steviegil, where abouts are you? We do the Lock Eck loop a few times each year so if you want company drop me an email: cowalmountainbikeclubATyahooDOTcoDOTuk It's not the most technical ride you'll ever do, but the scenery is stunning. We've found it best to start at Glenbranter, so you get the big climb done at the beginning, and more importantly get tea & cake at halfway (Benmore Gardens). If you're feeling fit at the end you can also divert to finish with the red grade singletrack sections at Glenbranter.
Kunstler, you certainly didn't want that upper path! We last tried it about 18 months ago and it was overgrown then. Stick to the lower forest road. Not got the KW book, but I hope it includes the nice zig zag descent from Whistlefield to Inverchapel and doesn't make you ride along the main road.
Because the forestry is so active here the trails change frequently, some becoming unridable bogs, but many new trails & link paths appearing. The OS maps can't keep up. Infact we keep finding new trails all the time. Feel free to email if you're coming over, we can show you around.
Cheers,
Rob