Glorious riding in Scotland

I was working in Scotland for half of May and managed to get out on the bike a few times. Our first job was near Glasgow and the Campsie Fells were on our doorstep. I've never heard of them before and the riding isn't fantastic but on a dry, clear day the views of the Trossachs are absolutely stunning. Unfortunately I only had my phone with me so you'll have to go there yourself to see them. 

We were staying near Balfron and I rode up onto the fells via a good track from Kilearn that passed near Dumgoyne. It was rideable almost all the way onto the plateau. After the track petered out I followed a grass footpath, sometimes barely noticeable to the summit of  Earl's Seat. From here I rode east, basically following the edge of the escarpment and my nose, mostly not on any type of path at all, before I found a farm track that dropped back down to civilisation. As a mountain bike ride it was average but as a day in the hills it was one of the most enjoyable I've ever had. 

Don't bother going on a wet, claggy day, it would be a complete waste of time.

On a day off Stuart, who I was working with, and I headed off for an ascent of Ben Lomond. He ran it and I biked it and he absolutely thrashed me. It is the best Alpine style descent I've ever done in the UK and if it was in France it would have a ski lift to the top. Absolutely brilliant but not one for a weekend or busy bank holiday. I can not recommend it enough.

The start of the summit descent.

It's rocky and hardpack and perfectly doable on a hardtail. A lot of it is rideable up but there's also a lot of carrying. It's virtually all rideable down and there were some sections that I walked up that I thought I would have to push down but in the end I seemed to bypass by going off the path. I got up it in less than 2 hours and down it in half an hour. Doable on a summers evening!

Do it before you're too old.