Gareloch/Helensburgh area riding/outdoor stuff

Highlandman's Wood is ok, with some decent quality of building work hidden in the trees, but its the wettest place I've ever ridden a bike. Quite rooty and tech in some places, but with no crazy steepness like at Aberfoyle. Good for a change for me, as its only a few stops away on the train.

There looks like there's plenty of XC or gravel routes there. Not my thing, but going by the strava routes some people I know do, a long trip to Helensburgh for a pint and an ice cream in the summer seems popular. The 3 Lochs Way is nearby, certainly.
https://threelochsway.co.uk/
Easy enough to cycle over the hill to Loch Lomond and get an ice cream at Balloch too.

Thanks for this.  Appreciate the response. Highlandmans sounds good for an early morning jaunt as it’s pretty local to where I’ll be.  I’ll pack the bike cleaning kit. Follow our nose on the gravel then. Looking at the map - probably head north for a bit of adventuring along that, or try Balloch, if the kids aren’t feeling it.

cheers again!

Any other decent riding in striking distance? Ben Lomond may be an option depending on how much time I’ll have.

If you are looking for a quick loop and don't mind the road then Glen Fruin is nice - if you head towards Faslane then when passing the base there is a right turn that takes you onto a singletrack road (it's signed Glen Fruin and is the road before the roundabout and runs parallel to the Haul Road). Nice climb with hairpin bends through the trees then at the top you can look back and see the submarine pens. From the top it's then mostly a gradual descent for a few miles and will eventually come to a fork - if you take the right that will bring you out to the top of the road at Helensburgh.

if you take the right that will bring you out to the top of the road at Helensburgh.

Check that road is open though, as it was closed when I went past last weekend.

My folks stay over there, so I've taken the bike out a few times. Unfortunately nothing to add beyond what franciscobegbie has already said. There was a jumpy trail build just to the East of where the forest trails are, but I know there were issues with the local rambling crowd (even though it wasn't built on a walking path) so not sure what's come of it now

There was a jumpy trail build just to the East of where the forest trails are

Sounds like TechDH on Strava and Trailforks, or Blood, Sweat and Beers. Both were still there last time I was up, maybe around last August.

Any other decent riding in striking distance?

Depends what you mean by "decent" and how far your striking distance is. Theres some trails and lots of gravel round at Ardgartan, but it shares the same west of Scotland wetness that Helensburgh does and has suffered from felling. Been 2 or 3 years since I was last there, so I have no idea what state its in now. Theres my local at the Kilpatrick Hills, a few stops away on the train. These are ok, but have suffered from storm damage, hopefully I'll have the affected trails opened up soon though. Further out again, theres some good looking DH stuff around Campsie Glen and then Aberfoyle, as you said.
Typing all that out has just highlighted how poorly served the west central\greater Glasgow area is for trails.

Thanks Omar/Mashr- that’s bang where I’ll be and really helpful.  Road closed due to an oil spill apparently!

Sounds like TechDH on Strava and Trailforks, or Blood, Sweat and Beers. Both were still there last time I was up, maybe around last August.

It was Bloody, Sweat and Beers (gap over a ditch right at the start). Been a good while since I was up so hopefully not the same issues

It's a shame about the storm damage on the Kilpatricks. The open trails are good fun too, but there are only so many times you can do that climb... (unless on an ebike)

beagle
Free Member
Thanks Omar/Mashr- that’s bang where I’ll be and really helpful. Road closed due to an oil spill apparently!

If a road loop appeals then there are a few good, easy to navigate, options. Glen Fruin is really nice, but short. You can add in another loop round to Kilcreggan and Coulport before doing Fruin on the way back. Or there's a third option between the two where you use Peaton Rd instead of going all the way to Kilcreggan cut over to the Coulport Haul Rd at the top.

shame about the storm damage on the Kilpatricks. The open trails are good fun too, but there are only so many times you can do that climb

I think we'll have the forest part as open as its going to be shortly. 3 of the 6 trails still have fallen trees that are too much for us to deal with, so they may be back if we can re-route them. The open hill bit is great, and theres some nice new stuff on it, but like you say, its hard to put a loop together that does more than 1 or 2 of them without having to re-climb that ****ing road.

I forgot Arrochar! Theres a lovely, old-school xc loop there, plus if you fancy, you can push up the Cobbler path as far as you dare and fly back down. Bein Ime is nearby too, if you have time and weather.

We, and the sis in laws family will have paddle boards too.  How’s Rhu for this?

Its the sea, albeit no likelihood of being washed into the atlantic, there are tides and currents which added to the wind may mean you don't go where your want depending on your skill/experience.  Will be cold (but at this time of year probably warmer than L. Lomond).  By easter the yacht's start going back in the water - it can be quite busy if there's races on.   Presumably you are aware of the submarines - you probably aren't planning on crossing the channel, but the MOD plod will chase you if they even think there's a chance of you getting in the way of a sub.  Even when they are polite they are intimidating.

Big cheers to everyone here.  This is really helpful.  Started looking at Arrochar too - thanks for that. Ben Ime looks grand, potentially a fair bit of exposure from looking a the OS last night.

Thanks too Poly for the SUP stuff.  Aware of the subs but with the kids out potentially as well, it’s going to be close to shore, for sure 😀

Plenty gravelling routes around Helensburgh - Highlandsmans Woods out to Rhu, Ben Bowie and Dutchess Woods.

I like heading west from Hillhouse, up over the hill into Glen Fruin, turn right along the Fruin tarmac road, turn left at the end of the Fruin road onto the cycle path by the A818. Turn right up the fire road onto Ben Bowie. Once at the top, turn right and down quite a rutted / techy (for gravel) decent down to Helensburgh. Back to the start via road. This is actually quite good on a MTB as well, especially if you add in some trails in Highalandmans and Ben Bowie:

Helensburgh MTB | Ride | Strava

Also - if you like Aberfoyle for MTB then you'll love the trails at Ardgartan. All on Trailforks too.