Trails near Loch Lomond (Balloch)?

Trails near Loch Lomond (Balloch)?

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R1 GTR

Original Poster:

2,152 posts

220 months

Sunday 8th July 2007
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Next week we're off to Loch Lomond for our timeshare week and was wondering if anyone knew of any trails round about Balloch. Dont want to travel far so is there anything around that area?

snotrag

14,925 posts

218 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Without getting my map out, I can't be sure - but see if youre withing reach of one of the 7stanes trail centres.

Of ther 7 I've done Innerleithen, rroughtree, Glentress and Ae.

Best Trails in the country, no doubt about it. The reviews, awards and press are right.

Look em up, well worth a bit of a drive, trust me!

R1 GTR

Original Poster:

2,152 posts

220 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Will have a look, i have done Glentress and agree its fantastic. Didnt know there was one at Ae? Thats near enough for me to go to from home (i think).

ETA: All of the 7 Stanes trails are in the borders (kind of) so i can reach them from home no bother (didnt realise that!) Will have a mooch for anything else

Edited by R1 GTR on Monday 9th July 11:38

snotrag

14,925 posts

218 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Ae is really good, worth the trip.

I can just about do Glentress or Innerleithen on a day trip from mine (Leeds) but its means a very early start.

Kirroughtree is also good, slightly different style to the others, more remote, more of an adventure, but still an excellent, fast, technical ride.

The only thing I know about Loch Lomond is I pass it on the way to Fort William to ride the WC course!

R1 GTR

Original Poster:

2,152 posts

220 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
snotrag said:
Ae is really good, worth the trip.

I can just about do Glentress or Innerleithen on a day trip from mine (Leeds) but its means a very early start.
Must be, easier for me as im based in Langholm, 20 miles north of Carlisle. Aparently, there could be plans to build some trials just outside Langohlm in the future. TBH i cant see it but i would definately welcome the idea.

snotrag

14,925 posts

218 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Thing is - the 7stanes have been a massive success. The Scottish tourist board/councils/whatever must be loving it, the trails are winning loads of awards, and the use they are getting is massive, bringing loads of money into the rural areas.

Don't know if you've read about the Chairlift at Innerleithen, but thats looking like its going to go ahead in the next couple of years (cannot wait).

So, I wouldnt be too quick to dismiss plans to build trails anywhere in Britian, the rest of the UK is catching on, things are popping up all over!

snotrag

14,925 posts

218 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Thing is - the 7stanes have been a massive success. The Scottish tourist board/councils/whatever must be loving it, the trails are winning loads of awards, and the use they are getting is massive, bringing loads of money into the rural areas.

Don't know if you've read about the Chairlift at Innerleithen, but thats looking like its going to go ahead in the next couple of years (cannot wait).

So, I wouldnt be too quick to dismiss plans to build trails anywhere in Britian, the rest of the UK is catching on, things are popping up all over!

R1 GTR

Original Poster:

2,152 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th July 2007
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Bit of a bump really as im heading off tomorrow so just incase some people missed it is there anything nearer Balloch?

oedo

99 posts

208 months

Saturday 14th July 2007
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Balloch is about 90 minutes drive to Lochgilphead's fire trails...

Can really comment on the quality as I'm pretty unexperienced in MTB but it's my 'local' and I enjoy it.
Great views from the top and good mix of red & black runs so you can make up your own circuit.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LU...

Free parking, good food in Lochgilphead and the road there is a great drive smile

Bit late but hope that helps.

Cheers

Steve

R1 GTR

Original Poster:

2,152 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th July 2007
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Looks good. Im not exactly an expert either so would probably stick to the red run. Might see you up there? hehe

oedo

99 posts

208 months

Saturday 14th July 2007
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Quite possibly, I pass it on the way to and from work so quite often pop the bike in the car and go for a ride in the afternoon.

If you see a black S60 in the car park I'm probably around smile

Let us know how you get on.

B@ldy

8 posts

208 months

Sunday 15th July 2007
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Hello,

This is my first post on Pistonheads, but I basically joined up because my housemate is on here 24/7!.

I noticed this thread on Mountain biking near Loch Lomond, my geography of Scotland isn't that great but my brother is in the Navy and is based up that way. last year he took me cycling around the Argyll forest park, we headed up Loch Long by car to Arrochar stopped for a spot of Breakfast and then went onto the Ardgartan Visitor Centre just west of Arrrochar on the A83.

We set off from the visitors centre around 11am after studying the map and the various bike trails on offer, we went for a 20 mile route, not a problem I thought to myself, I normally do double that around my local forest in East Anglia!.

Anyway the 20 miles took 5 long hours in +30deg heat with endless fireroads twisting our way up The Brack and then down on singletrack then onto the next peak this continued most the day until the route eventually brought us back to the car park. Despite this being the hardest day cycling I've ever experienced I remembered the amazing views across to Loch Fyne and the closer Loch Goil along with the many streams and amazing wildlife.

This was my first trip to Scotland and motivated me to take up photography again, since my trip last August I have been to Glentress biking and climbed Ben Nevis and had a great weekend at Pebbles.



oedo

99 posts

208 months

Monday 16th July 2007
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I've not cycled there before but that sounds like a good route B@ldy, might head up this weekend.
Breakfast at the Kitchen Garden in Arrocher is indeed tasty coffeethumbup

Often stop there for my tea & morning roll if I'm heading east.

B@ldy

8 posts

208 months

Monday 16th July 2007
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Hello Oedo,

If I remember correctly the route was quite new when we did it, but let us know how you get on, I'll get some pics posted as well when I suss out the hosting side of things!.

Baldy!.