I am beginning to go even more crazy as I have not had a night out in the hills yet this year. I can’t be the only one.

one Of the things I’ve been struggling with is how far is it ‘sensible’ to range on the bike.

I know cycling to Aviemore, Fort Augustus or Lochcarron is out with the spirit (and I’m not fit enough neither) but the likes of Abriachan is a four hour round trip…

I have not been more than 10 miles from home Metalheart. Probably will breach that this weekend tho. Its certainly a tricky question for those of us with a strong moral compass. My issue is that the usual mixed use paths i would use to get out of the city are full of people pushing us onto the roads and I think I have now ridden every bit of quiet road or path withing 10 miles of my house many times over.

To date I’ve not done much in the way of cycling, I’ve reckoned that I’d get more utility out of walking.

I’m not a fan of road cycling these days (road surfaces here are poor, singletrack, there’s a lot agricultural vehicles and people that barely give you room when you’re walking… that and it’s the being away from it that draws to me mountain biking/bikepacking).

I’m looking to restart my cycling but actually, you know, enjoy it…

For background, I live alone, I’ve been wfh since 18th March and heading into the hills on my bike has been the way I’ve coped with maintaining reasonable mental health… for the first three weeks I barely left the house…

We’ve not been more than 5-6 miles from home the whole time and tried to do things in both the spirit and using common sense to avoid.

Yesterday the rest of the family drove to some (empty) woods for first trail ride away from our local woods.

Today we’re thinking of canoeing, but the local two lochs are reportedly full of loch shore campers already. I know we could go elsewhere and it will be empty, but then we’re traveling… Hmmmm.

Coastal location, so 8km is even harsher. Also a honeypot so rammed yesterday. Now starting from empty inland parking or going out early/late

Wtf are people doing camping ?
I was out early in the Pentlands and even then I had a car ask me where it could park up at Threipmuir. That’s after than having passed multiple signs and barriers saying all parking closed ! I did mention that and Mr Driver said it didn’t apply to him as he wanted to go ‘seriously walking’ in the hills. My suggestion of parking in Balerno and walking in was waved away as he tried to find an non existent parking space. Society is fuct.

Meadows was great yesterday. Lovely day and small groups all separated out.
Couple of large groups of teenagers and about 6 folk headering a football back and forward weren’t really following the rules, but that’s just par for the course.

tjagain
I am beginning to go even more crazy as I have not had a night out in the hills yet this year. I can’t be the only one.

The rules are to prevent infection spread. If you ride/walk from your house while social distancing and spend a night bivvying in the hills you are not spreading infection. Where’s the harm?

The rules are a broad brush and don’t allow for a minority pastime like genuine (as opposed to roadside) wild camping. If golf and tennis are now OK my view is the solo bivvying is even ,lower, risk than those activities.

If I am going to get/spread the virus it will be sitting in a car at work with a colleague not hillwalking alone or bivvying in the hills within walking distance of home.

Wtf are people doing camping ?

We’re now planning some more remote camping trips as our holidays, should the next stage of emerging allow it.

It seems common sense to me to stay in Scotland, away from others and away from population. Some wild camps are likely to be part of family_oab activities when we’re finally allowed to.

The camping now is loch shore up here – the usual numpties being released and then taking the Michael.

All the wild camping trips I had planned have obviously had to be cancelled

Withing walking distance of my house nowhere I would camp. Even cycling is tricky but we could get up to the Lammermuirs ( I wouldn’t camp in the pentlands)

Its hard to see the harm in doing this but its not really withing the rules as I read them. I don’t want to be a hypocrite!

I’ve camped in the Pentlands and along in East Lothian. You just need to choose your spot, arrive late, leave early.

As regards the current situation, we are now allowed to stop during our exercise, to picnic, birdwatch etc. Is staying out overnight fir a few hours a higher, or lower, risk than it is during the day? If it’s the erection of a tent that makes the difference, then just bivvy.

Aye, I agree. As for camping in yer mates garden, what if ye need a greyfriars bobby?.

Quite happy to see Prestwick beach quite quiet at lunchtime

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Mrs TJ HAS to have her bed for the night and dinner at least in sight by 6 pm! Arriving late is not an option!

Well, Mrs TJ just has to MTFU.

TJ, just go camping for a night, stop being such a dweeb lol

I’ll let you tell her Scotroutes 🙂

That’s within walking distance… are we ‘neighbours ‘?

We’re in Inverness but mates in Avoch. Where are you?

TJ – what you are doing barely qualifies as wild camping anyway. Why not eat and then go camp? It’s light until 11pm .

Didn’t seem to be many people paying much attention to staying 5 miles from home today. And really, who can blame them? Tarvie services doing a roaring trade and the Wyvis car park full.

You wouldn’t be able to camp in the Pentlands tonight anyway as everybpissed chav **** is setting up camp and having bonfires and bbqs. Honestly it’s fckn ridiculous some of the behaviour.

Aye. For that reason the pentlands are out. I’m thinking lammermuirs which is a 25+ mile ride and should be quiet

We’re in Inverness but mates in Avoch. Where are you?

Mount Eagle(-ish). Thought maybe you were on the Black Isle…

@scotroutes: what’s Aviemore like?

I’ve not been up to Loch Morlich/Glenmore today so can’t say what it’s like there. Town seems a wee bit busier than the last couple of months but no huge influx.

There’s always been a few locals travelling a few miles up and down the Strath to some of the smaller parking areas (FLS and RSPB car parks have been closed).