You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Staying with some family up in Largs next week and wondering if there's any good riding up there? I know it's a stunning area so I'll take a bike either way, am I best just sticking to the roads or is there some fun stuff to find?
Cheers in advance.
Not sure about off-road riding, and the main roads out of Largs tend to be very busy. However the old road out the back (up towards Loch Thom is lovely. Or get the ferry over to Argyll (from Wemyss Bay to Bute, or Gourock to Dunoon) and you'll find some lovely quiet roads.
If you want a family ride to over to Millport (you can hire bikes there). It's not exactly taxing riding (right round the island is about 11 miles) but is great for kids. If you do don't forget to see the Crocodile Rock, the finest tourist attraction on the west of Scotland (arguably!).
there is some good off road stuff up the hill behind Fairlie, though I don't know my way round it too well. @nobeerinthefridge is the man with the local knowledge !
We were in Largs and Millport in 2022, we had a lovely family trip.
I think there is a path oven the middle of Cumbrae that looks a bit more challenging than the coast road.
Trailforks shows some trail in nearby Fairlie but I've not ridden them so can't really comment what they're like on the ground.
Strava shows that folk are riding the hills around the nearby clyde muirshiel regional park so might be worth a look.
Fairlie is fine for out the door mountain biking, head up to Kaim hill, either starting at Fairlie train station or pedal through Kelburn park. That's probably the best descent in the area and some fine views as far as Jura if you get a good day. Climb is a killer though. If you have a bit more time then Dunoon is a short journey away, bit better biking.
Road biking offers up some fine options, as mentioned the Loch Thom road is a nice climb, at the top you could be anywhere in the highlands rather than Inverclyde. Skirt into Greenock and back out as quick as you can and take the road to Lochwinnoch. There is a gravel short cut avoiding Greenock if you are so inclined. And again with a short journey Arran is a local classic road ride.
Edit: I'm certain there is a load of YouTube stuff showing the Dunoon trails to see if its the type of stuff you are after.
My condolences.
Road-wise Loch Thom is IMO the only road worth doing, the rest will earn you a wooden jacket. The suggestion for heading over to Dunoon is a good one. If it was summer I'd suggest the 3 ferries loop but not at this time of year.
The paths up Muirshiel (the Gretas) are all gravel, there's a load of new accessible paths and the older hydro path over the hill to Blair Park then you can cross the road and take the path past the crematorium up the hill into Kelburn wind farm, do a quick bog trot (and it will be a big) to the opposite Dalry wind farm and down to the Fairlie Moor Road for the return leg.
Off road, it'll be a boggy mess. Everywhere. Douglas Park, Kaim Hill, the Greenock Cuts, the whole lot. Dunoon is more enduro type trails and where I'd be heading.
I'm in Largs myself, depending when you're about I may be off work so at the very least could put places to words over a coffee. Might even come out on a ride!
I did the Loch Thom route mentioned above, on a loop round from Wemyss Bay. Cracking road riding and felt properly remote once you were away from the tourist spots.
Be aware if riding Brisbane Glen/Loch Thom route the road from Cornalees to inverkip is currently sign posted as closed but I’ve been told is rideable
There are two options that way, you can either duck down to Inverkip or else head down to the A78 and then ride along the side.
There is the side road back down the coast from Wemyss Bay but you still need to ride along the road for a short stint around the Meigle.
Alternatively don't take your bike, spend the time with you family? stuffing your face with ice-cream in nardinis.
Cheers for this. As always just the kind of stuff I wanted to know. Think I'll take the ragley and do some work on where these places are, I'll ride if they're not a big, parents were in Kirkcudbright when the storms were on and said itvwas really wet where they were walking.
Squirrellking, I may get in touch for a brew and a ride, currently very unfit after tendinitis and illness at the end of last year.
Cheers again everyone.
Squirrellking, I may get in touch for a brew and a ride, currently very unfit after tendinitis and illness at the end of last year.
That's okay, I'm generally unfit from not getting out for as long and then some.
The algorithms must be working, this appeared on my YouTube feed today.