The Garburn Pass Classic Lakes Riding

Autumn is a great time to ride in the lakes as the colours are fantastic. This ride starts from the car park behind wheelbase in Staveley. The great thing about this car park is you get a bike shop and a cafe all in one place! We would highly recommend making a visit to Wilfs as the food is fantastic.

map courtesy of  www.bikehike.co.uk







The route leaves Staveley and makes its way over towards Dubbs reservoir. You can take several routes to this bridleway, we just wanted to be off road as much as possible!




We started the ride quite late and we knew the light was going to be tight! However evening autumn lakeland sunshine was too good to miss. The track past Dubbs reservoir makes for good riding. As you pass Limefitt Park below, the trail starts to get a little more serious but the views over Windermere are fantastic






The climb starts and continues at times loose and technical. It certainly tests your climbing and fitness ability! However there is plenty to take your mind off the pain with great views in every direction.

I needed a picture for the school Winter reading Comp! 

Line choice is key to the success of this climb. It is certainly a good challenge! Towards the top the trail levels before dropping over the other side down to Kentmere.

The descent is awesome testing you in every way. This is a classic lakeland descent that has everything!

At the bottom you soon reach Kentmere which in itself is worth a visit! There are numerous options back to Staveley from here. We decided to take the shorter option as the sun was starting to drop behind the fells. Just past the church the trail heads right down to Kentmere Hall. The tower of the hall was built around 1375 by the Gilpin family. The bridleway heads off left and climbs gradually.

The sunset made a great backdrop

At the top the bridleway undulates before reaching the river. There are two options here to either go straight on or left. Our usual descent is left following the river before taking on the challenge of crossing it! Make sure you are in granny gear to get up the other side! Once the short sharp climb from the river is over you go through the gate to start the descent down to the main road leading to Staveley.

The descent starts as a grassy trail but there is a need to avoid the ruts and bog! It soon changes into a rocky descent with a river crossing thrown in for good measure about half way down! It is not long before a gate is reached between houses and the trail leads out to the main road. Turning right takes you back to Staveley. This area is fantastic for riding, we would highly recommend it! 

The Capel Mounth

After the Glen Tilt ride we decided to do another classic and head for Glen Clova and the Capel Mounth. 24Km with 1000m of climbing promised to be a classic. We have been back since and ridden the route from the Ballater end and Loch Muick. My preference would be to start from the Ballater end as it is easier to get to than driving into Glen Clova. Saying that if you don't mind the drive it is a stunning drive into the Glen.

We parked at the visitors centre and had a cup of tea before getting the bikes and kit ready for the ride. The car park started to fill up with keen walkers. The weather was forecast to be really windy and given the remoteness and height of the route we had reservations. However we rely on our good sense to have a go and turn back if needed.

The ride up the glen was stunning with plenty to keep you entertained. The track was well worn and followed the river all the way.

Towards the top of the glen once you cross the river the track turns to technical climbing, rideable and testing.











As you approach the trees at the top of the glen you cross a wooden bridge which was a great place for a bar break. The track becomes very technical and steep so a bit of hike a bike was needed.

The track winds through the trees before crossing the river once again (it is more like a gorge) and climbing out onto the mountain side.

The view back down Glen Clova is stunning and takes your mind off the hard work! A well maintained path soon eases to become rideable singletrack. 

A track junction soon appears and we head right to Sanny's Seat for another bar break. The surface is now a well maintained land rover track. At this point the wind was starting to strengthen hitting us from the side.

An undulating path takes us on a ridgeline heading for Loch Muick. The view opens up and we are greeted with excellent riding and views to compliment. My only issue was the wind which at one point blew me off the trail much to H's amusement. This was enough of a warning for me so I hopped off to run to shelter. I was not the only one as we passed a wind blown group of walkers doing the same. This is where a carbon bike does not help!

Loch Muick making an appearance

The beauty of the Cairngorms

Just about staying on my bike at this point

This route was very easy to navigate around due to the well worn paths and key features to work off (Loch Muick!). It was possible to see the descent stretch out in front of us. The trail becomes much more steeper and looser. The most difficult part of the descent was taking your eyes of the incredible view that stretched out in front of you.

At the bottom the route meets the main trail that runs around the loch. Smiles all around we soon found ourselves at the start of the next climb at the far end of the loch. We were to climb back over the Capel Mounth to drop into Glen Clova.

The climb was one that was all rideable but would test the legs and mind! The track was well surfaced but at times your tyres sunk into the gravely stuff on the trail. I always challenge myself to ride every rideable climb and if my foot goes down then its back to the bottom, judging by the length of this climb the bottom was the last place I wanted to go so concentration was needed at all times!

The track soon levels out and undulates for quite a while. It was one of those where you thought you were nearly at the top but it soon became another false summit. We were just grateful we were on a bike! However the hard work was soon rewarded. The descent to Glen Clova was some of the best riding we had ever done!

The descent starts with a grassy track and turns into quite technical singletrack.

The felling at the end of the route has added to the challenge of the riding! It was awesome with views to match! 

 

Once at the bottom you meet the track from the visitor centre. Following this back was a great warm down and a chance to discuss the fantastic ride we had just had! This was one of those rides you would do time and time again. Awesome! 

Glen Tilt MTB

We decided to put our alpine training to the test by heading for the River Tilt Caravan Park, part of the Blair Atholl estate. From here we were to ride a scottish classic. 54km of varied terrain from estate tracks to natural singletrack taking in spectacular scenery.

The start of the ride was from the Old Bridge of Tilt car park heading towards and past Forest Lodge. The route follows the river Tilt. The scenery in the glen was fantastic. We soon reached the Bedford Bridge erected in memory of a young man who drowned here. The falls of tarf were stunning and a great spot for a bar break.

After a quick break it was time to follow the singletrack to where we were to cross Tarf Water. According to the guide the river can be dangerous following lots of rain.

Great Singletrack

The trail to Fearlar Lodge

Careful not to get the feet wet

The track climbed steeply to soon level out and become rideable again. The heather made for an interesting addition to the singletrack. The book suggests getting off the bike not to damage the ground. It was easy to see how this could happen as in places it was very boggy.

Hiking the Bike

This was quite a tough part of the ride as Fearlar lodge felt like it would never come. Fearlar lodge is the most remote farmstead on the Scottish mainland and it was not difficult to see how it earned that title!

Heading towards Fearlar Lodge

Through the lodge you pick up the main track to traverse and soon drop to the start of another climb. The climb was on a good surface and we knew a 7km descent awaited us from the top. It was just a shame that it was on a land rover track rather than the flowing singletrack we had been on previously!

The descent down to Daldhu went quick enough weaving between big mountains and feeling very remote. Daldhu was a group of houses that we navigated through before picking up an undulating track alongside the allt glen loch.

We were then faced with a steep rocky climb on the flank of Stac nam Bodach. It was rideable but tough! A great test at this point in the ride. At the top we had a great view of Beinn a Ghlo.

The book promised narrow superb singletrack to Shinagag and it was not mistaken. Cutting through the heather testing riding and navigation skills at times was a great descent to Shinagag.




From Shinagag we climbed a little more until we reached Loch Moraig. A good descent took us onto the road that dropped back to Bridge of Tilt. It was back for a shower and a well earned cup of tea. A great day and excellent scottish mountain biking.

Heading towards Loch Moraig