Bike Scotland Trails Guide - Rated 
Bought on a recent bike trip to scotland - had just right level of information for us and we ended up using it alot.
Essential - Rated
Saturday August 12, 2006
The Guardian
Scottish mountain biking has exploded over the past five years, transforming a lively but small scene into a globally recognised phenomenon. Centres such as Glentress in the Borders now welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, and new bike-specific sites are popping up at a bewildering rate the length of the country. Throw into the mix some of the most spectacular wilderness in Europe and you can understand why the awards keep rolling in.
With so much riding to choose from, however, it can be tricky to know where to begin. For most riders, the easy solution has been to hit Glentress or one of its sister centres along the border - collectively known as the Seven Stanes - which have attracted levels of publicity befitting their global superstar status. But that has left some of the juiciest pickings undiscovered.
Now there is a guide that does Scottish cycling justice. Richard Moore and Andy McCandlish's beautifully produced book is part of the Pocket Mountains series, and combines insider knowledge of the landscape with McCandlish's excellent photographs. Moore's two-page descriptions of the trails are crisply turned but adrenalin-packed, giving readers not just practical information on the terrain they will encounter but also a deeper feel for the pace and flow of each of the 40 routes.
The guide offers instant expertise on all the Forestry Commission's specialist centres, not just the famous ones. So alongside the Seven Stanes, there are also routes like the Lochgilphead Fire Tower trail in Argyll, the Carron Valley Kelpie trails near Stirling and the Black Isle's Learnie Red Rock trails. You could get a decent road trip out of these sites alone.
But the most valuable feature is the coverage of Scotland's epic wilderness riding. This includes previously hidden single-track gems like the route on Morar in the far north. To access the ride, you start with a boat from Mallaig. Then you're on to two wheels to negotiate a thin ribbon of rock, hugging the hillside to stay clear of the near-vertical drop down to the country's deepest freshwater loch. With lung-busting, technical climbs and terrifying descents, this is backcountry mountain biking at its finest - and bravest.
The mapping on these natural routes could be a bit more detailed, but with similarly breathtaking trails on Skye, Harris and the mainland, the guide is an essential piece of kit for any bike trip north of the border.
Seems great at first - Rated 
Very well laid-out, nice little book with many trails mentioned. Unfortunately, they seem to be only mentioned. In it is a ride I do at least once a month, in which there are several paths to achieve the summit of Dumyat (a hill above Stirling). However, I still don't know, even with the help of 1:25000 maps, which paths they are using. More in-depth descriptions would be welcome. Most of the time, with manmade trails/centres, this does not matter as information is at the destination.
Only buy if you need a starting point, even with a map, I think you will get lost on several of these rides!!! This book has loads of potential too, which is a shame - nicely set out, great pictures and some excellent trails mentioned.
Essential kit! - Rated
I think this is a fantastic wee book with obvious appeal to the ever growing spectrum of people who like to mountain bike. As a trails rider I particularly appreciate the informative and varied information on marked trails, including the less well known ones. But the fact that this book also provides first hand knowledge about some real gems of routes which are off the beaten track, and also has something to appeal to the "family" or novice riders among us means it is sure to have widespread appeal.
Having ridden some of the routes already I reckon the level of detail provided is just right for a pocket guide book. The pictures, and the author's enthusiasm for the trails, make you want get out there and ride them all. I'm looking forward to ticking them all off my "to do" list.
Essential for Mountain Bikers - Rated
I picked up a copy of this book in August and have since tried four of the routes. As a fairly recent convert to mountain biking, the book has been a god-send for me, and I know I will continue to use it for years to come. A well written and accessible guide, highly recommended.
|
