Trail Rat, I agree, it is not a nice piece of road, quite enclosed and narrow with a load of trees at the side. Would rather cycle Glen Coe and the Rannoch Moor than the Fort Bill to Corran road. But Corran to Ballachulish is OK

trail_rat – Member
Wallace how do you get from your car at corran to oban without going on a82 at all ?

You cant. But it is only a few miles from Corran Ferry to the Ballachulish Bridge where you take the A828 (with a cycle path on a lot of the way). There is pavement most of the way (Corran to Bridge) if you are not confident on a main road. Also most of it is in a 40mph zone.

Mull would definately be a highlight, has all the things you want. Road to Oban from Clonaig is a bit of a slog, but is not too busy, though has a few lorries.

Other alternative, park at Ballachulish/Corran Ferry, cycle to Oban (can pop over to Lismore) ferry to Craignure, lap of Mull, ferry to Ardnamurchan, cycle to Lochailort (can then go to Mallaig/Arisaig) cycle to Glenfinnan, then on south side of Loch Eil and west side of Loch Linnhe to Ardgour and ferry to Corran (this misses out busy A82).

Western Isles are OK, did them this year, but the road is flat (apart from north Harris) and can be a bit uneventful, but decent none the less.

For a good few days, how about get to Glasgow, train/cycle to Ardrossan, cycle round Arran, ferry to Cloanig, cycle to Oban, ferry to Mull, cycle round Mull (west coast is gorgeous) Ferry from Tobermory to Ardnamurchan, then cycle to Mallaig via Salen, Glenuig, and Arisaig (go along old coast road, it is simply stunning/breathtaking) Then enjoy the West Highland Line train journey (one of the best in the world!) back to Glasgow via Glenfinnan and Fort William.

This for me is the trip you MUST do. Quiet roads, stunning scenery, brilliant wildlife and a fantastic train journey to end on. Plus 2 of the best Islands in Scotland.

moonboy, a lot will depend on weather, we were lucky that it was pretty good and had no mechanicals, but be prepared for all. Overall fitness is probably the main thing that could do with improving, its a long hard day, and nowt sets you up for it like a few previous long, hard days.

Detour was from the descent down to Spean Bridge, we decided to join the Disused Railway instead of following the TDBN course, a shortcut so we thought as the TDBN goes on down through woods then back up to the disused railway. We turned left just after the statue of the Minister. It was torture! Really muddy, with a few steep up and downs where old bridges used to be, then a river crossing whaich was up to our knees (and it was a very dry period) and a hideous scramble up an embankment with a deer fenct to cross. Then it was foot deep moss/mud in a cutting for 300yds. Stick to the TDBN course – dont take the first part of the Disused Railway!

A few of us did the route in August, with a slight detour…. Fabulous scenery, mostly decent double track, although not smooth, but a few tough singletrack sections especially after the river crossing at the Bothy. A fabulous day out if the weather is decent.

Cheers. Anyone found Madison pretty slow to use?

Stuck GatorSkins on my Tricross and have used all summer long, with only 1 loss of air. Included cyclye from Glasgow to Durness via Western Isles, so all sorts of road conditions and carried all the luggage. Went down to 25mm though……

Cheers

Try watching “Wild Country”…… Where it was filmed is where we ride at night. After seeing it, the sillouette of Mugdock Castle takes on a whole new meaning. Every rustle in the bushes is a potential werewolf….

On Monday night a naked man carrying an axe ran accross the path in front of me as I was shooting along some singletrack in the dark…. OK, was probably my light reflecting off some silver birch branches, but just for a second…. 😯

Lismore is very good too, get the Ferry from Port Appin.

Brakes, gears, steering fair enough. Wheel truing getting a bit more than just basic though IMHO

I always thought it was Chateau, and it was some reference to wine,as in “cheers” or “bottoms up”

Quite a few options about. Mugdock has so much apart from the obvious routes at the visitor’s centre. Over the road and through the moors and trees there is plenty of riding for all abilities. You can also link up to the west highland way, and go up to Carbeth, Dumgoyne and Drymen.

There is also tracks in Dougalston, the Allander walkway (to link up to the Kelvin)

There is also the Pipe Track from Blanefield via Dumgoyne to Killearn, the old railway from Strathblane to Lennoxtown, and on to Kirkintilloch where you can join the canal back to Bearsden (Westerton)

Other options are Kelvin cycle path to Glasgow, link up with the north clyde route out to Clydebank and back via the canal.

For more adventurous stuff there is always Carron Valley, loads of trails behind Loch Ard, and Aberfoyle.

Why don’t they just wait till the next Old Firm game, then film the 60,000 zombies that spill out of Ibrox/Parkhead?

Did the Tour of Ben Nevis route 2 weeks ago. Starting in Kinlochleven, up past Mamore Lodge to Loch Elidh Mor and round in a big loop to Fort Bill and back via WHW. Some great trails and real wild country riding up there.

Guess you going up via WHW – avoid the top of Loch Lomond, seriously. Take ferry to Tarbet and road it to Bein Glas. Another alternative is head north from Drymen and take wild route to Inversnaid (but cross by ferry) It avoids the WHW.

Grantus, cafe at Mugdock park is not on the West Highland Way, tis a mile or two diversion off it.

Althepal, WHW does not go to Balloch! Think you might mean Balmaha.

In the Trossach’s, Ben A’an is a lovely small walk, Ben venue for something bigger, and Ben Lomond for the biggest.
Glengoyne Distillery is great too, nice tours, and can combine with climbing Dumgoyne the hill behind it. If you out that way, popping down to see the salmon leap at Gartness on the River Endrick is good fun if a run is on. Drymen Pottery is a lovely eatery.

Marran, with the Meet Up Group, it is not fast at all. Just a comfortable pace, plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and surroundings. No-one is a racer, just out for an enjoyable spin in some great mountain biking country. The difference is more for the knarlyness of the trails, black has harder than red. The Monday nights are a mix of Blue and Red. Plenty of choices, and a run on nearly every night.

16-18mph moving average is fine by me.

Meet Up Group[/url]Try the Mountain Bike Glasgow Meet up Group

Rides most nights and covers most levels.

Anyone know any other decent full day rides that they would recommend?

Done that route myself. Over to Lochaline from Strontian aint exactly flat either! Great photos….. hope the midges kept away.

Brilliant…. Its good in a Campervan too, get all the wild places. Calgary is excellent. It is indeed my favourite island.

Alas my dear trail rat, you are sadly living in the past. It may be a public holiday, but has been a long time since the first Monday in August has been a Bank holiday. Only Bank holiday in August is the last Monday, and due to no fiscal autonomy, Scotland does not have any different Bank holidays from the United Kingdom.

tonight: nothing
tomorrow: wander round some bike shops and beer gardens, my mate is looking to buy a new bike, then having people at night over for food and bevvy.
sunday: should be going kayaking for the first time.
monday bank holiday: hopefully the rain will stay off but I’ll probably head out on the bike regardless, mugdock probably, has been a while..

What country are you in that has a Bank Holiday this Monday?

Do fancy giving it a go in a day from N to S. Reason for that direction is simple, live a couple of hundred yards from the southern startpoint, so would be cycling home from FW. Have walked it all, done the Caledonia Challenge twice and ridden fair chunks of it. What puts me off is the Bhien Glas to Inversnaid section, and not sure it is worth doing it, but don’t think ferry times would fit in with a 5.30am start from FW. Will think about it over the winter and “may” attempt next June.

No, I know Gear, tis RIG I had heard about… sorted now.

Brilliant!! Thanks Jeff

More Guinness, you need more Guinness…. 🙂

Glasgow still has tramlines.

The only problem is they are buried under several inches of tarmac!

I remember seeing them on Hyndland Road years ago when they had dug part of the road up.

Well, see them quite often on Maryhill Road when the potholes open up. Together with the cobblestoned streets below. Looks lovely…… as you are spilled over the handlebars to crack your wrists on 100 year old tram lines…. 8)

Well, did the Whangie on Saturday with Doubledunter. Took the route that Sanny mentioned, though it was not all plain sailing. Down Tinkers Loan, then across country up towards Auchengillan, not always easy going, but hey. Decided to cross the fence and went in through the scouts area, got told off by some person for being there…. in a not too friendly way – apparantly children camp there he told us, he probably wanted then for himself! Up the road and up and back the lower path, went up to the trig point. The uphill was pretty challenging, but rode a lot of it, the downhill was brilliant fun though. Well worth doing again….. but might miss out the Scout camp next time!

All the best to the boys for the delayed trip tonight. I will be tucked up in bed, hopefully full of beer and pizza.

The Glencoe/Kinlochleven/Glen Etive hills and surrounding paths. Not rode all the trails there, but my, the scenery is simply majestic.

Re rocky descent accross moors. Partially filled in but pretty loose. Nowhere neas as bad as I thought it would be.

I am all for Core Path network. Remember this is just a map of paths, it does not meant any get repaired, changed or torn up. Some improvements are great but no council has bundles to spend on remote paths when they need the cash for councilers junkets!

Having commuted on MTB and road bike, I know what I am talking about.
I much prefer road bike. Quicker, comfier, more hand positions. Would prefer disk breakes for wet performance, and as you are generally not breaking too hard or often do not wear out quick, and believe me Argyle, you get far more crud through the off road trails.

Personally am now on Single Speed and the very low maintenance is a huge advantage.

If doing it on MTB get thin tyres, I used Citijets. Lock out forks and enjoy. Not a great deal slower, but slower it is.

Main consideration is accomodation. If tent/sleeping bag/mat, then that takes up most room. If staying in B&B/bunkhouses, then you have enough room for loads. I will be touring with tent etc, so just bare minimum for me.

Bike essentials are: Tubes, Tyre boot, quick chain links and pins, Multi tool (inc chain tool) pliers, tie wraps, tape, spare brake pads, spare gear cable, small chain lube, patches, levers etc.

Most, if not all road law’s are not stupid, they are there for the common good of all. It is when vehicles do not give space or respect for cyclists that things become dangerous.

Far too many poor motorists on the roads that should not be there.

I normally obey lights, laws of the road, but find there is an occassion when I break the “rules” in order to be safer.

2tyred, yes, the farm is called Boards Farm, and it is the section down to the top of Rosy’s hill that you speak of. Think there are 2 tree’s down on it, and they are big ones. I am sure they will get shifted soon, they aint too much of a pain lifting over.

Didn’t even notice the tag!!