As part of a larger loop from Braco this weekend, pondering my options.
I'm on a 29er hardtail with 40c tyres, mate is on a CX bike with 38s. Both of us very much more at the roadie end of the Gravel Spectrum, not really interested in picking amongst bogs and rocks, plus are covering 145km so want to keep the pedals turning!
Have already done the main drag alongside Loch Lubnaig, through Strathyre and up Glen Ogle, so was considering Glen Ample, or maybe sticking to Loch Lubnaig but then diverting up Glen Kendrum, or just sticking to the main thoroughfare but following the Rob Roy Way proper between Strathyre and Kingshouse.
Does anyone know if the Glen Ample track has been repaired after the storm damage several years ago? Seem to remember a lot of 'river' crossings in the middle of the track where small culverts had previously been.
I found a write up by Matt_OutandAbout suggesting the descent of Glen Kendrum heading south to north was twisty/rocky/steep and or boggy? Think I would get away with it on the Superfly but my mate is a bit of a puncture magnet at the best of times so not sure if he'd love it.
Ta
Ug, if Google satellite images are up-to-date then Glen Ample still looks like a purgatory of ditch crossings...
we did killin to lockearnhead on old railway (glen ogle) then followed the south side of the loch to dalchonzie, then up glen artney and down to callander.
was ace. even though it aint what you asked. ;o)
Great minds think alike Ton!
Starting in Braco, over to Comrie then up through Glen Artney and down to Callander, then to Killin via one of the aforementioned routes, then up and back down to Ardeonaig before through Glen Almond to Sma' Glen and back to Braco on the roads.
To be honest, reading it over and looking at the distance, elevation and hint of rain in the forecast, maybe I'll stick to birling straight through Glen Ogle, rather than overcomplicating the route. Would be hell to pay if I was late for Easter dinner...
Up Glen Kendrum and then down Gleann Dubh is a landrover track all the way. It gets steep and a bit eroded in places with a couple of shallow river crossings. I've done it a few times in both directions on a 29er hardtail.
Two of us rode Glen Ample north to south in June 2017 on gravel bikes with 38mm tyres. All rideable as far as I remember and an excellent route.
Great! So not constantly on and off for rocky/steep sided gullies crossing the track?
Glen Ample used to be a cracking ride, but I gather its been significantly santised nowadays.
Definitely not. Just had a look again at my photos to check and can't remember anywhere I needed to dismount (& I was running 34 x 28 as a lowest gear which quickly becomes inadequate on steep/rocky stuff so it must have been fine). Feel free to PM me if you want some photos!
Glen Ample used to be a cracking ride, but I gather its been significantly santised nowadays.
Did you just google that? 😉
One of the first results when I googled was a thread I started 8 years ago discussing the sanitisation, think you posted in it as well 😆
Thanks Jate, won't trouble you for photos, just good to know it wasn't a stop-starty mess like it was when I rode it.
I'll be living there in 18 months, have bought the plot on Loch Voil. I'm planning on doing some light bike repairs and maybe becoming a bike host, Dutch style.
Slight thread hijack but I was planning to do a ride in that area at weekend. Was planning to take the road bike however didn't want to go over dukes pass on the a road (unless anyone can tell me it's not that bad). Other option appears to be a cycle route from callander to aberfoyle to the east of the main road, I think it's ncr 7. Is it suitable for a road bike or should I be packing the gravel bike instead. Ta
it’s not that bad
It's not that bad. I've ridden it a few times.
The Callander-Aberfoyle section goes on forest tracks.
Thanks...may take the less stressful gravel option. I see it's about 13 miles, assume it will take about an hour, or is there quite alot of climbing involved. Reason I need to know is I'm going west from aberfoyle to end of loch katrine and then cycling back along the loch side with my mum on her ebike. She's getting the ferry to meet me so need to coordinate arrival times!
As above
Kendrum is rocky doubletrack.
Ample is mainly sanitised, a couple of rocky bits.
Callander to Aberfoyle is link up forest tracks job, possibly a couple of hundred metres of singletrack if you go the nice way.
@globalti - oooh, where on Voil? A lovely spot.
