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heading this direction for a family break shortly and wasn't planning on taking a bike, as first holiday with 9 month old dog etc, however I am now wondering about popping the Fugio on the rack for a few local sub 2 hr explore scoots around. Not an area I have ridden in, is there much in way of easy gravel paths/nice scenic stuff ? The roads are obviously largely quiet and windy !
Its been a long time but there was a really good gravel route thorugh the forests to the east (I think) of the loch. I took the MTB but memory serves that the tracks were pretty wild in places but not technical. Stuff to do en route as well like bird hides that you can access etc. Sorry I can't give more detail but all I remember was having a really nice day out!
ON my map there is a route marked thru the woods on the west side. I intended to ride it last year but never did so cannot tell you what its like
thanks, think I'll take the bike and have a nose about
I would almost say you are spoilt for choice!
Route 1 - Kilchrennan - head up road to Taynuilt but turn left into Nant Forest, follow forest roads west past Loch Nant and carry on across hillsides to Musdale Road. Very twisty windy tarmac descent, more quiet tarmac climbing up past Loch Nell, turn right into Glen Lonan for lovely quiet roads back to Taynuilt with some spectacular views of Cruachan. From Taynuilt follow minor road back to Kilchrennan, although there are some interesting looking link-ups between Glen Lonan and Kilchrennan roads.
https://www.strava.com/routes/2848559685608046540
Route 2 - Kilchrennan - head into Nant Forest again, turn left to take forest track slightly further south of Loch Nant, this joins on to what I believe is a pipeline track following hillside to Loch Avich. Head along tarmac road on north bank of Loch Avich, return on gravel on south side of Loch Avich. Return to Kilchrennan on Loch Awe road.
Edit: sense of adventure required for that second one, Geograph looks promising
but also looks like it could be a bit overgrown in places, don't take your slickest tyres perhaps...
Would love to give it a shot myself actually, supposed to be heading up for Oban Sportive weekend in September, might need to sack it off and do some exploring!
^^^^ brill, much appreciated. I'll be taking Fugio with 650 x 47's on it 🙂
...also if you were permitted use of car I saw this recommended on Gravel Bike Scotland page on FB
https://www.strava.com/routes/2836979721949550088
and of course if you were given all day, 80km takes you up Loch Etive side, through Glen Kinglas to Bridge of Orchy and back via Glen Orchy (lovely wee road) and then unfortunate time trial from Dalmally back to Taynuilt (unless you were really clever and time it with the train from Dalmally to Taynuilt, saving 20km and almost all the A-road riding).
I used to stay in Dalavich (midway up loch awe) and was where I got my first proper mtb, a muddy fox explorer back in mid 80's. From what I vaguely remember there are countless decent rides in the area, or at least it seemed so at the time.
There's also a new logging superhighway apparently been built that will take you from Dalavich almost all the way to Ford (deposits you on the road just west of Ford). In theory you could ride from Kilchrenan to Ford on the road then gravel all the way back home, hopefully with a nice South-Westerly on your back!
Great wee explore
https://strava.app.link/l8JM5oEYPhb
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Nice one!
I've always daydreamed about trying to force a route through the Pass of Brander along the south bank of the River Awe, there's some interesting looking goat tracks traversing the scree slopes.
^^^ the NE section, whilst appearing to be an ok path on ViewRanger, involved about half an hour with bike on my shoulder wading through chest high ferns…thankfully I was well Smidge’d before heading out.. 🙄