XC Inspiration

Inspire me with your best/favourite XC routes/trips/locations or events.

I’ve just bought a Canyon Lux Trail and want to get out on some nice, flowy, wheels on the ground epics.

We$t Highland Way Duathlon with the Wean

It has got a lot rockier and techier since then…… I did it with 4 old duffers in July this year over 4 days and actually found it quite taxing.

I’ve enjoyed a few lately.

Corrieyairack Pass – start in Fort Augustus, down the Great Glen Way to Gairlochy then on road to Roy Bridge. Up Glen Roy (which is stunning) then up and over the pass back to the start. About 100km.

The Fife Coastal Path from North Queensferry to Leuchars is good, about 120km then a train back to the start.

Obviously, any trail centre will have good stuff.

Borrowdale Bash in the Lakes is nice XC.

As thegeneralist says, the West Highland Way is good, apart from the bit by the north east of Loch Lomond.

This loop of Glen Garr is nice-

https://www.trailforks.com/route/little-glen-shee-and-glen-garr-loop/

Long XC loops are also a nice way to explore the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors which otherwise lack gnar. You can also do some nice loops in the White Peak.

The Trails Behind The Nationwide In Swindon

Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming!

@thegeneralist – that looks like a fun trip with your lad! Looks like the kind of thing I’m looking for.

@munrobiker – amazing pictures! The only one I’ve ridden on your list already is the Borrowdale Bash. Peak District is a bit more accessible from London and I’ve not ridden MTB there for a long time (mainly gravel).

@the-muffin-man – I don’t think I’m gnar enough for the Nationwide trails.

XC is doorstep trails around the Stroud valleys for me, it’s all I ride these days and I’m happy with that.

If you’re in London…..
get the train from Victoria to Hassocks (Brighton Mainline) and then cycle up to the top of the south downs – lots of options up there – loops to bring you back to Hassocks, or longer trips on the SDW out to Eastbourne (and get the train back to London) or going the other way to Amberley and get the train back from there.
It’s getting a little softer and greasier at this time of year mind

Trail-Finder on YouTube for mostly Yorkshire Dales stuff.

Many of the descents need a trail or enduro bike if you want to go flat out though.

And thinking a bit more about the south downs, there are any number of iterations of mainline out of London to a nearby station, riding along the ridge, and dropping back down to station to get home (going east to west) ……Eastbourne, Lewes, Hassocks, Worthing, Pulborough, Amberley, Arundel, Petersfield, Winchester

Or you could do the BHF off road route from Roehampton along the downslink to get to Hove and catch the train from there.

Enjoy – all very XC kind of riding

Shame there are fewer trainlines going sideways than up and down or could do more exploring of a weekend

Cheers for the comments on here.

I got out yesterday on a train to Amberley and then rode the SDW to Eastbourne. 80km and nearly 2000m of climbing. Was a great day out! Fortunate with the weather too!

Looks like a fab day out!

Classic xc rides are very hard to distinguish with gravel rides these days. However, I rode the Tour of Ben Nevis route recently and it lived up to my expectations and would prefer to do it on a mountain bike. Only 40 miles-ish but with a bit of hike-a-bike. It follows a bit of the WHW.

Obviously theres rides like:

• Cairngorm loop (inner, outer or both)
• Capital trail (Edinburgh)
• Fife Pilgrim Way
• Lomond Trossachs loop
• Loch Katrine loop
• Rob Roy Way
• Badger Divide

And many more….

Apologies if my routes all in Scotland but then that’s where I live.

Thanks @didnthurt

Capital Trail has been on my list for a while.

As with all these routes, they’re considerably harder this time of year, with the soft ground conditions, mild temperatures and leaf litter. At least you don’t have to contend with midges, nettles and jaggies.

Best thing about the capital trail is it starts and finishes in Edinburgh, so easy logistically. Have fun.

I’m not yet far out of London to the north. I’ll try and dig out some suitable rides round here if that’s what you are after. Although the mud is starting to restrict options

This isn’t local to me. But the Isle of Purbeck is fab. Glorious gravel route

https://strava.app.link/Sjz8OulgRNb