Glen Tilt, Beinn A'Ghlo circ.
I posted this route description and photos on http://www.trailscotland.co.uk which is a new website and MTB community in Scotland, the site is trying to build up a comprehensive database of Scotlands trails and MTB routes. Its a good idea for sure.
Well this was technically a Trailscotland meet up as Myself and Climbingcragrat met at Perth Park and Ride to scoot up the road to Old Tilt Bridge near Blair Atholl.
A good start is to begin at the Glen Tilt car park. Upon leaving the car park the way you came in you go right between the two pillars signed as Forest Lodge. Continue on the rough road for many miles crossing the river over the bridge for the first time and passing the large Forest Lodge on your left. You will eventually come to a fork.
Take a right. You will then come to some singletrack which you follow until you come to a black bridge which crosses infront of the Falls of Tarf, a photo opportunity beckons.
Continue on the single track making sure that you head down towards the river when given the chance. You will have to ford the river trying to keep your feet dry. The path then climbs steeply up the hillside, its generally a hike a bike section, unless you have the Danny Macaskills. Follow the single track which undulates down to small streams and back up to crests. The route becomes grassy, which would be hellish in wet weather but its fine in the dry if a little energy sapping. Negotiate a few fence and gate crossings and you come across a small group of houses. At this point you turn onto a fairly well surfaced Land Rover track. It looks like this.
Follow it for a fair few miles, the track undulates a little and then comes what is really the first proper climb of the route. Its a case of getting the head down and the legs pumping. No technicality just quite gruelling. The view gets better and better as you climb however.
Thankfully there is some downhill coming, fast land rover tracks but you have to concentrate as large rocks litter the track, potholes galore and loose gravel could lose you a lot of skin should you come off.
So having fired down the glen, stopped only by gates. You come to a small holiday lodge and you have to turn a sharp right. This is what you will see...but watch out for the lambs which run along side your bike before cutting across in front of you...cute little buggers!
You are off down here, the good thing about this route is there is little scope for getting lost. I was really quite stunned by the scenery here, the sun obviously helped. Beinn A'Ghlo had a blue haze to compliment the blue skies and the trail opens out in front of you like a ribbon of Scottish perfection.
This is a nice bit of trail, quick on the downs, short steep climbs, stream blasting and that big mountain bearing down on you. Enjoy it, theres a climb coming so take a rest.
The climb is a good'un, its steep but has lots of traction and is very rideable. Pick a good gear and keep the legs spinning while you pick your line through the firm rocky path. Singletrack descending awaits.
Concentration is key here as the trail is thin as it drops on the slopes of the hill, its a thin ribbon but does have a number of boulders for you to contend with. The scenery opens out in front of you, with the smaller river down to the right, thats where you have to head. You can see the track on the other side of the river so just head to it the best you can.
Having crossed the river, climb over the ridge and follow the LR tracks, with another face of Beinn a'Ghlo on your right and the tiny Loch Valigan glistening on your left. Carry on and the road becomes very quick, open up the legs and blast down the road, keeping loose to soak up hidden bumps. It is really quite fun at speed, bunny hopping various tame obstacles. The last gate takes you onto a well deserved tarmac road, go left and follow the road back into Old Bridge of Tilt and to the car park. Sprint finish optional.
A proper Scottish Classic, a must do.
More pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62413345@N07/5680319177/in/photostream/
Length: 54km
Time: 5-7 hours.
Total ascent: 1600m
Perfect for all riders with a decent fitness level. There are gruelling climbs but for the distance you are going the climbs seem quite minimal. Its very remote and would be affected by bad weather. We had the most perfect riding conditions available, however. I fell off about 4 times but it not a techinical ride, honest.
Well this was technically a Trailscotland meet up as Myself and Climbingcragrat met at Perth Park and Ride to scoot up the road to Old Tilt Bridge near Blair Atholl.
A good start is to begin at the Glen Tilt car park. Upon leaving the car park the way you came in you go right between the two pillars signed as Forest Lodge. Continue on the rough road for many miles crossing the river over the bridge for the first time and passing the large Forest Lodge on your left. You will eventually come to a fork.
Take a right. You will then come to some singletrack which you follow until you come to a black bridge which crosses infront of the Falls of Tarf, a photo opportunity beckons.
Continue on the single track making sure that you head down towards the river when given the chance. You will have to ford the river trying to keep your feet dry. The path then climbs steeply up the hillside, its generally a hike a bike section, unless you have the Danny Macaskills. Follow the single track which undulates down to small streams and back up to crests. The route becomes grassy, which would be hellish in wet weather but its fine in the dry if a little energy sapping. Negotiate a few fence and gate crossings and you come across a small group of houses. At this point you turn onto a fairly well surfaced Land Rover track. It looks like this.
Follow it for a fair few miles, the track undulates a little and then comes what is really the first proper climb of the route. Its a case of getting the head down and the legs pumping. No technicality just quite gruelling. The view gets better and better as you climb however.
Thankfully there is some downhill coming, fast land rover tracks but you have to concentrate as large rocks litter the track, potholes galore and loose gravel could lose you a lot of skin should you come off.
So having fired down the glen, stopped only by gates. You come to a small holiday lodge and you have to turn a sharp right. This is what you will see...but watch out for the lambs which run along side your bike before cutting across in front of you...cute little buggers!
You are off down here, the good thing about this route is there is little scope for getting lost. I was really quite stunned by the scenery here, the sun obviously helped. Beinn A'Ghlo had a blue haze to compliment the blue skies and the trail opens out in front of you like a ribbon of Scottish perfection.
This is a nice bit of trail, quick on the downs, short steep climbs, stream blasting and that big mountain bearing down on you. Enjoy it, theres a climb coming so take a rest.
The climb is a good'un, its steep but has lots of traction and is very rideable. Pick a good gear and keep the legs spinning while you pick your line through the firm rocky path. Singletrack descending awaits.
Concentration is key here as the trail is thin as it drops on the slopes of the hill, its a thin ribbon but does have a number of boulders for you to contend with. The scenery opens out in front of you, with the smaller river down to the right, thats where you have to head. You can see the track on the other side of the river so just head to it the best you can.
Having crossed the river, climb over the ridge and follow the LR tracks, with another face of Beinn a'Ghlo on your right and the tiny Loch Valigan glistening on your left. Carry on and the road becomes very quick, open up the legs and blast down the road, keeping loose to soak up hidden bumps. It is really quite fun at speed, bunny hopping various tame obstacles. The last gate takes you onto a well deserved tarmac road, go left and follow the road back into Old Bridge of Tilt and to the car park. Sprint finish optional.
A proper Scottish Classic, a must do.
More pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62413345@N07/5680319177/in/photostream/
Length: 54km
Time: 5-7 hours.
Total ascent: 1600m
Perfect for all riders with a decent fitness level. There are gruelling climbs but for the distance you are going the climbs seem quite minimal. Its very remote and would be affected by bad weather. We had the most perfect riding conditions available, however. I fell off about 4 times but it not a techinical ride, honest.
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Comments
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That`s sounds a really nice route , I have often wondered about riding around Ben A Ghlo but never got round to it---primarily because I`m usually in area in February, not best of time for such an expedition. TrailScotland also looks a great site, there seem to be some many opportunities on the numerous landrover / singletracks it` sgood having a site putting them altogether
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