After reading reviews and studying maps I had high hopes for the riding on Arran. Not overly impressed with the 'trail center' routes but that natural riding is excellent, but never too technical.
Ride 1 - Out and back from Lochranza to Laggan and return. (Photos to follow)
The route climbs out of Lochranza on good tracks to a high point (260m) with stunning views over the Firth of Clyde. The path now descends to a small bothy (Laggan) at sea level. I turned and rode the route in reverse which gave some great riding back into Lochranza.
Ride 2 - Section of the classic black route.
Good riding within the central part of the island, but there seemed to be too much fire road riding.....hence....
Ride 3 - Kildonan to Brodick via Giants Graves, Whiting bay, Lamlash and Clauchlands Point
A smashing XC route with road and firetrack warm up, open hillside singletrack descents, twisty forest singletrack and exposed cliff top riding. See photos below.
 |
| Holy Island from the Giants Graves (Chambered Cairn) |
 |
| Pick a line, any line. Forest riding near Glenashdale Falls. |
 |
| Cliff top riding at Clauchlands Point. |
 |
| They may be an invasive species but I can see why the Victorians liked them! |
Ride 4 - Glen Sannox into Glen Rosa
A smashing ride of three halves!
The initial climb up through Glen Sannox is stunning, but made slightly frustrating due to the drainage ditches.
The central part of the ride involves a tough hike a bike section up to The Saddle between Circ Mhor and North Goat Fell. This climb involves a section of scrambling which is easy without a bike, but very awkward while shouldering one. I got slightly out of my comfort zone and for a moment wished I had a bit of company... should I have been there alone?
 |
| Heading up Glen Sannox. Circ Mhor centre right, with 'The Saddle' to the left. |
 |
| The route goes up the central / right part of the picture |
 |
| Calm before the climb! |
 |
| Working hard |
 |
| Just before 'the comfort zone test' |
 |
| The Saddle |
 |
| During the comfort zone test! |
 |
| A better way up |
 |
| Pleased to be atop The Saddle. Great views down Glen Sannox to the Sound of Bute. |
 |
| Great riding on decomposed Granite - Budding geologists, look it up! |
|
|
 |
| Deer fences are tough to pass with a bike! |
No comments:
Post a Comment