Conic Hill, Balmaha
poah
Posts: 3,369
Conic hill at Balmaha, 361M high, is part of the west highland way that has a "path" which takes you over both sides of the hill (you can choose which way you go up and down). I went up the south face like you would doing the WHW. This isn't as steep as the other side but is longer.
I parked at Balmaha and pedalled along the road to Milton of Buchanan before turning off the main road to head up to the hill. You join the WHW after 2.5 miles and then just follow the path up the hill and then part of the way down before vering off onto the grass. This takes you a fairly steep and rocky path which I couldn't cycle part of it plus it was fairly over grown too. I started about 5pm so by the time I got up to the top there was very few people around. I was chatting to those at the top and they were surprised at me cycling down.
Strava link https://www.strava.com/activities/1118937908
video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqe472_fStM
this is on the climb up
and this is close to the summit looking over Loch Lomand
While the DH was pretty fast and technical in places I'm not convinced the effort to climb up is worth it.
I parked at Balmaha and pedalled along the road to Milton of Buchanan before turning off the main road to head up to the hill. You join the WHW after 2.5 miles and then just follow the path up the hill and then part of the way down before vering off onto the grass. This takes you a fairly steep and rocky path which I couldn't cycle part of it plus it was fairly over grown too. I started about 5pm so by the time I got up to the top there was very few people around. I was chatting to those at the top and they were surprised at me cycling down.
Strava link https://www.strava.com/activities/1118937908
video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqe472_fStM
this is on the climb up
and this is close to the summit looking over Loch Lomand
While the DH was pretty fast and technical in places I'm not convinced the effort to climb up is worth it.
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Comments
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Looks like a decent day out, always wondered if it was any good. Last year I got off the train in Balloch and cycled to Rowardennan Lodge and stayed there for a few days, the ranger didn't recommend biking Conic (didn't recommend most things mind..).
Sounds like a good time to do it, during the day with the WHWers would be a nightmare.0 -
90min round trip from balmaha and that's an old unfit bloke doing it.0