[Closed] Popped my Kirroughtree Cherry today.

what route did you do?

Did the red and part of the black

sounds like you're doing it wrong

Only been thre once, two new years ago, when the snow and ice were heavy on the ground. Felt it was slightly overhyped [could have been the conditions] but I though the last bit of the red, Beginning of the end or Final Hurrah or whatever it is called was flippin great....

legend - Member
sounds like you're doing it wrong

Your right must be, i'll just pi55 off and sell my MTB then. 🙄

I think it's overhyped, but I also think it's ace 😉 Quite a lot is fairly empty simple trail, it weaves and swoops but doesn't do much. Do like the last bit, as long as I've still got the legs to charge down it flat out.

IMO the best bits are McMoab and the black return from there though, so you might have missed most of that from the sound of it. Talnotry Hill is a bit good.

Unfortunatly black trail is a step too far for me, the bit i did was fine but there were a couple of rocky sections that i had to walk down. Also am noty fit enough to do the whole route right now.

I actually really liked the blue/red parts of the trail the best, they justed seemed to flow nicely, it seemed to come off and on the fire road quite a bit too.

Definatly prefer Mabie, and Ae.

Will have a go next year and hopefully do the whole black too.

I found it to be a bit overhyped too. It's not really steep enough for my liking.

The first time I went to Kirroughtree, I wasn't really quite up for it... Right on the edge of my skill, and a little bit past the limit of my fitness. I didn't get close to getting the best of the trail tbh, the lack of gradient does mean you need to supply the motion yourself. I think maybe I was just a little "ahead" of where you are, maybe not. But it did seem like very hard work, and I was missing out on the best of it despite that.

It does get better.

I think its an excellent trail. I did the red on Monday as was time constrained and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have went round the black many times and think its great fun with some really nice sections. It does have a few fireroad sections but what trailcentre doesnt?

Shame you didnt enjoy it as much as you had hoped, perhaps another visit would change your mind 😀

Go back when your fitter and I bet you enjoy it more 🙂

You've got to enjoy pedalling/know how to carry speed.

I love the descent from Black Craigs and the following few sections, lovely payback for the climbing.

The black loop at any pace close, or faster, than 2 1/2 hours is an amazing trail.

Only a couple of trails better IMO.

Yeah, the Talnotry hill bit just seems to flow so well, it's great fun, just takes ages to get to it, haha!

You can park at McMoab and start the route from there instead of the trail head - it means you get heartbreak hill out of the way early and have plenty of energy to get the most out of the Talnotry descent.

Yes it is tough on the legs but I found it a great trail tbh. It was joint top for me with Glentress. I enjoyed it more than riding the Afan trails which I ride weekly. Although that could be down to the novelty factor 😉

Also am noty fit enough to do the whole route right now.

That's your problem, IMHO you've got to get the hammer down at Kirro, and you will be rewarded. Quite different from the likes of GT, big haul up and then fly down.

And to say it's not as good as Ae is nuts 🙂

The black loop at any pace close, or faster, than 2 1/2 hours is an amazing trail.

Only a couple of trails better IMO.

Nail. On. Head.

I think Ae is a great trail, Omega Man is fab, Grannies Green love is the biz. Could do with a bit more singletrack instead of the fire road before grannies green love.

Ae and Kirroughtree are similar in the way you are rewarded for the effort and skill you apply, both great trails which require an aggressive and confident approach. Was at Ae recently and think the new sections of trail and improvements have made it one the best trail centre rides, but again, you have to go full throttle to get the rewards!

I remember Ae having a couple of quite a nice but short bits at the beginning, then a really long bit in the middle that just didn't seem to have any flow or features and seemed to go on forever. The Omega Man at the end was decent but not really long enough.

Can't really see much similarity with Kirroughtree at all (I haven't been back since the recent improvements though).

I think I need to get back to Ae... Found it really pretty poor last time, good in small sections but very hard work for the return. And Omega Man cheesed me off, partly by not being all that good but mainly for being an "epic final descent" that turned into a climb then returned to the fire road, then started [i]another[/i] final descent. Like they went out of their way to build an anticlimax.

But I think I judge it too harshly, knowing what to expect I think I can get a lot more fun out of it.

But I think I judge it too harshly

i dunno about that, i reckon it's pish too

Definitely give it another go, makes a great night ride too!

Dont fancy the edge at night 😯

I love it, probably my fav of the stanes. If your a bit of a list ticker then mabe its not for you.
As a matter of interest have you been up to Laggan and Golspie wildcat? Would love to know what you think of those.
Whats your favorite, natural / mountain (non trail centre) type ride in uk?

Its unfair to chastise any trail/route when you havent done it full.

Do the black next year and see if its any better than what you tried this week.

I cant recall any bits in Kirroughtree that you have to get off and push down, but horses for courses.

Ooh Golspie. Now that's what I want as a trail. Fanflippintastic!

Kirry is pretty dependent on which bike you're riding too. I turned up there the first time on something with pretty big travel thought it was ok. Next time it was on something more xc and it was fantastic. Like others have said it really rewards pushing the pedals hard on the flat/downhill sections where most other trail centres use gravity at that point.

Black section after heartbreak hill is probably my favourite, just wish I had energy at that point. May start there next time.

I think Kirroughtree is great if possibly a bit overhyped, I would definitely go more often but its a bit of a haul from Glasgow compared to GT, Inners or Ae

have you been up to Laggan and Golspie wildcat?

Golspie, Balblair and possibly Laggan are better IMO.

None of the Welsh centres come close. Maybe Brechfa, maybe.

spanishfly - Member
Its unfair to chastise any trail/route when you havent done it full.

Do the black next year and see if its any better than what you tried this week.

I cant recall any bits in Kirroughtree that you have to get off and push down, but horses for courses.

Unfair? really even tho i did all the red and a part of the black.
So i cant comment on the red then, yes very good!

Hey maybe yo are just a mega superstar mountain bike rider and can traverse anything the 7 stanes can provide. Newsflash im not not sure if you are just being arrogant or are just a blow hard.

How come there seems to be very little room for new riders on this forum, everyone seems to think they are Cadel Evans, keyboard warrior syndrome?

Steve - are you a troll?

How come there seems to be very little room for new riders on this forum, everyone seems to think they are Cadel Evans, keyboard warrior syndrome?

I notice this too. A forum full of confident, 30's-are-the-new-20's, blokes and you're going to get a load of "man up", "do it my way" type comments. Ignore them - if something doesn't float your boat, then no one can tell you you're doing it wrong, or go back and give it a better go! And for the record, I hate Ae too, but Mabie is braw! 😉

Good job you didn't ask what kneepads for XC!

Good grief,I must have touched a nerve,

I believe my comments are just, you can only form an opinion on the red part of the track.

I have only done the red while racing or as part of the full black loop not as a dedicated loop but throughout I cant recall with the exception of a part of McMoab being too onerous.

I am unsure how to respond to the Cadel Evans remark as I dont understand it.

I am flattered by the poster assuming I am only in my 30s.

I agree with your comments spanishfly even though I'm a little concerned by your username 🙂

stevewhyte- i too was a tad underwhelmed by Kirro first time though I did the black rather than red.As others have said the black which incorprates the red is a great ride and defintely worth another visit.Much better too if you start in the car park at Heartbreak Hill then you're fresh for all the good bits. Not a big fan of McMoab myself though

Did kirroughtree and Ae a couple of weekends ago, it was the second time I'd done both, the first time was a few of years ago.

First time round I thought kirroughtree was the best of the stanes, but this time round I found it pretty boring, just seemed to be a drag rather than fun, not much in the way of downhill sections. Dont know why I liked it first time round.

Ae on the other hand was excellent, especially the last few descents.

Kit - Member

Ignore them - !

Good point well made.

As far as Kirroughtree is concerned really just not quite understanding why most folk rate it so highly.

As i said eariler next year i will go back and try the full red/black course with hopefully a bit more fitness and skill.

I loved the Kirroughtree black and hated Ae. Different strokes for different folks.

OP

If your going to hang out round here you have to developed thicker skin! In between all the bitching and backbiting you will find all the answers you will ever need. 🙂

As for Kirra, I really loved my first few rides but last time it felt like a slog so maybe I aren't fit enough (or getting old!)

Ae I have loved everytime I have been. And that's inspite of diversions and knackered surfaces. I love the broken down nature of the whole place. Agree with Northwind that the sign for the Omega Man should come alot later!

Last time we rode up and finished with the Shredder (bottled the road gap!), and loved that too.

Mugboo

I was round Ae last week and they were dong a fair bit of work to Burn Bash Brash.

Sections of the edge are in need of some attention too.

Your right about the thick skin, sometimes it just gets very boring reading so much utter pi5h to find posts worth reading.

Steve - you're funny. Fair play to you.

I was round Ae last week and they were dong a fair bit of work to Burn Bash Brash.

There is [i]always[/i] work going on at Ae, as it was a rush job.

Sections of the edge are in need of some attention too.

Edge must be the most reworked piece of singletrack in the 7 stanes, it's unrecogniseable since it's inception.

Hey maybe yo are just a mega superstar mountain bike rider and can traverse anything the 7 stanes can provide. Newsflash im not not sure if you are just being arrogant or are just a blow hard.

Nah he's shite, I refer you to Tuesday am meeester fly 😉

spanishfly - Member

I am flattered by the poster assuming I am only in my 30s.

30's Pffffffttttt 😆

First time at KT was my first taste of trail centre riding and I loved it. Went back several times but the shine gradually wore off. Last time I went I just did the last bit of the red/black a dozen or so times.

Only been to Kirroughtree the once, but I did enjoy it. As has been said previously, definitely a trail that rewards speed. I've also only ridden Ae once and that was on an sx trail with DH tyres and too short a seat post, probably not a fair test. Would love to go back on a hardtail or nice sprightly full suss. Fitness is a major factor when it comes to getting the best out of a trail, too tired to push it you wont have much fun.

Been to KTree once and the last descent on the black is amazing, all our group had massive grins at the end of it, just superb.

Kirroughtree is the best of the 7 stanes in my opinion. You do have to be fairly fit and work hard to get the best out of it though. There isn't much free speed to be had. Guess that's why I love it some much, it just inspires you to push really hard and you get the reward for that......truly stunning XC singletrack

same dilema this weekend. Ae is 60 miles farther and an extra hours journey time for me and ill be passing right by kirouchtree but i just think ill enjoy it more going by what ive read. next time i get over i may try and do two trails in the one day, kt and mabbie

I rode the black at KT in December under six inches of snow (apart from McMoab). Proper epic, with a nice sense of really being in the wilderness in places.