A broad category of ride that doesn’t feature in this book is the linear route up a glen where the road or track doesn’t continue ‘over
the top’. Unless you’re on a mountain bike and/or willing to commit to a pass-storming adventure over rough terrain, you’ll need to go back the way you came. These out-and-back routes can be superb days out and the purpose of these are some of my favourites.
If your favourite dead-end glen isn’t listed, drop me a line with a bit of information about what you like about it, plus any practical advice, and I’ll add it to the list.
Glen Affric
This is such a great route that it was on the short list for inclusion in the book but just didn’t make it. You can start from Cannich, where the River Affric joins the River Glass, and where there is a good campsite. If coming by train, you’ll start further east at Beauly. The paved road from Cannich continues almost as far as Affric Lodge. A good gravel track runs along the south shore of Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin. Beyond here, you’re onto a good track, that slowly gets worse (or better, depending on your appetite for the rough stuff). A good turning point to aim for is the Affic Hostel, a small off-grid hut, run by Hostelling Scotland. Booking is essential if you want to stay the night. A few miles beyond the hostel is the Camban bothy.
You can ride over the top to the Invershiel, following the Kintail Way, but a mountain-bike is required unless you’re prepared to walk/push/carry your bike for extended periods. This part of the Northern Highlands is one of the great wild landscapes of Scotland, so come prepared.
Download file for GPSGleann Mòr – Strath Vaich
This is a pass-storming route that takes you through the heart of Easter Ross. It’s accessible by train at Ardgay, from where you’ll head west up the River Carron and into Gleann Mòr, on a good 4×4 track to Deanich Lodge. The track bears south onto Strathvaich and eventually you’ll exit onto the A835. It’s a short ride on the road to the train station at Garve.
Glen Etive
This is a stunning road, made globally famous as a location in the James Bond film Skyfall, and features on p. 26-27 of Lost Lanes Scotland. As a result you may meet a few more sightseeing motorists than you might like, but it still makes for a great ride. Accessibility is tricky as the road begins at the junction with the fast A87 near Kings House, just east of Glen Coe. The West Highland Way passes this way, but its rough surface isi more suited to mountain-bikes than most gravel and touring bikes.
The paved road ends on the shore of Loch Etive. A walkers’ path continues along the north shore of the loch and connects to a rideable track after a few miles. The route through to Bonawe is definitely one for the rough stuff aficionados.
Balquhidder Glen
I chanced upon this glen while looking for a place to wild camp but finding myself in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs wild camping exclusion area. I dropped in on the grave of Rob Roy, the famous local outlaw and continued riding up the glen, passing the farmstead at Inverlochlarig, where he lived and where the paved road ends. A good, rideable track continues up the glen beneath the southern spurs of of Ben More. I found my camp spot and spent a wonderful night there. The next morning I rode back down the glen, and took the photo you can find on p. 2-3 of the book.
Glen Almond
The track from Ardtalnaig on Loch Tay to Newton Bridge on the A822 is a sensational and eminently rideable section of upland gravel. It very nearly made it into the book, with a return via Glen Quaitch. In fact, I’m not entirely sure why it didn’t make the final cut.
It’s also accessible from Perth, following the River Almond upstream through Pitcairngreen, Buchanty and up the Sma’ Glen. All these glens, like so many in the Highlands, were severely impacted by the Highland Clearances during the 18th and 19th centuries.