Cycling Weekly set out on the hunt for the best gravel riding we could find and found ourselves in Aberfoyle, just north of Glasgow and we weren't disappointed. With lochs, mountain views and mile after mile of traffic free gravel roads, they thought they found heaven!
In association with Komoot.
In association with Komoot.
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00:00It's safe to say that the last year and a half has been, well, empty of
00:29much in the way of exploration.
00:32Riding has been local, and if you're like me, mostly the same roads and trails over
00:36and over and over and over again.
00:39So when Kamut asked myself and Catherine Moore if we'd like to ride one of the UK's ultimate
00:43gravel riding destinations, naturally we leapt at the chance.
00:48Bags and bikes packed, we headed a long way north to Aberfoyle, otherwise known as Gravelfoyle.
00:55Now all we needed was a guide, so we met up with Kerry McPhee, a local shredder who was
00:59an encyclopaedic knowledge of the gravel roads and the trails on offer.
01:04So Gravelfoyle has 200km of gravel trails, and Aberfoyle is right in the centre of it,
01:11so you can loop the north side and you can loop the south side, you can bail half way,
01:16you can eat your lunch and go down the south side, and there's loads of different types
01:21of gravel as well.
01:22You've got fat gravel, you've got fast gravel, you've got single track, you've got tech,
01:27so this is an ideal place for anyone to come and try.
01:30You can do a massive loop like we're going to do, or you can do a tiny little one.
01:33So you're spoilt for options and spoilt for terrain.
01:36Feeling a little apprehensive to be honest, like I'm really excited about this route,
01:41it looks absolutely incredible what Kerry's put together for us, but it is going to be
01:45a big day and I've ridden two halves by the looks of it, like the Three Locks Drive and
01:50that area that I think we're going to do first looks stunning, we've seen a little bit about
01:54what's in store there, but very accessible from Aberfoyle, whereas the second half looks
01:58properly wild and a bit of the West Highland Way, like really a bit more remote, so I think
02:04that will be really stunning.
02:06It's pretty tough, but it's a good loop.
02:08Pretty tough for you or pretty tough for them?
02:11Pretty tough for them, because they don't know what's coming.
02:16Our route has something of a rude awakening, climbing for the first 5km out of Aberfoyle
02:22before winding through the beautiful Trossachs Forest Roads up to Loch Venica.
02:26We'll ride the Southern Shore before striking across to Loch Acre, before heading south
02:31and back towards Aberfoyle, but not before taking in the sights of Loch Drunke.
02:35But our ride doesn't end there, instead we head out the other side of Aberfoyle and into
02:41the true wilderness of the Trossachs, winding a path between Ben Lomond and Bendoo, it's
02:46here where our ride is at it's most isolated.
02:49A steep hairpin descent takes us down to the iconic West Highland Way on the shores of
02:54Loch Lomond and a chance for a break at the Inversnade Hotel.
02:58A short steep climb takes us up to Loch Arklat, before a long ride and a much needed gradual
03:03descent along the banks of Loch Onn back to Aberfoyle.
03:07You can of course find all the route details on Cycling Weekly's Komoot account and at
03:11the link in the description.
03:14We're off!
03:15Where are we Kerry?
03:16We have just hit the Jig's Pass, so if you were doing the Jig's weekend at an event,
03:21this would be the start line of the hill climb.
03:23It is a hill!
03:26We've started on a hill.
03:27So it won't be long before we take a ride onto the gravel.
03:31So this looks like this is kind of some of the only tarmac.
03:34You don't touch much tarmac on this ride.
03:36Very much!
03:37I think this is maybe like 300-400 metres of tarmac and then it's just pure gravel after that.
03:41Music to my ears!
03:46Music to my ears!
04:16Music to my ears!
04:26Look at this!
04:28It's very cloudy, very atmospheric, although I think it's going to burn off.
04:34I think we might get better weather this afternoon, which is nice.
04:39But these gravel roads are so cool.
04:40I just don't have anything like this where I ride at home.
04:45None of these wide open rides that are just no traffic.
04:51You can ride free abreast.
04:55So Carrie, myself and Catherine are able just to ride along and chat.
04:59It's such a refreshing way to ride.
05:15Music to my ears!
05:17Music to my ears!
05:19Music to my ears!
05:21Not that one!
05:23Not Warner!
05:25Rupert had a comedy crash!
05:27Music to my ears!
05:29Music to my ears!
05:31Music to my ears!
05:33Music to my ears!
05:35You know when your mate crashes and for a split second you really want to laugh but you shouldn't laugh
05:41because you need to make sure that they're okay first.
05:43Once that was all clear it was just so funny.
05:45It was just like a real slow-mo tumble.
05:49Very embarrassing.
05:51It's just funny when somebody crashes.
05:53Music to my ears!
05:55Music to my ears!
05:57Music to my ears!
05:59Music to my ears!
06:01Music to my ears!
06:0315km into our ride, after climbing out of Aberfoyle and stretching out along rocky tracks
06:09and winding our way along the southern shores of Loch Venica, we reach Ackray Farm.
06:13The perfect place for an ice cream break.
06:15Music to my ears!
06:17Music to my ears!
06:19Music to my ears!
06:21Music to my ears!
06:23I was glad to reach Ackray Farm because Carrie had told us a lot about the delicious ice cream
06:27which I can confirm was really delicious.
06:29I think the elderflower one that I had, had been foraged from the village like two days ago
06:35which is super cool and there's loads of animals here which I'm really excited about.
06:39But back to the route, yeah fab so far.
06:43If I said gravel foil, what does that mean to you?
06:47Gravel foil is Aberfoyle, it's the mecca for gravel in the UK at the moment I think.
06:55Have you seen an increase in cyclists?
06:57Yeah, very much so.
06:59I mean, lockdown was amazing here.
07:01The number of people who came out of their homes and could enjoy the roads and the tracks
07:07for maybe the first time in a long time.
07:10And the number of casual recreational and semi-pro racers kind of whizzing around the woods here
07:16is phenomenal these days.
07:18When we came to the farm, we knew there was the Great Trossachs Path running through it
07:22and the Three Locks Quarry Drive adjacent.
07:24So setting up a business that would cater to sustainable travel,
07:28people out recreational cycling and walking was key to our business.
07:32And people do, people stop.
07:34People in cars don't stop.
07:36Everyone on a bike or walking around the lock sees the benefits,
07:41sees the slower pace and can stop and enjoy it.
07:45That's what we're here for, to give them that experience.
07:52♪♪♪
08:02♪♪♪
08:12♪♪♪
08:22♪♪♪
08:32♪♪♪
08:42♪♪♪
08:48Kerry McPhee, you've done a lot of plotting on Komoot, haven't you?
08:52Yeah, I love using Komoot for my plots.
08:55How many kilometres of trails do you think you've worked out on Komoot?
09:01Oh, honours, that's a good Scottish word, honours.
09:04Honours!
09:06Hundreds of trails on Komoot.
09:08Hundreds of trails.
09:09I have got a Komoot collection of my gravel foil routes,
09:12and it goes as far as lots of parts of the West Highland Way,
09:15and then there's south gravel foil, north gravel foil, it's massive.
09:18And there's stuff that I haven't done yet.
09:20Definitely goes without saying that you should check out Kerry's Komoot collections
09:24and all the things we'll post on the Cycling Weekly Komoot profile
09:27if you want to dig out some great routes,
09:30Kerry, you know them all.
09:31Yeah, I was squeaky when I was trying to plot something out for you guys.
09:35We're going in on epic today because I just want you to see it all and feel it all.
09:39Awesome. Well, let's crack on because we have a long way to go.
09:43♪♪♪♪
09:59This is a classic gravel foil section of trail.
10:02We've just done the switchbacks up to the aqueduct.
10:05So where does this aqueduct go?
10:07So I think this aqueduct comes from Glenfinglas Reservoir,
10:11which used to be a little settlement, and they flooded it
10:14so that they could provide water to Glasgow during,
10:17I think there was a cholera outbreak or something,
10:19and they needed some fresh water pumped into the city,
10:23and they came to Aberfoss, it's so lovely.
10:25Of course.
10:26So we've just gone beneath the aqueduct,
10:29which whenever you reference gravel foil, you always see a picture of that.
10:56♪♪♪♪♪
11:06So Como was incredible.
11:08You come round to the top of this amazing balcony gravel road round the corner,
11:13and it just opens up to these spectacular views of Loch Lomond
11:16and all the pleasure boats going up and down,
11:19and it was pretty steep as well.
11:22♪♪♪♪♪♪
11:39Following 15km of climbing out of Aberfoyle,
11:42with close to 300m of elevation,
11:45we reach the summit of the Como Climb,
11:47which is followed by a formidable descent down to the shores of Loch Lomond.
11:53It's wicked, isn't it?
11:54What a day we've got.
11:55It's alright.
11:57You see it all the time.
11:58It's alright.
11:59So what's up next, Kerry?
12:01We've got some descent.
12:03The Komoot profile is showing a pretty steep downhill.
12:06Yeah, so we've kind of climbed like that,
12:08and now we're going to go like that.
12:10Well, we're going down to water level, aren't we?
12:12Yeah, we are.
12:13We're dropping quite a lot, actually.
12:14So it's a big descent.
12:16Like 1,000ft or something.
12:181,000ft.
12:19Boiling day.
12:20And there's Loch Lomond, and you're trying to take in the view,
12:23but you can't because you've got to hold on to your brakes.
12:26Absolutely amazing.
12:28♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
12:44I think anyone could do the Komoot route, definitely.
12:48And the Komoot descent, although it's gnarly,
12:51it does have switchbacks.
12:53So you can do one little section and then stop and rest,
12:55and then do the next section and stop and rest.
12:57I wouldn't recommend it in reverse, though,
12:59because it is a stinker of a climb the other way.
13:02And if you stop and rest, it means you get to also appreciate
13:05the views of Loch Lomond as you descend.
13:07So, yeah, I'd say it's probably an epic sort of loop,
13:10but it has a bit of everything.
13:12♪♪♪♪♪
13:42Nearly.
13:43Tell me about that descent, Catherine.
13:45That was tricky.
13:47I had to walk a couple of metres there.
13:49So steep, wasn't it?
13:50It was like rocky, bouldery, sort of washed out background.
13:57If you don't pick your line, you're just in so much trouble.
14:00Yeah.
14:01And then Kerry went,
14:02yeah, it's pretty gnarly with just one brake.
14:07Kerry's front brake doesn't work.
14:10Although just three kilometres in length,
14:12the stretch along the banks of Bonny Loch Lomond
14:14features some of the most unforgiving terrain we've encountered.
14:18With stream crossings and rocky scrambles,
14:20this was true hiker bike territory.
14:23♪♪♪♪♪
14:37We were just walking along,
14:39and from behind us both,
14:41we just heard this massive crunch.
14:44And we looked round,
14:46and Rupert had had quite an accident.
14:48So we're just currently trying to work out
14:50what we're going to do next,
14:52because Rupert does no longer have a rear mech.
14:55Oh, that's not ideal.
14:56So it's not the hanger that snaps?
14:58Um, it is.
15:00The hanger is, yeah, the hanger is blown.
15:03You're lucky we're on the hiker bike.
15:05Yeah, totally.
15:06We're walking anyway.
15:07♪♪♪♪♪♪
15:21The West Highland Way is quite hiker bike anyway,
15:24but he literally had to hike the bike the whole way along.
15:28Um, so yeah, poor Rupert.
15:31It was funny, but now that I realise
15:34we're kind of quite far away from Arbor Foil,
15:37I'm a little bit filled with a bit more pity for him.
15:41♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
15:46It's only been about half an hour we've been waiting.
15:49Ha ha ha.
15:50♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
15:54So I bent my rear mech in the crash,
15:56and then I snapped it off on the West Highland Way,
15:58and now I need to find a solution
16:01so I can do the rest of the ride.
16:03And I think that solution is going to be
16:05stealing, uh, drone pilot Reuben's bike.
16:10Um, so sorry Reuben,
16:12but I'm commandeering your mountain bike.
16:15♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
16:23After a steep 10% climb out of Inversnade,
16:26we wound our way along the gorgeous shores of Loch Arklat
16:29and then down to Loch Arn,
16:30before a welcome gradual descent into Aberfoyle.
16:33The gravel roads here are what dreams are made of.
16:36Wide open and super fast,
16:38we couldn't stop grinning the whole way home.
16:41♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
17:01So I'm on Reuben's mountain bike,
17:03and, uh, it's great.
17:05So comfortable compared to the gravel bike,
17:08but it's a little bit slow.
17:12And I have now been dropped by Catherine and Kerry.
17:16That puff of dust going up over the crest of the hill
17:20is Catherine and Kerry.
17:22So, it's a tough ride.
17:25♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
17:44With 85km ticked off,
17:46we rolled into Aberfoyle,
17:48caked in dust and baked by the sun.
17:50As promised,
17:51the ride had really featured a little bit of everything.
17:54From wide-open, remote mountain vistas, epic hiker biking and fast gravel roads,
17:59we'd been blown away by the riding on offer and the community that it had fostered.
18:21We've finished.
18:22That was a big day.
18:23It's definitely a whole day route, that, isn't it?
18:27Full on. So worth it.
18:29I did worry that was a bit gritty with wanting to show you everything, but I think it was worth it.
18:34We asked you for the most epic ride you could put together in Aberfoyle, and you did it.
18:39I think it's safe to say.
18:41I had it all, honestly.
18:42I completed the brief, and we made it back, even if we were one bike down.
18:46Yeah, we were one bike down, but thanks to drone pilot Ruben's generosity,
18:52he walked home.
18:53Well, three of us have made it back.
18:56Goes without saying, if you want to see the route that we've ridden today,
18:59it will be in the description of the video below.
19:01And for everything else, Aberfoyle gravel riding, check out Kerry's collections,
19:06because she's done so much work putting it all together.
19:09Putting Aberfoyle on the map.
19:10Yeah, the true queen of Aberfoyle.
19:12Always happy to share my knowledge.
19:14There's so much good stuff on there.
19:16Definitely worth taking the time before you come up to have a look
19:19and find some absolute belters of rides and trails.
19:22If you have enjoyed this video, then please do give us a thumbs up
19:25and subscribe to Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.
19:27And leave us a comment in the comment section below telling us what you loved
19:31and whether you'd come and ride in the amazing place that is Aberfoyle.
19:35Now, we'll be back soon with some more great adventure content,
19:38and we'll see you then.