Days Ride Out from Glasgow?

[EggChaser]

Looks like work might be sending me over the border for a few days soon, trying to sort it so I can go on the GS and have a day spare for myself whist there. Any recommendations for good roads that I can get to within a day - was thinking maybe in the Oban direction and happy to get onto single track

Any suggestions?

 

[Coolcarbon]

Ride round to Tarbert on Loch Fyne then down to Campbell town (A83) on the Kintyre peninsula and up the other side via Carradale (B842) then, if strapped for time, take the ferries for the short cut back to weegie land..

 

[G.C.]

Have you been over Rannch Moor n through Glen Coe?
I left Fort Bill after 3 this afternoon, nipped down to Glasgow to see my dad and back home by ½ 9. For single track, take a wee detour up Glen Etive
A regular run for me, but it looks different every time, dark and moody tonight.
CC `s run is a good un too, head west, cant really go wrong. Enjoy.

 

[trickday]

Looks like work might be sending me over the border for a few days soon, trying to sort it so I can go on the GS and have a day spare for myself whist there. Any recommendations for good roads that I can get to within a day - was thinking maybe in the Oban direction and happy to get onto single track

Any suggestions?

When are you planning on your wee day out ??

TD

 

[EggChaser]

Hi thanks for responses some useful stuff, looks like Friday 3rd July will be my free day assuming I don't find something that says I have to use 4 wheels anyway

 

[ricardo]

If you find yourself heading along the A84 neaar Callander, throw in a loop round Brig O'Turk and Aberfoyle (A821). Only done it two-up, but I wanted to drop her at a cafe for lunch whilst I did another lap. Not long enough for a day out, but a good add-on to a longer route.

 

[skyenet]

If you find yourself heading along the A84 neaar Callander, throw in a loop round Brig O'Turk and Aberfoyle (A821). Only done it two-up, but I wanted to drop her at a cafe for lunch whilst I did another lap. Not long enough for a day out, but a good add-on to a longer route.

That will be the Dukes Pass. Great road and was on it yesterday twice. Once on the way to the Boxertools meeting and then again on the way back.

Was a good route yesterday making a nice run out from Glasgow on some great GS roads with fantastic views of Scotland.

Starting at BMW Bishopbriggs in Glasgow head to Lennoxtown via Torrance. Then up into the Campies to Fintry. (cracking B road with good surfaces). At Fintry take the B822 towards Kippen. A few miles along take a left turn signposted to Amprior. At Amprior turn right onto the A811 then first left onto the B8034 to Port of Monteith. Turn left at Port of Moneith onto the A81 and head to Aberfoyle taking the A821 over the Dukes Pass which is fantastic of a GS. Halfway along you have the option of following the 3 lochs forest trail which is well suited to a GS. The road after Brig o Turk has some nice humps and I got my GS airborne quite a few times on it yesterday

At Kilmahog you turn left onto the A84 and head North to Lix Toll where you take a right towards Killin. Some lovey waterfalls and rapids here so worth a stop for some photos. Follow the A827 for a few miles and take the single track road over by Ben Lawers signposted to the Bridge of Balgie. Stop there and have a Bowl of Soup at Boxertools Bench. Then turn around and follow the same route back and get another cup of coffee at BMW Bishopbriggs and make them all jealous with your tales of the day.

I found the route back is even more scenic as the waterfalls going up the single track road are more visible. There are plenty more great roads in the area which will provide some alternative routes but the run as described including the stop for soup and some photos stops is a good 4-5 hour trip.

Also near Fintry is the Loup of Fintry Waterfalls which are some of the most scenic I have found.

Some other links

Ben Lawyers Single Track Road
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192298

Dukes Pass
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110294

Loup of Fintry Waterfall
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157324

I'll be going back up on many of these roads when I get a nice day free to take some photos and also video footage on Dukes Pass.

 

[ricardo]

Skyenet's not wrong. Here's the road up from Glen Lyon towards Ben Lawers and Killin

 

[EggChaser]

That all looks like useful info and the picture shows the sort of off the beaten tracks that are one of the reasons I bought the GS

Thanks all

 

[ricardo]

If you like 'off the beaten track' the following thread from Wully shows a good looking trip I keep meaning to fit in.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158414

 

[hank]

Here's a wee video of the Dukes Pass I made last year.

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My You Tube Channel


Hank.

 

[skyenet]

Here's a wee video of the Dukes Pass I made last year.
:

Looks like it was quite busy. Can't find any of my old Dukes Pass video on my computer so must be on my tapes.

Planning on getting some fresh video footage done there in the next few weeks. The last time I tried my Archos Bullet Camera packed up the split second I started the bike. After a bit of a fight Archos repaired it. Not tried it since then but will give it a go soon.


Will make it an earlier morning run to hopefully get some quiet roads.

 

[EggChaser]

Ok Just spent the evening with the maps out and both my GPS routing software and Google Satellite Views running, think I have a rather long route but I don't get to Scotland very often.

Last time I drove some of those roads I had barely passed my car test and had never even thought about being a 2 wheel petrol head so am looking forward to it.

Thanks all for help - I'll let you know how I get on in a week or so...

 

[roddy]

post up your route file, an lets have a look

 

[EggChaser]

Can't post my route file right at mo - as trapped at work, also will need to edit it slightly so where my bike is going to be parked in Glasgow is not posted on the internet.


But basically it will be up through Fintry and via the trails in the Queen Elizabeth Park (assuming I can find them) then through Brig O'Turk and up towards Loch Tay - maybe taking in Boxertools Bench (depends on what time I leave the hotel in the morning), then down to Loch Fyne and looking for the Loch Awe Road and the forest trail that cuts between Loch Awe and Loch Fyne.

Then down to Tarbert and Cambeltown. Then look at watch and decide how to get back

Most of my luggage will be left in the Hotel so bike should be light - just a camera bag and me... (and some snacks to stop my belly from feeling unhappy)

Finding the trails/drives will be interesting as oddly enough Garmin don't tend to use them for their maps

 

[roddy]

sounds good if you get the chance up load the route file starting from Fintry

 

[wully]

Then down to Tarbert and Cambeltown. Then look at watch and decide how to get back



Finding the trails/drives will be interesting as oddly enough Garmin don't tend to use them for their maps

The Forest drive is easy to find- if you are coming from Glasgow then the entrance is just beside Auchindrain Museum which is sign posted.

And if your looking for an entertaining route back to Glasgow from Campeltoen then if you've the time I can highly recommend you take the ferry from Tarbert to Portavadie and head over to Dunoon - a brilliant road with some stunning views that I've just driven today
Then take the Western Ferry from Hunters Quay.

Some foaties of my day ( days) will be up later.

 

[EggChaser]

Is it better to do Loch Fyne to Loch Awe or Loch Awe to Loch Fyne on the Forest Drive? just wondering as probably won't be doing it in both directions.

 

[wully]

Is it better to do Loch Fyne to Loch Awe or Loch Awe to Loch Fyne on the Forest Drive? just wondering as probably won't be doing it in both directions.

It's the same -only one ways the other way round....

(The views over Loch Awe coming down from Auchindrain side are much nicer IMHO..)

 

[EggChaser]

OK my potential route in GPX format
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/eggchaser/routes/Scotland.GPX

It will change slightly around the Loch Awe bit as I will go hunting for the forest drive (Auchindrain is in as a waypoint just in case), likewise at Dukes Pass. As it is a tad long, might miss out Bridge of Balgie and Lochgoilhead depending on what time I scrape myself out of bed in the morning.

I see from a few of the photos that I have to watch out for the wee red/brown beasties with horns that might be in the road No worries, as another type of Celt, am used to woolly white beasties and black horned ones