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Post by andyr on Mar 7, 2016 20:47:39 GMT
If you had 2 days (including the drive there and back) to get some riding in and you were based in NE England where would you head to? Probably in late May/early June. The Mrs is mooting letting me of the leash as a birthday present so thought I'd ask the hive mind for ideas. I had thought Torridon but it's about a 7 hour drive from here. Currently thinking Isle of Arran or heading up the A9 to do the Glen Tilt loop from Blair Atholl and something else around Aviemore/Rothiemurchus. First person to say Glentress/Innerleithen/Tweed Valley will be sent an ale fart in the post, as great as the riding there is I want to get a bit further from home.  |
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Post by Chopper on Mar 7, 2016 21:07:26 GMT
Depends what you want, all day big mountain type xc stuff, or some trail centre stuff over a couple of days ?
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Post by hodgy on Mar 7, 2016 21:14:05 GMT
Having been to Arran..for the last two years ..I can vouch for the fact that the riding is top notch ..
Pity you couldn't wangle three nights ..4 days ..as the time frame you have is co-inciding with our trip to Skye .../ Applecross
Plenty of riding around Aviemore all good .GlenFeshie is a good short ride ..
Torridon is the dogs bollocks ..but too far to stretch it in two days ..
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Post by andyr on Mar 7, 2016 22:04:02 GMT
Depends what you want, all day big mountain type xc stuff, or some trail centre stuff over a couple of days ? Got to be the natural ADBMTXC stuff. I had thought that Neil but that's too many days for the Mrs |
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Post by Chopper on Mar 7, 2016 23:11:29 GMT
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Post by hodgy on Mar 8, 2016 6:30:50 GMT
Andy ...I was about to advise against the Glen Tilt ride ..purely in terms of one the most ferocious midge attacks I've ever encountered ( Ben Avon pronounced Aaan...being the other !) ..so take plenty of repellent wherever you go ...
However I also didn't rate it that highly ...as per the way it is featured in Phil McKane's Wild Trails Book ..but having just read the ride guide posted by Kev ( chopper) it would appear that local knowledge has you riding it anti clockwise ..which thinking back probably makes more sense ...
Interesting read too ..regarding the history of the place ..
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Post by Euan on Mar 8, 2016 15:16:54 GMT
I'd head to Kinlochleven, great riding to be had in all directions, you can have full on epic big days or short days and you're not a million miles from ether Glencoe or Fort William
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Post by hodgy on Mar 8, 2016 16:11:16 GMT
Kinlochleven is a great shout ...closest I've been to a near death experience without seriously injuring myself ...
The bike and me parted company on the Ciaran Path and I went rolling over down towards the Gorge underneath the Dam ..a rotting tree trunk halting my progress ...
I had totally bonked ..this was the last ride on a trip myself and Ian undertook staying at his lodge in the Great Glen ...After 3 days of serious riding I had nowt left in the tank and we bit off more than we should have ..finishing about 10.00 pm and having to drive home ..arriving back at 4.30 am after shared driving duties !
Those were the days ...
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Post by liljase on Mar 8, 2016 18:35:10 GMT
for me for 2 days id hit glentress and inners a day on each 10 mins apart by car and corner house hotel at inners is a wicked littl;e place with nice food and great owners. 2 wicked trails and then on way home youve got ae and mabie to play if youve energy left. llagan and fb a long way to go for 2 days imo. done them both and wicked but a good drive.
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Post by liljase on Mar 8, 2016 18:37:02 GMT
i want my free fart now please pmsl.
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Post by liljase on Mar 8, 2016 18:39:04 GMT
there is always the west highland way to. never done it but takes you into fort william and incorporates a bit of everything inc hike a bike in places.
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Post by andyr on Mar 8, 2016 20:36:20 GMT
Choppers Glen Tilt link was the route I was thinking of and had noticed the advice to do the loop anti-clockwise. Kinlochleven eh? Anyone got a link to a route or 2?
Fart in the post for liljase. I know the riding in the tweed valley is class as I've been lots. After something different: more mountains, more remote, more midges, etc.
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Post by andyr on May 1, 2016 6:00:55 GMT
Destination decided: Aviemore. Accommodation booked. Routes almost decided but will call in at the bike shops up there on arrival to get local knowledge. Excitement building. Even managed to negotiate a 2nd night away too.
Reason I chose Aviemore is I visited the area about 10 years ago with the Mrs and couldn't help spending pretty much all the time thinking I should have bought my bike and I made a promise to one day go back. So I am.
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Post by hodgy on May 1, 2016 6:43:14 GMT
Good choice Andy ...it's got to involve the Lharig Ghru?
I have a waterproof map set purchased from Bothy Bikes ..produced by themselves which you are more than welcome to borrow .
It has all the main bike routes in that area ..with all the best singletrack highlighted ...
I will post it out if you want ?
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Post by andyr on May 1, 2016 7:26:27 GMT
Certainly does involve the Ghru. The main memory of the area I have is the trails around Rothiemurchus which looked so awesomely wonderful I had to do some riding there. Have a look at this page from MBRs best flow trails (although seeing the loop they suggest for bolts law I'm taking this with a pinch of salt) www.mbr.co.uk/news/britains-best-flow-trails-339780The pic at the top of that page is exactly how I remember Rothiemurchus. Yep, i'll have the maps please. You could give them to Graham the next time you see him and I'll pick them up on the next TVMTB night ride? Was also thing a loop down to Glen Feshie forest and possibly the burma road classic loop. With Glen Tilt anti clockwise on the way home. |
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Post by hodgy on May 1, 2016 7:42:12 GMT
Just PM me your address and I will post them out to you ...
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Post by hodgy on May 1, 2016 7:49:05 GMT
I don't think Dave & Jean really rated the Burma Road when they did it with Ian ...
There are 5 local routes to Aviemore in this pack ..so more to look at before making up your mind ..
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Post by Chopper on May 1, 2016 7:52:44 GMT
Ask in the local shops about burnside, not ridden it myself but my mates rate it
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Post by andyr on May 1, 2016 8:37:36 GMT
I'd seen that on trailforks and was considering it for an evening ride on day 1.
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Post by leedodds1 on May 3, 2016 9:45:43 GMT
From Aviemore you could hit Golspie, Glen Livet and Laggan. All great places to ride, Golspie being my favorite.
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Post by Euan on May 3, 2016 18:30:35 GMT
From Aviemore you could hit Golspie, Glen Livet and Laggan. All great places to ride, Golspie being my favorite. Golspie is one of those trails that you really need to do at least once in your life, it really is a fantastic trail which has a bit of everything |
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Post by rossco832 on May 3, 2016 18:46:18 GMT
From Aviemore you could hit Golspie, Glen Livet and Laggan. All great places to ride, Golspie being my favorite. Golspie is one of those trails that you really need to do at least once in your life, it really is a fantastic trail which has a bit of everything Is it one trail? Like a big loop ? Or is there loads to do. It's a whore of a trek from here but I definitely fancy it |
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Post by Chopper on May 3, 2016 19:03:24 GMT
Golspie is one of those trails that you really need to do at least once in your life, it really is a fantastic trail which has a bit of everything Is it one trail? Like a big loop ? Or is there loads to do. It's a whore of a trek from here but I definitely fancy it |
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Post by kirky72 on May 3, 2016 19:15:18 GMT
Ah a mere 7 hours drive.
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Post by hodgy on May 3, 2016 19:21:09 GMT
So what's the problem ? Lol
That's how long it will take us to drive to Skye ...and we still intend riding when we get there ...
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