HI everyone,

I know many of you like looking at maps and routes so here's the start of my OR/MR JOGLE down to the Erskine Bridge. I plan to start on April 24th subject to fitness levels (had a bit of knee trouble of late).

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=lgboohdzoejabkfz

I'd love to hear your comments, feel free to suggest any modifications.

Cheers
Bryan

Ask Mr Barter.

He and Andy did an off-road version late last year and will be able to give you a few pointers

Couple of wee tweaks you might want to consider;

At Invershin (south of Lairg) you can cross the river by a footpath alongside the railway bridge and then use a wee road. This avoids the need to go through Bonar Bridge

When you get to the A835 just north of Garve, you can jink right then left to Garve rather left-right and crossing the Blackwater road bridge. This is the route used by the HTR (in reverse).

When on NCN7 at Kingshouse, there's now a signposted route direct to Strathyre. No need to take the road through Balquhidder now.

HTH

When you get to Drymen your heading down the Dunbartonshire road. I have cycled it before once, and once only. Possibly the most dangerous road in Scotland to cycle on, . I would be heading towards milingivie or bearsden and then down to Glasgow via lambhill then possil or something like that. If your stopping at a shop though, lock your bike.

Justchris wrote:When you get to Drymen your heading down the Dunbartonshire road. I have cycled it before once, and once only. Possibly the most dangerous road in Scotland to cycle on, . I would be heading towards milingivie or bearsden and then down to Glasgow via lambhill then possil or something like that. If your stopping at a shop though, lock your bike.

His route is the West Highland Way then the John Muir Way. There's a tiny section of minor road out of Drymen.

ScotRoutes wrote:

Justchris wrote:When you get to Drymen your heading down the Dunbartonshire road. I have cycled it before once, and once only. Possibly the most dangerous road in Scotland to cycle on, . I would be heading towards milingivie or bearsden and then down to Glasgow via lambhill then possil or something like that. If your stopping at a shop though, lock your bike.

His route is the West Highland Way then the John Muir Way. There's a tiny section of minor road out of Drymen.

Sorry looking at it on my phone.

I went from the Erskine bridge to aberfoyle and back 2 years ago, though i went a diffrent route, missing out the section up through Dumbarton.

Theres a few diffrent variations of the route i took,including forestry tracks,though i havent ridden them so cant comment on easyness.

My route went from Drymen following the West Highland way to Carbeth, then cut across the main road onto the track just west of Carbeth hill, labelled as "Unofficial Adventurous John Muir Way option" on the site you posted.
This takes you to Burncrooks Reservoir, and across the dam. All rideable up to this point. Though there was a high locked gate i had to climb with the bike.
From the dam onwards its pushing and carrying (maybe partly rideable in dry weather?), heading roughly southwest towards the 3 Duncolm hills.

Its then a mostly rideable trail to the east end of Loch Humphrey, and then a steep downhill on a decent offroad track, onto a minor road,which brings you out at Station road, below the On/off ramps for the Erskine Bridge. Very short distance on minor road till you pick up your route at the Kilpatrick station.

Decent route, could be a bit boggy from Burncrooks to Humphrey depending on weather though.

I think theres also forestry tracks if you go left just before Burncrooks, that would take you out at Duncolm hill or over to Greenhill Reservoir and the slacks, and then MTB trails down to the Erskine bridge. Im not sure on this route though, havent been that way.

Anyways,made my account to post this. Just thought it could be an alternative more scenic route if you fancy missing out Dumbarton.

We went much further west in Scotland and were planning to go via the islands but wind shut the ferries. I've ridden almost all of that proposed in your route and a quick scan show it should be fine. I'll download the GPX and have a bit more of a detailed look later.

ScotRoutes wrote:Couple of wee tweaks you might want to consider;

At Invershin (south of Lairg) you can cross the river by a footpath alongside the railway bridge and then use a wee road. This avoids the need to go through Bonar Bridge

When you get to the A835 just north of Garve, you can jink right then left to Garve rather left-right and crossing the Blackwater road bridge. This is the route used by the HTR (in reverse).

When on NCN7 at Kingshouse, there's now a signposted route direct to Strathyre. No need to take the road through Balquhidder now.

HTH

Many thanks for these. Just checking the last one, does that take you to the east of the A84 into the forest or just to the west of the road following the dismantled railway?

Thanks

It's the line of the old railway. It has existed as a rough track for some time, but it's been "properly" done now. It joins the A84 about 1km north of Strathyre but (IIRC) you can follow a riverbank track to get to the village.

ScotRoutes wrote:It's the line of the old railway. It has existed as a rough track for some time, but it's been "properly" done now. It joins the A84 about 1km north of Strathyre but (IIRC) you can follow a riverbank track to get to the village.

Great, thanks.

Trigs wrote:I went from the Erskine bridge to aberfoyle and back 2 years ago, though i went a diffrent route, missing out the section up through Dumbarton.

Theres a few diffrent variations of the route i took,including forestry tracks,though i havent ridden them so cant comment on easyness.

My route went from Drymen following the West Highland way to Carbeth, then cut across the main road onto the track just west of Carbeth hill, labelled as "Unofficial Adventurous John Muir Way option" on the site you posted.
This takes you to Burncrooks Reservoir, and across the dam. All rideable up to this point. Though there was a high locked gate i had to climb with the bike.
From the dam onwards its pushing and carrying (maybe partly rideable in dry weather?), heading roughly southwest towards the 3 Duncolm hills.

Its then a mostly rideable trail to the east end of Loch Humphrey, and then a steep downhill on a decent offroad track, onto a minor road,which brings you out at Station road, below the On/off ramps for the Erskine Bridge. Very short distance on minor road till you pick up your route at the Kilpatrick station.

Decent route, could be a bit boggy from Burncrooks to Humphrey depending on weather though.

I think theres also forestry tracks if you go left just before Burncrooks, that would take you out at Duncolm hill or over to Greenhill Reservoir and the slacks, and then MTB trails down to the Erskine bridge. Im not sure on this route though, havent been that way.

Anyways,made my account to post this. Just thought it could be an alternative more scenic route if you fancy missing out Dumbarton.

Thanks for this, an interesting alternative. How high was the locked gate at the dam?

Nice route. If you knock out a few more miles on the first day there is a cracking bothy just a little further on(though they are threatening to close it due to issues of litter), but if you prefer to camp it is a lovely spot next to the red roofed estate building. PM me if you're interested in the bothy option (but you probably know about it already )

The one disadvantage of bypassing bonar bridge is that you will miss out on one of only two (I think) independent bakers in the far north. Situated in the Bonar Bridge Spar they make a mean pie - you cannae take a 'by' on a pie! Granted, on all other criteria the suggested alternative wins hands down

....if you are keen to camp the first night it would still be worth heading on a further 2k or so to Cearnsary. There's a cracking spot to camp next to the estate buildings there. Don't think they're really used much. Good green sward of grass for pitching up on, and couple of trees for shelter.

feepole wrote:....if you are keen to camp the first night ..

I will camp every night, either wild or at a camp site.

feepole wrote:... it would still be worth heading on a further 2k or so to Cearnsary. There's a cracking spot to camp next to the estate buildings there. Don't think they're really used much. Good green sward of grass for pitching up on, and couple of trees for shelter.

Brilliant, thanks

feepole wrote:The one disadvantage of bypassing bonar bridge is that you will miss out on one of only two (I think) independent bakers in the far north. Situated in the Bonar Bridge Spar they make a mean pie - you cannae take a 'by' on a pie! Granted, on all other criteria the suggested alternative wins hands down

I shall need supplies as I go, good to have the option.

bryanwadd wrote: Thanks for this, an interesting alternative. How high was the locked gate at the dam?

Cant remember well. I think it was the height of 2 normal field gates high.
So quite a task if you have a loaded bike. I only had a small rucksack and bar harness, so wasnt too awkward.

I noticed on the map after i posted that the Unofficial John Muir trail comes out a bit higher up near Drymen also.Which you could then follow down to Burncrooks Reservoir, missing out the gate. This is going by the map though, who knows what the actual trail is like.


Good luck whichever way you decide.