Glasgow - going epic on rented bike?

mmateusz

Hi All,
I’m planning a few-days of epic enduro-trip near Glasgow.

The ideal logistics is as follows:
I’m entering a plane with only hand luggage (rucksack with only essentials), my spd shoes on my feet, helmet on my head.
In Glasgow, I’m borrowing a full-suspension bike near airfield, buying a canister for stove, and heading out of the town (by bike, or eventually by bus).
Then a nice 2-4 day loop on bike and then back to Glasgow. Preferably enduro-style trails: rocks, singletracks and nice views

Any suggestions?
Apologies for my ignorance, but I do not even know what to put in google :P
Such logistics works on Canary or Greek Islands, but I somehow have troubles to coordinate it in Scotland
Should I go north or south from Glasgow? (North seems to have bigger mountains, but I’ve found some trail centers in the south).
According accommodation – will http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk be ok for such trip?

And sure, I can play it safe: take my bike with me, rent a car at the airport, book a hotel in advance, but I’m doing that, when I’m going to holidays with my family.
When going out with buddies, the rules/expectations are different.

cougie

Hopefully some locals will be on to help you - but you'll have to go into town if you're thinking of getting a bike.

This place may help - http://www.cyclelane.co.uk/info/cycle_b ... otland.php

bompington

mmateusz wrote:

Hi All,
I’m planning a few-days of epic enduro-trip near Glasgow.

The ideal logistics is as follows:
I’m entering a plane with only hand luggage (rucksack with only essentials), my spd shoes on my feet, helmet on my head.
In Glasgow, I’m borrowing a full-suspension bike near airfield, buying a canister for stove, and heading out of the town (by bike, or eventually by bus).

Glasgow airport is far enough out of town - and while it has the usual basic tourist infrastructure, there's not much for specialised stuff like bike hire (decathlon's close, you could always buy one :-)). Similar for camping gear.
Transport into town isn't bad so you could head there: I personally don't know anything about bike hire in Glasgow but I'm sure someone here will. Could be a good idea to get the train out of town too, plenty head for the right kind of territory

Such logistics works on Canary or Greek Islands, but I somehow have troubles to coordinate it in Scotland

Did anyone tell you... Scotland is awesome, but it does differ from the south of Europe in some ways...

Should I go north or south from Glasgow? (North seems to have bigger mountains, but I’ve found some trail centers in the south).

North if you want wilder, more mountainous terrain, south for more developed trails

According accommodation – will http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk be ok for such trip?

Bothies are basically bare huts - often old cottages that are now uninhabited - with facilities that range from the bare minimum to absolutely, and I mean absolutely, none. It's really just camping with stone walls.
There are plenty of hostels round Scotland though.

fenix

When are you planning on going ?

tourdriving

Take a look on my site here you can find bike hire and how to get around https://tourdriving.wordpress.com/scotland/

veryslowtwitch

For a three/four day adventure:

Ride to queen st station in Glasgow (or over Erskine Bridge to Dumbarton Station) and take a train to Corrour station then find your way back on trails to Rannoch, Glen Lyon, Killin, Callander, Drymen, Glasgow. Combination of single track, green lane, land rover track and minor roads

YH at Loch Ossian, hotels in towns. If dry you'll have an epic, if wet then you'll also have an epic.


you'll have to be a keen map reader and need 25,000 OS maps to stitch it together but could do 80% off road to Drymen. Enjoy.

enzo berzot

Why not head down the coast to Ardrossan and get the ferry (55 mins) from there over to Arran?
It is a regular haunt of hours for the road circuit but there are loads of off road / forest tracks available too. There is also be bike hire on the island - http://www.arranbikehire.com/prices.html, not sure about the bikes though.
The island is stunning and is referred to as 'Scotland in Minature'.
Camping at Glen Rosa and plenty of wild camping opportunities on the island.

schmako

I'd second Arran actually, was there last spring for four days and its was great.

I camped up Glen Rosa, good location for setting out and about. Wish I had more time as there was plenty more to explore!

JBA

Did anyone read the date of the OP's posts?