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I'm looking to escape for a few days riding at the end of next week before a forced period of time off the bike due to a pending back op in June. I've always fancied a trip to Fort Bill, but it's a chuffing long drive, even from where i live in The Lakes. The alternative would be Glentress and the trails at Innerleithan which is half the distance, but i have been there quite a few times.
Will be staying in my campervan and will be riding a Levo SL (both places have electric hookup available).
Is Fort Bill and the Nevisrange worth the extra drive over Glantress etc? Will be going on my own, if that makes any difference.
What would STW do?
There is a much bigger variety of stuff in the Tweed valley. But what is there at Fort Bill is pretty unique.
But I guess it kind of depends whether you want to ride a lift assisted trail or not. With an E-bike maybe the answer is no.
If you fancy the uplift at Fort William, then it is a lot of fun. If not, my first thought is there are a hell of a lot more trails in GT / Inners and the other nearby forests.
Fort William but taking in Laggan and Kinlochleven could be a good trip - but really depends what you're looking for.
It is not a difficult drive up to Fort Bill, can be a nice drive if you get a good day and avoid all the shed-tugging dolts.
It is a long drive, and that eats into your riding time. I'd always rather ride in the mountains though (as I'm sure you do living in the lakes) than in a forest.
I'm sure you'll love both.
Ft Bill is ace, but if I was in your position, I'd likely go Tweed Valley. You've got Inners (uplift), Golfie, Yair, Cademuir, Thornilee....loads of variety for a few days and all within a 15min drive of Peebles/Inners.
Depends a bit on what kind of stuff you like to ride. If you want any specific trail chat about Tweed Valley, drop me a PM.
As this is a timely thread...
How to spend 2 to 3 days riding based out of Fort William? We'll do a day's gondola/nevis Range but what about day 2?
Callander looked like it should have some awesome riding on my last drive up that way and would be an OK stopping off point on the way home. Would it be worth it?
but it’s a chuffing long drive, even from where i live in The Lakes.
Ach Quatsch.
Did the drive from Manchester to Skye in an afternoon after taking my kid to the hospital, did the whole Cuillin ridge the next day, then Glen Sligachan cycle the next day, then Torridon big cycle, then Cairngorm & MacDui cycle then home that same day.
Best 4 days evah.
As above, way more trails around the Tweed valley but Fort Bill combined with Laggan is definitely worth the drive up, possibly with a stop at Glencoe on the way home. I've also seen a lot of Instagram vids of the off piste stuff around Fort Bill over the last year or so, never ridden any but it looks very good if a days exploring is an option
Also, although I'm wading into the meta-physical here, Fort Bill is kind of a pilgrimage destination for any UK based biker.
So you know if you have never been then maybe its worth the extra drive.
I wouldn't ever leave the FW locality riding to drive to callander!.
Check oot the kinlochleven Enduro route, tour de Ben Nevis, ciaran path (some folk seem to rate it) up n down the CIC hut path, Laggan just along the road, thats just a few for starters, scratching the surface.
I wouldn’t ever leave the FW locality riding to drive to callander!
It's more that going home via Callander adds 20 minutes or so and a prettier drive than through Glasgow so I'll probably be leaving FW to go anyhow, just is it worth the stop tbh. (and it always feels nice to stop on route for a ride, feels like a "free" ride vs staying longer then just sitting in the car for hours)
If you're in the Lakes, surely it's a days less riding in FW vs the Tweed Valley?
But if you've never been, I'd go to FW.
Fair enough, I generally like to go home a slightly different way too. I don't think Callander is worth it tbh, you could have an uplift day, then a day at Laggan (stuff across road from TC is great) then you've also got Pitlochry and Dunkeld on the way home too.
It’s more that going home via Callander adds 20 minutes or so and a prettier drive than through Glasgow so I’ll probably be leaving FW to go anyhow, just is it worth the stop tbh.
I don't think it even adds 20 minutes, all it takes is 2 caravans meeting at Ardlui for the A84 to be a quicker route than the A82.
then you’ve also got Pitlochry and Dunkeld on the way home too
Ah ta, will take a look at that.
Main reason it sprang to mind was it looked like it should have great riding as I drove through. That said the same is true of the dales and its miles of shooting tracks.
Fort Bill is kind of a pilgrimage destination for any UK based biker.
Hmmm. Whilst I'm quite excited that Blue Steel might be open in time to take the kid in summer, apart from that I've never got particularly excited about Fort Bill riding.....
But then that might be because my definition of FB is about 10km radius of there.
Thanks everyone for your comments. I think that I'm going to head to Glentress and include Inners etc. Being on my own i feel more comfortable on marked trails, knowing that there will be others around should shit happen. Just need to see if i can get a camping pitch with hook-up now!
Photos of the 'adventure' to follow soon.
Enjoy, I'm sure you will. 😁
I've done GT before as a solo weekend trip from Teesside, it's great for that.
Trying to remember but I think I managed the Black in the morning, lunch back at the car, and then the Red without the top bit (spooky wood), dinner, then the blue with the top part of red as the last run of the day after dinner and the crowds dispersed.
Then did a mostly blue loop in the morning of the 2nd day moping up the handful of black/red alternatives I'd missed out on before doing Innerleithen and then home.
In retrospect the full Innerleithen route is hard work, I remember the climb took over an hour, and I regretted doing it last. But then I'd just have been knackered on one of the other trails so swings and roundabouts.
Weather less of a factor at GT too, just needs some decent wind and could be FW gondola closed reducing your options.
In retrospect the full Innerleithen route is hard work, I remember the climb took over an hour, and I regretted doing it last. But then I’d just have been knackered on one of the other trails so swings and roundabouts.
I think the bike's got a battery - so it should be great for exploring the network. Maybe a spare battery though so you're not waiting for it to charge :).
OP.
If you want to ride some of the more interesting trails in the Tweed Valley give us a shout and I may be able to meet up with you.
Tbanks for the offer SSS. I e got a pitch booked at Glentress for 3 nights from Thursday next week so I’ll PM you if I get chance 👍
Is there much to do around Inners than doesn't revolve around cycling? I'm thinking of heading up in late June but the non-biking wife will be with me so it can't be bike, bike, bike.