Mountain Biking in Southern and Central Scotland. Peter Edwards

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СКАЧАТЬ Ordnance Survey mapping of the region is available from www.memory-map.co.uk, www.anquet.co.uk and direct from the Ordnance Survey (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk).

      The most up-to-date 1:50,000 scale Ordnance Survey mapping has been used for the routes in this guidebook. At the time of going to press, the information on the maps included in this guide was accurate. Older copies of some maps may contain information that is at odds with what is included here.

How to use this guide

      Each of the routes included in this guide are graded according to the degree of physical effort they require. The grades are as follows:

       Medium

       Hard

       Very hard

      The grades reflect the length of the route, the number and severity of climbs and the nature of the terrain traversed. Aside from the dedicated downhill and freeriding trails to be found at the various trail centres (route descriptions of which are not included in this guide), there is little difficult or ‘technical’ mountain biking encountered in the areas covered, hence there is no ‘difficult’ grade. There are no ‘easy’ routes included here and, therefore, there is no ‘easy’ grade.

      Timings

      Each route description has an estimated time for how long it should take to get around. These timings are a rough guide and the actual time will vary depending on fitness and experience, time of year, weather conditions and possible punctures or mechanical problems, as well as ‘re-fuelling’, pub or café stops. Allow yourself extra time for your first try-out of each of the routes in this guidebook.

      Distances

      Distances are given in kilometres and metres throughout the route descriptions. The total distance given at the beginning of each route is given in kilometres with the equivalent in miles given in brackets. All distances given in metres are linear distances and not height gain, unless specifically stated. ‘Climb for 200m along the bridleway’ means the climb is over a distance of 200m as opposed to: ‘...ascend 200m as you climb along the bridleway for 500m’.

      The total route distances are also broken down into off-road and on-road distances, with the off-road total given as a percentage. These off-road/on-road distances are as accurate as possible, allowing for a few grey areas where there’s some uncertainty as to whether a particular section of a route really qualifies as a ‘road’ or not!

      The route descriptions are detailed and map references are given where opportunities for uncertainty with route-finding occur. Once you’ve ridden the routes a couple of times they will become more familiar and you can spend less time with your nose in this book! Like following recipes from a cookery book, interpreting these routes in your own way and indulging in a spot of improvisation will adapt them to your own taste.

      Although the routes in this guide incorporate the most up-to-date Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 mapping available at the time of publication, you should also carry the relevant OS map sheets with you; you may also want to carry a GPS. Should you get lost or want to find railway stations, pubs, car parks or villages that are off the route, they will allow you to see the wider context.

ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS USED IN THE ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS

       left

       right

       straight ahead

       path crossing/junction

      N north

      S south

      E east

      W west

      NW etc. northwest etc.

      LH and RH left-hand and right-hand

       Mentions of left and right (and left-hand and right-hand), other than specific directions, are given thus: ‘where the road curves to the right ignore the turning on your left-hand side, instead go onto a farm track’.

       Easy to miss paths are noted in bold green; warnings of steep, dangerous or possibly crowded routes in bold red.

       Place names in route descriptions that appear on their maps are noted in bold.

       Roads are shown as A74, motorways as M8.

       Grid references are shown as SU 123 456.

       Important signs along the way are noted in red italics in route descriptions.

      ABBREVIATIONS

      LDP – Long-distance path

      NNR – National Nature Reserve

      WHW – West Highland Way

      SUW – Southern Upland Way

      SCW – St Cuthbert’s Way

      JMW – John Muir Way

      PW – Pennine Way

THE 7STANES

Ae Forest

      About the centre

      Located to the south of the Lowther Hills in Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, the Ae mountain bike trails have something for all abilities, from green and blue routes for beginners and families to a challenging red route for technical MTB trail riders. Ae has been popular as a downhill venue for some years and has two competition-level orange-graded routes.

      How to get there

      Follow the A701 north out of Dumfries towards Moffat. Turn left after 12km onto a minor road, signposted Forest of Ae (or head south along the A701 for 19km from junction 15 of the M74). The trail centre is on your right, just after Ae village. Grid ref: NX 984 894, sat nav: DG1 1QB

      Facilities

      Bike shop – including bike hire and servicing, pay & display parking, showers, toilets, uplift service. Ae Café open Monday–Sunday, 10am–5pm (except winter). Tel 01387 860805 for further information.

      The trails

      Larch View (blue, 13.5km, technicality 2/5)

      This blue route follows the Ae Valley family trail and extends to take in more of the surrounding forest, returning through the valley, following the river and taking in some easy wooden СКАЧАТЬ