Reviews for Ardgarten Peninsula Circuit

Summary:
Challenging loop route with fantastic views. Good for fans of long arduous climbs and long fast descents. Take plenty of food and drink and a "real" map!

Review:
We rode this red trail on Sunday 8th Sept 2013. This is a great loop route with fantastic views and is traffic free apart from a couple of KM of road sections.

Our route started at 50m from the Ardgarten Visitor Centre and went in the clockwise direction as recommended.

The route begins with a level warm-up on tarmac roads, but after 2km or so the surface switches to hard-packed forest vehicle tracks and commences a 100m vertical climb over the space of about 1km. The track then levels off for another 5km or so before kicking up again over the next 3-4 km by another 100m until you reach a lake (Corran Lochan @ 260m) for a tranquil lake view and most appreciated picnic table for a well earned rest!

After this things get significantly more technical as you take a sharp right turn and head back north again but this time along about 6km of loose and rocky single-track with some pretty challenging climbs which takes you up and over the first major peak of the route @ 325m and then some equally challenging rocky descents until you are about 1500m from Lochgoilhead back near sea level where another potential snack stop awaits, however we pushed on.

After a kilometer or so on a tarmac public road leaving the village the ride switches back on to hard-packed forest tracks for the relentless climb all the way back up to 300m. Although I enjoy this punishing stuff it proved a little too much for my wife who "hit the wall" half way up the climb and so we ascended at a very relaxed pace. After this climb is apparently a fantastically fast descent, but my wife's legs had waved their white flag, and the prospect of a further 30m of climbing to reach it was too much, so at the fork in the tracks just south of Loch Restil we took the lower (left) track back to the A83 rather than the higher (right) track of the actual route.
This was still a great descent over 2-3KM of fast smooth hard-pack which then joined the A83 which we used to spin back downhill to the Ardgarten Visitor Centre at a nice smooth 20-25mph. :0)

The only problems were encountered regarded some of the signage. Having the etched posts with bikes painted in different colours for the different routes is a good system, but on bright days when they are in shade you have to ride right up to them to differentiate the different colours as they all look too dark. Also, in a couple of places where the road splits the signs are placed immediately before the split rather than after which makes it impossible to know for sure which route to take without the aid of an OS map, which fortunately we had with us. Also in one place there was a cycle sign with a right arrow underneath, but only when you get up close do you realise this is for a completely different trail which is written inside the arrow and the sign meant that the actual cycle route carried straight ahead. The signage at the gate just above and around Lochgoilhead is also tricky and again an OS map helped us out (Hint, go over the gate and straight ahead on the tarmac road for about 1.5KM until you see a path to the right)

Overall this track gets an 8/10 from us. 10 for the course,-1 for the climbs on the vehicle roads which can be a little relentless, and -1 more for for the signage.

Summary:
A grand day out, but pretty tough on the legs!

Review:
As they other reviewers have siad, this is one heck of a ride!

We started from Ardgarten Visitor Centre. The centre is open April to October and has toilets and a small shop selling maps and food. They did have a route map and guide for the route which we found very useful.

The road heading south gives glorious views down Loch Long, but the first of the 1000ft/300m climbs starts quickly with only the occasional flat/downhill sections for respite.

As the others have said, when you arrive at the Lochan stop following the road and turn right to follow the Duke's Pass. This track winds it's way through the saddle of two peaks and offers a different landscape to ride through. Be prepared to push the bike along parts of this sction of trail as some of the sections are veery loose with large gullies.

Before you realise you are descending towards Lochgoilhead. You can contiune past Lochgoilhead, but we felt tea was neccessary so we stopped off in the village. There is a shop and a hotel with outdoor tables so plenty of oppurtunity to rest weary legs and fill empty bellies.

After a quick stop off, it was back on the trail, however the next section has to be one of the most unpleasant climbs ever; another 1000ft/300m climb pretty much all in one go. When the Rest and Be Thankful carpark becomes visible, turn right and follow the trail and it's 5 milse of descent! Although it is huge fun to just bomb down the hill, there a few sections were the trees break giving the most stunning views imaginable. Be wary of walkers as there are a number of trails leading of the main track to the summits of various peaks in the area, they may just force an emergency brake on your part!

Summary:
Very scenic, some technically demanding bits, lots of stamina needed

Review:
I totally agree with the excellent review by easy_rider.

If I can just add a few notes of caution- perhaps puchase a map of the route at the Ardgarten Visitor Cente as an OS map is insufficient (perhaps the 1:25000 scale OS map might be an OK alternative). Keep your eyes open for the waymarkers at any junction otherwise you could easily go off track. It is definitely best to tackle the route in a clockwise direction too.

Not long after the start from Ardgarten Visitors Centre the tarmac road runs out and the fire road starts. Keep straight on at the metal barrier and ignore any tracks that go off to the right. Much further on the route turns right at a small loch on to the Dukes Pass. Now starts the fun. The signage at this junction is not too clear and it would be easy to shoot straight on past the loch. But turn hard right at the start of the loch and you soon begin an uphill section, be prepared to push the bike later on. However the uphill push makes the down hills all the sweeter but take care! The Dukes Pass is narrow and worn and there is a massive boulder across one of the bends then later on a wooden fence prevent you shooting off on to the fire track road. When you join the fire track make sure you turn right uphill which heads towards Lochgoilhead and walkers on the route.

We found the signage around Lochgoilhead misleading. It could have been tampered with so double check maps before heading off up hill. The Loggers were working in the forest above Lochgoilhead when we cycled the route which took us off track and added a huge unecessary climb to this section of an otherwise fabulous route.

This is a tremendous, off road, circular route which is not advisable for kids or those looking for a gentle day cycle. It took us 4 hours at a steady pace including stops but the exhilarating downs were well worth the toil.

Summary:
An incredibly scenic lungbuster

Review:
Provided you have huge reserves of stamina and don't mind a mostly fireroad route, this 22 mile circular epic is one of the best days out on a bike you'll ever have. Scenery-wise its just unparalleled as you are surrounded by sea lochs and an abundance of massive hills.

There seems to be plenty of parking space at the tourist info place at Ardgartan and the route begins as quite a well surfaced singletrack road then gets a bit rougher after 3-4 miles and becomes a proper fireroad. The further you climb the more you realise just how remote a place it is - there was no sign of any other cyclists despite it being an established cycling route & properly waymarked, but we did come across a bunch of army guys who were sitting rather uncamouflaged at the side of the track, waiting for a jeep to pick them up (which nearly knocked us down!!)

There is an idyllic spot with a picnic table next to a small loch which make a good place to stop, before you tackle the mountain section. Called the "Dukes pass", and more of a hillwalkers path than anything, this 4 mile part of the route is one of the most awesome stretches of singletrack i've ever experienced. Scarily steep in places with a windy & very loose rocky path, its very technical in a natural way - you'll rip by waterfalls, through some streams, over a few natural jumps and pick up some great speeds. Superb!!

Great resting point at Lochgoilhead overlooking the bay and then head off onto a minor bit of road and then back onto the forest track for an almighty climb (nearly 1000ft) for the next 4 miles , unitl reaching the very aptly named "Rest and be Thankful". Then its pretty much a hair-raising 4-5 mile fireroad descent to the finish -great fun screaming past walkers and tourists coming in the opposite direction!!

Rather laughably (and rather irresponsibly) the forestry commission website says this route is ideal for families and children - I'd recommend it only for those of you with a big sense of adventure, a taste for danger, and the will power to spend 3+ hours in the saddle.