Arrochar and Ardgartan

Damsel Fly


A few weeks back (May07) I took a trip up to Arrochar to do a mountain bike loop around Ardgartan peninsula but all I did was watch the rain falling for three hours from the boring comfort of several tea rooms.
Sunday past (10June) Graham and I had another attempt this time it went much much better.
I hoped to do two routes from the visitor centre, the first round Ardgartan peninsula (32km and 1000m ascent) then a shorter route (22km, 900m ascent) around Glen Loin.
There is some nice singletrack to be had but the Ardgartan loop has some very long forest road climbs especially after Lochgoilhead up to the Rest and be Thankfull, what a slog!
The other shorter route around Glen Goil is much more rewarding with some lovely enclosed glen riding and a great singletrack ending down Glen Loin.
Both routes start at the Tourist information centre (coffee and snacks) with a singletrack climb starting (and finishing) the Glen Loin route.

We were on the bikes for six hours with only a half hour break at the tourist office between routes for some much needed fuel.
A fabulous outing but long and tiring, I'd recommend the Glen Loin route, its a smasher!

Map is Landranger 56, the tourist centre is at MR270038, the Glen Loin start is 50m down the road and the only other navigational difficulty is the bridge at MR303093, the start of the singletrack in Glen Loin. There is a new track at Succoth zig zagging up the hill from the car park this saves doubling back to climb up the forest road.

Video of the day here.