|
Route Stats & Essential Info
| Distance: |
19.3km
(12.2 miles) |
| Time: |
2hrs |
| Rating: |
Moderate |
| Best
time to go: |
Best
as a short summer evening ride, or a winter’s
day scoot. |
| Getting
there: |
M74/M8
into Glasgow, then junction 17 to Dumbarton
(A82). North out of Glasgow, up the west bank
of Loch Lomond, and onto the A83 at Tarbet.
A few miles after Tarbet is Arrochar. |
| Car
parking: |
Follow
the road through Arrochar and there’s parking
round the head of the Loch. |
| Food: |
We’d
particularly recommend the truckers caff in
town on the A814. |
| Tourist
Information: |
Tarbet
Loch Lomond: Tel 01301 702260, fax 702224 (seasonal
opening). |
| Where
to stay: |
The
SYHA at Loch Lomondside is a super posh castle,
complete with resident ghost…
Tel 0870 004 1136. |
| What
to take: |
In
winter, a good set of warm clothes. Also food,
as once you’re on the ride, there are no
facilities at all. And pack your camera, as
the views can be simply stunning in good, clear
weather. |
| Bike
shops: |
When
you are passing along Great Western Road, in
the centre of Glasgow, the best option would
be to pop into:
Alpine Bikes, 116 Great Western Road. Tel 0141
353 2226. |
| Maps: |
OS
Landranger 56, Loch Lomond & Inveraray.
|
Case Study
There’s
nothing better than a short, sharp winter ride –
one you can hit hard, spin round and enjoy, without
being out so long you have to chip your icy feet
out their shoes when you get back to the car. We
found such a route near Arrochar, a short car ride
north of Glasgow, thanks to Andy McKenna who accompanied
us on one of his favourite winter and occasional
night rides, brought out when he has to blow off
the city smoke. About 45 minutes north of town we’re
already into some gnarly Highland scenery, perfect
to forget your city-bound daily lifestyle and concentrate
on the important things in life.
Towered over by the Arrochar Alps, including the
well known Cobbler, our route covers a lot of fireroad
but makes up for it with a hefty smattering of peachy
singletrack. You can also explore further, if your
eyeballs haven’t frozen in the winter weather.
We arrived on just such a winter’s day, and
one last look at the car thermometer revealed a
temperature of -2 degrees – in the middle of
the day. It was going to be a cold one! So we dutifully
wrapped up in the low winter sun and set off along
the low trail up Glen Loin. It wasn’t long
before Andy indicated a left and we began the climb
up the valley side. He had already warned us there
was a ‘fair bit of ascent,’ but the climb
just seemed to go on and on. Already above the small
town of Arrochar, we took in the scenery as the
trail steadily gained height. The mountains across
the valley were now reflected in the sea below,
with Arrochar itself appearing to sit on a plate
of glass at the far side. There was not a breath
of wind to interrupt this clear winter weather.
Switching back and heading up the valley, Andy pointed
out the return trail coming down the other side
of the glen, yet we were still gaining height. In
fact, the route eventually turned out to have 625m
of ascent – most of it on this outbound section.
With the track hard from the freeze we made good
progress, but by the look of it, the trail could
get quite porridgy. Winding up into the glen of
Allt Coiregrogain we could see Ben Lomond rising
above the solid layer of mist low over Loch Lomond.
It dropped to even colder temperatures as we rode
into the frozen shade of Ben Narnain and dropped
to cross the Allt Coiregrogain burn. Here we began
a short downhill section, where Andy forgot to mention
the loose and rocky surface on the fastest drops.
We came round a corner and he shot off, no doubt
cackling maniacally as I followed on and hit the
squirrely section. But I was too busy holding on
and wondering why I hadn’t already fallen to
my messy death. It paid to stay loose and try to
silence that part of the brain that wanted to hit
the brakes – although I wanted to. Andy was
waiting at the bottom, and we both laughed at what
was actually a perfectly safe descent, but which
could have been anything but had I grabbed just
a handful of brake. So we rolled on, admiring the
deep gold of the surrounding peaks bathed in the
mid-afternoon setting sun. After a small section
of Tarmac, we dropped onto the best part of the
ride, the frozen singletrack down Glen Loin.
Andy
recalled the day he was shown this route. Brought
up on a nightride he was encouraged to speed off
down the trail, and was thoroughly enjoying it when
he noticed a suspicious tone in his guides’
voices, and only just in time – the corner
he was about to take at speed was extremely tight,
and fell away onto a loose and rocky chute with
rock strewn heather on either side. You are expected
to learn the hard way up here! Threading to and
fro under the line of pylons we took the fast sections
and rolled through the ice-covered drops. The guys
call it the Rollercoaster – short sharp climbs
are followed by similar descents, all the way down
to the valley floor. We then had the choice of going
into town or climbing up again. So we climbed, and
found some more excellent singletrack to scratch
up and slither down. On a hilltop bench we sat and
ate, looking over to the rugged peaks of the Cobbler,
then descended into the rapidly forming mist back
to the start. You can’t beat winter riding.
By Andy McCandish
Route
Guide
| Start: |
One
of the car parks just outside Arrochar on the
A82, heading for Inveraray. Map Ref: GR NN294048. |
| 1. |
0.00km
(0.00 mile) Ride out of the car park onto
the main road, turn right. Follow the road for
200m until just before a ridge, turn left onto
a trail going through a gate. Follow this into
a small housing estate, turn left then right
after another 100m. Follow this road as it turns
to a track and curves round to the left. Take
the left turn at the next fork and begin climbing
into the forest. |
| 2. |
2.50km
(1.6 miles) At the first junction take the
right track, almost doubling back on yourself.
This continues climbing as it runs round the
side of the A'Chrois mountain, so be prepared
for a long haul on fireroad. In the wet this
can get a bit sticky. Follow the track round
to the next junction, where you turn right and
cross the river. Continue downhill to where
the track meets a Tarmac road (although not
really marked as Tarmac on the map). |
| 3. |
12km
(7.5 miles) Turn right on this road, continuing
downhill towards Inveruglas. After 500m, take
a right turn towards Coiregrogain farm, then
just over the bridge take the trail off on your
left. This is now the Glen Loin trail and there
are signposts saying so. |
| 4. |
12.5km
(7.9 miles) Follow this wide singletrack
trail as it climbs and falls down Glen Loin,
and look out for the sudden drops and bends
you might miss! Pass under the line of pylons
and continue to drop down the glen until a fork
in the trail is reached. |
| 5. |
17.3km
(10.9 miles) Turn right if the weather is
bad, and you are otherwise ready to finish in
Arrochar, or turn left to climb up into the
forest for some excellent singletrack trails
to finish on. Turning left climbs yet again
up above the town, and after 1km or so look
out for a public seat on the right of the trail.
20m or so before that there is a narrow singletrack
dropping steeply down into the town - check
your brakes. |
| 6. |
19km
(12 miles) This brings you out onto the
main street, where you will turn right and
skirt round the head of the Loch back to the
car park.
|
| Total
Distance: |
19.3km
(12.2 miles) |
|
|
