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Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:30 pm
by Alastair S

Cycling: 54.3 km
Time taken: 5hr 10min
Ascent : 1303m


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Glen Avon [Quo] profile.jpg

OK, OK, its a walk report with no walking. I've had a look but there aren't any MTB sites anywhere as good as this one for sharing routes, maps & pictures. Perhaps Paul should franchise out this template.

Anyway if you want a quiet part of the world for a walk/cycle/camp then this is the glen to head for. I started off from the ample car park at Corgarff Castle and some passed a group of what looked like Duke of Edinburghers and then their assessor half a k further on. These were the only walkers I saw all day. I saw one other MTB'er - he came zooming downhill round a bend as I struggled upwards so we barely had time to acknowledge each other's presence. And a saw a couple who had driven in to Inverloin - he was fishing and she was bird & wildlife spotting. And that was it.

The first couple of km were on tarmac and this turned to a decent track after Delnadamph. The track got gradually poorer as it looped north west round Cairn Culchavie. The section where it then looped back south west was the trickiest of the day - all cyclable but you had to take it slowly as it was a two deep wheel ruts type track with a few muddy puddles throw into the mix. The track improved once you got to the abandoned farm steading of Lagganauld. There was a wee fairy like glen past this steading. It was then a short steep downhill section to Glen Avon and the immaculate Glen Avon estate house of Inchrory (a couple of deer fences to get through here). Apparently its owned by a mysterious Malaysian business man and its only used once or twice a year. It seems a shame that it is so little used.


Lagganauld fairy glen
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Inchrory
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Left (south) in the glen & soon right (west) over the bridge across the Builg Burn, up across a cattle grid and past the delightful Linn of Avon. It was around here I saw the other MTB'er. The track was pretty good all along this glen - a bit rocky in places but the only walking I had to do was because my fitness wasn't up to it. The outward half was into a stiff head wind which combined with the mainly uphill route made for some hard going. The pull up the side of the glen past the bridge at Inverloin was hard going but I managed to cycle it all - but for some reason I had to stop to take a photo half way up :lol:


Glen Avon Heather - the bridge near Inverloin visible
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Glen Avon - the 'back' of Ben Avon & Beinn A' Bhuird
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Stopped for lunch at the Ponymen's Hut. Some great views from here (got some better pics on the way back when the light was better) with what looked like a nice wobbly suspension type foot-bridge across the Avon nearby. And had some fun trying to get a photo of myself cycling by.


Keep Scotland Tidy
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Far From The Crowd - about 20 km far!
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Then on to Faindouran Lodge & its bothy. Had a quick look in the bothy - seemed in fair nick - and then carried on the track for a bit. The map shows that it turns in to a path here. They are basically right - it is a track of sorts but it wasn't cyclable. I soon turned round, looking forward to my return trip: mostly down-hill, a tail wind & lots of blue sky :)


Faindouran Lodge (View West)
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Faindouran Lodge (View East)
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Forest Of Glenavon
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The Linn Of Avon
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Really enjoyed the trip back. One very steep bit I had to push but it was only for 150m or so. Back over the bridge at Inverloin the 4x4 I'd spotted on the way up had moved and I could now see its occupants. One was in the river fishing and his wife was wandering about up the track. As I hadn't spoken to anyone all day I stopped to say hello. I pulled up but before I could say a word she pointed and told me there was an Adder. Sure enough there was a wee one coiled in the heather. It didn't hang about so unfortunately I didn't get a photo but I was dead chuffed to have seen my first Adder. Anyway had a brief chat and she told me a bit about Inchrory.

Once back to Inchrory I headed north for a bit. About a km on the track turns to tarmac. Eventually tiredness kicked in and I made my way back. Had to push for 200-300m up the fairy glen but managed the rest by going very slowly - I was probably a bit dehydrated by then. An enjoyable and tiring day through some really beautiful countryside. I wasn't surprised to find I'd done over 4,000 ft of ascent - there was hardly a decent flat section all day. Next trip this way I think I'll start from Tomintoul and do a loop round via Glen Loin.

Re: Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:39 pm
by kevsbald
Very interesting. That is some looking lodge, v immaculate.

Re: Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:00 pm
by malky_c
Nice one. I've been up here once on the bike but I want to go back and do some exploring like that.

There's a steepish but rideable track up to Loch Builg too, and the path round the side of the loch is partly cyclable. That opens up all sorts of circular route opportunities.

Nice photos too 8)

Re: Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:39 pm
by Alastair S
Yes, did think about going to Loch Builg as the River Gairn track is a good one. But the path along Loch Builg didn't look cyclable (at least not from the south) when I went that way last year. But its probably only 1 - 1.5 km of walking so not out of the question.

Re: Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:17 pm
by warbietoo
Pics are excellent. How did you take so many if you were on a MTB? :D I normally only take two or three. :( Looks a great trip. Need to put this route down as a "to do". :)

Re: Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:37 am
by ndhudson
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Spectacular! I could look at this all day long. Looks like fall is in the air...way over there!

Re: Glen Avon by MTB (aka The Quiet Glen)

PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:32 pm
by Alastair S
Thanks nd :oops:

As for autumn colours... Scottish hills are only ever white (winter) or brown (any other time) :lol: