Crispin’s Guide to Stirling
Cycling – Off Road
Stirling
offers an excellent choice of areas to ride an MTB off-road.
Local
mountain biking hot spots include:
Cambusbarron
woods and quarry (OS Landranger 57, 768917)
(The
red ring is positioned where SBC meet-up)
Ranging
from challenging single-track to open paths through the woods, with enough
options for me to still get dazed and confused.
If
in doubt, climb until you reach the burnt-out tree on Gilies Hill for a
stunning view and a breather.
This
can be easily linked to North Third, by descending into the quarry and
continuing south.
North
Third (OS Landranger 57, 761888)
As
featured in MBUK.
Not
for the timid as your wheels are just inches from a 200ft vertical drop.
Pick
up one of the paths at 770906 or follow the farm-track/ fire-road to 764899.
Opinion
seems to be that the cliffs are best ridden to the north. The trig-point at
761888 offers stunning views.
Dumyat (OS Landranger 57, 836977)
Can
be ridden in a leisurely two-three hours from Stirling.
The
hill can be tackled from the carpark at 813908. Best route is the high one.
It’s
possible (so Douglas says) to ride almost all the way. It’s also possible to
push all the way.
Descending
through Craigs Wood is not encouraged as there are “No Biking” signs.
The
University Woods are also popular riding areas and can be used to access
Dumyat.
(A
Stirling Bike Club trip report)
Plean
Country Park
(OS Landranger 57, 828869)
Offers
some fun technical trails.
Local
jumping area with some technical descents. Climb up to Pendreich, past the
riding school (799 980) and down. Pack a parachute if you ride the bombholes
(790 981).
In
addition, I have written the following trip reports and root guides describing
recent Stirling
Bike Club rides.
Photos
from many of these routes can also be seen on my Fotopic site.
Stirling
Area
Ben
Cleuch - Highest hill in the Ochils, near Tillicoultry.
Club ride May 2002 (Now with GPS route info)
Blackford – Tillicoultry via Andrew Gannel Hill
An
excellent route across the Ochils.
And going the other way….
Glendevon (2002) and again in 2004
(Both contain description and photographs of rides from Tillicoultry to
Blackford via Ben Cleuch)
Going this way allows more riding but misses the
descent of Andrew Gannel
Glensherup
(Description, photographs, GPS waypoints and contour map of ride taking in Ben
Cleuch and Glensherup to Glen Dollar)
Ochils Traverse
(Description and photographs of traverse of Ochil hills from Sherrifmuir to
Glenquay, Dollar)
Ochils Traverse
(Description, photographs, GPS waypoints and contour map of traverse of Ochil
hills from Sherrifmuir to Kingseat, Dollar)
Glen Ample
(Description, photographs,GPS waypoints, and contour map of club ride from
Callander to Loch Earn and back)
Glen Artney
(Description and photographs of club ride along Glen Artney, between Callander
and Comrie)
(Description, photographs, GPS waypoints and
tracklog of club ride of Glen Finglas, from Callander to Balquhidder, returning
via Glen Ample)
Meikle Bin
(Description and photographs of club ride in Carron Valley area)
Menteith Hills
(Description, photographs, and GPS waypoints of club ride in Callander/
Aberfoyle area)
Touch Hills
(Description, photographs, GPS waypoints, and contour map of ride from Stirling
to Carleatheran Cairn and back via Fintry / Gargunnock)
(Description
and photographs of ride from Stirling to Gargunnock via Touch reservoir)
And
outwith the Stirling area...
(Photographs
from the red route at Glentress, near Peebles)
(Photographs
from a snowy ride at Innerleithen)
Beinn A'Ghlo
(Description, photographs, GPS waypoints and contour map from a ride in the
Blair Atholl area)
The
route here is shown going
clockwise. In retrospect I think
anti-clockwise works best.
Try
and them both and let me know what you think!
Mt
Keen/ Fungle Road
(Description, photographs, GPS waypoints and contour map from a ride in the
Tarfside area)
(Description,
photographs, GPS waypoints and contour map of a ride from Bridge of Orchy to
Loch Etive)
Devil's Staircase
(Description, photographs from a club ride in the Glencoe/ Kinlochleven area)
(Photographs
and description of Aviemore MTB race circuit and ride to Loch Einort)
(Photographs
and description of Burma Road route and Aviemore MTB race circuit)
(Photographs
and description of a ride in the Inverclyde / Greenock area)
(Photographs
of a ride in the Dunoon area)
Stirling Bike Club
organise several off-road rides every week throughout the year.
Joining
these rides is great fun and an excellent way of learning new routes and
improving skills.
I
know because I do it!
If
you want more information than is provided here, check the SBC Root Gyde or
post a question on their Bulletin
Board.
GPS
Finally, a
review on GPS and mountain biking on Offroad
Adventures - Online
Happy
riding !
© Crispin Bennett, 2001-2005
Crispin’s Guide to Stirling
Cycling – Off Road