Munro 97 Carn a Chlamain

[IamAJMiller]

Wanted to take my new mountain bike out for a spin and decided to take in a munro at the same time. So strapped it to the back of the car and headed for Blair Atholl. Rode in my approach shoes with my boots in the pack. A steep start which turned into a pleasant cycle along the river Tilt; I didn't get up any great speed as you constantly feel that you're going uphill if only slightly. After 50mins I found a spot where a small path struck up in the direction I was going. I was encouraged by a pair of bikes stashed near the bridge and so I did the same with mine, locking it up and leaving my shoes and helmet in a wee bag nearby too.

The initial path was steep but this soon relented into easy going slopes making good progress up the shoulder of the mountain. To my right Beinn a ghlo looked huge and I could make out a few people going along it's ridges. Hardly surprising on a blue sky day like today. I met a man who'd spent the night up on the hills camping and was laden with kit so was going down slowly. We chatted for about 5 minutes and he was a little saddened to hear I'd biked in....what a snob! Haha!! Soon Carn a Chlamain came into view and I was quickly at the summit, a very easy short climb from Glen Tilt. I sat with a few others on the summit and had my lunch before striding straight down the centre of the shoulder on beautiful springy heather, I was back at my bike in no time!

Now for the fun part: strapped everything on tightly and started cycling back to Blair. 50 mintues to get in.....20 minutes to get out, I blasted back down that track!! Amazing fun even though I upset a few walkers as I passed them at great speed! Apologies fellow walkers! I also passed the same man I'd met on the way up the munro, either he was slow or I was super fast! Even got a bunnyhop almost into the carpark at the very end of the ride!

Such a brilliant day and the best bit was the ride home definitely. Not ethically everyone's cup of tea but cycling into the hills is a new found pleasure of mine.