wully
Registered user
I'd heard from some mountain bikers that it was possible to get from Lochgilphead to Inveraray off road and after a quick look at the OS map, it seemed possible so I thought I'd give it a go.
Last night I loaded the OS map into the Road Angel and for back up I stole one of Dianes maps...
This morning dawned bright and sunny so off I went stopping on the Bealach to see if I could see the roof of the house but there are still too many leaves on the trees for that.
I had decided to go into the forestry land on the easy stuff at Achnabreck, just past the Crinan road end.
There is some logging going on in the area but there are still plenty of nice shady bits to admire.
The main reason I wanted a GPS that would run OS maps is because I am a rubbish navigator and all these turnings look the same to me- still managed to get it wrong though...
Once back on the right track I ran along the shores of Loch Glashan- one of hundreds of lochs built to supply hydro electric power.
The only section of tarred road was this strip leading down to the sluice.
A few more easy miles on the track brought me to the dam itself where the views all around were just superb. Apart from the sound of the small waves lapping against the dam it was utterly silent.
Apart from one section that had me worried the rest of the route was in really good condition and I could cruise along at a good pace.
This is Loch Bealach Gherran, looks good from this angle but there was a pretty ugly quarry behind me - I suppose they need to get the stone for the road from somewhere..
From the loch the road headed pretty much down hill so I knew there wasn't far left to run.
The route took me back onto the main road at Birdfield. Maybe the name is a clue to why the friendly cat that greeted me was so fat??
By now it was half past coffee time so I went into Inverary for a brew then home via Loch Awe and Oban passing quite a few bikers out enjoying the dry sunny weather.
Next time I'm going to be more adventurous and head farther off into the country and see if I can get through Kilmichael forest and closer to Inverary.
Home...
Sorry about the size of the photos- anyone know how I can make them bigger?
Last night I loaded the OS map into the Road Angel and for back up I stole one of Dianes maps...
This morning dawned bright and sunny so off I went stopping on the Bealach to see if I could see the roof of the house but there are still too many leaves on the trees for that.
I had decided to go into the forestry land on the easy stuff at Achnabreck, just past the Crinan road end.
There is some logging going on in the area but there are still plenty of nice shady bits to admire.
The main reason I wanted a GPS that would run OS maps is because I am a rubbish navigator and all these turnings look the same to me- still managed to get it wrong though...
Once back on the right track I ran along the shores of Loch Glashan- one of hundreds of lochs built to supply hydro electric power.
The only section of tarred road was this strip leading down to the sluice.
A few more easy miles on the track brought me to the dam itself where the views all around were just superb. Apart from the sound of the small waves lapping against the dam it was utterly silent.
Apart from one section that had me worried the rest of the route was in really good condition and I could cruise along at a good pace.
This is Loch Bealach Gherran, looks good from this angle but there was a pretty ugly quarry behind me - I suppose they need to get the stone for the road from somewhere..
From the loch the road headed pretty much down hill so I knew there wasn't far left to run.
The route took me back onto the main road at Birdfield. Maybe the name is a clue to why the friendly cat that greeted me was so fat??
By now it was half past coffee time so I went into Inverary for a brew then home via Loch Awe and Oban passing quite a few bikers out enjoying the dry sunny weather.
Next time I'm going to be more adventurous and head farther off into the country and see if I can get through Kilmichael forest and closer to Inverary.
Home...
Sorry about the size of the photos- anyone know how I can make them bigger?
