Queen Elizabeth Forest Loop

Route: Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Loop via Rob Roy Way and Loch Venachar
Distance: 15m / 24km
Profile: View
Grade: Moderate
Fitness: Good
Time: 4.5 - 6 Hours
OS MAP: 57
Route Data: GPX KML
Riders: Dave Banks, Brian Gray
Date: 06/10/2013


Summary

A mixture of forest road, single track, boggy sections, bike and hike and tarmac road make this a rewarding mountain bike trek through interesting scenery.

This route is best run in an anti-clockwise direction if you want to do the single track descent from Allt a' Chip Dhuibh to Loch Venachar.

In the wet, the Grade and Fitness requirements will go up to Hard and High respectively. We did the course in the wet, so it was very boggy and slippery in places. The bikes struggled for traction, got bogged down and on the downhill sections, struggled for grip under braking.


Details

Starting at the Forestry Commission car park at Braeval, just outside Aberfoyle, take the alternate exit to the East where you meet the main forest access road. Turn left here and head uphill and through the gate. Due to a navigational error, when we came to a Y junction, we turned to the right instead of turning to the left and heading up onto the Rob Roy Way. As we progressed along our chosen route, we realised we had taken a wrong turn, but the map showed a path that lead up to the Rob Roy Way, so we took that. The grassy track was so boggy in places, the bikes couldn't get any traction, so we ended up pushing them most of the way until we reach the Rob Roy Way. Once on the forest road again, continue uphill until another gate is reached. This is where the singletrack starts, just to the left of the forest track that isn't shown on the map.

The singletrack was a hardcore surface with soft, muddy matches in places and the occasional rock. Other sections resembled a steam, it was that waterlogged. Occasional stony slabs required care in the wet, and some small, steep rocky sections required a little bike and hike. The single track was still good fun despite the wet conditions. The track heads away from the forest road and through the trees before reaching a gate that takes you out into open countryside.

The track heads across the open countryside with occasional rocky sections slowing progress down and eventually reaches a ford. This is easily crossed. On the other side of the ford, the route is a bit uncertain, as there looks to be a Y junction, but the main track is to the left and heads uphill to another gate that takes you back into the forest. This bit required a bit of bike and hike due to a steep rocky outcrop and boggy sections that the bikes got bogged down in. The track soon starts to level off then head downhill. Allt a' Chip Dhuibh is soon visible and the track drops down to skirt round the shoreline. This final approach to the loch is very boggy. The track around the loch is narrow with small tree roots in places making it a bit slippery, but it is reasonably firm, even in the wet. Two thirds of the way along the long the loch, the track climbs steeply to reach the forest road.

Turn right and head downhill for about 40 yards and on the left, there is a marker post and a gap in the trees where the singletrack to Loch Venachar starts. I feint track though the trees soon takes you out into open ground where you head steeply downhill, the tyres struggling for grip as you brake on the wet grass. With reasonable mountain biking skills, most of this can be done without having to get off your bike. The track continues to head downhill, then after a small burn crossing, it levels off as it heads along the fire break in the trees. You soon get your first views of Loch Venachar as the trees to your left clear, and then you come across another small burn which can be easily crossed. Once across the burn, take the feint turn off to the left and head downhill on the grassy track. The track can be steep in places and there are some sections where erosion has left the track quite stony. The tarmac road on the shoreline of Loch Venachar (part of Cycle Route 7) is quickly reached. Turn left and head along the road until Cycle Route 7 turns off to the right and into woodland. This singletrack weaves and undulates through the woodland as it follows the shores of Loch Venachar.

Just after the head of the loch, the singletrack joints onto Forest Drive (still part of Cycle Route 7), the main access route through the forest. At this point turn to the left and head uphill. It should be noted that there is vehicular access on this road, so beware of traffic, especially on the occasional downhill sections. Forest Drive heads uphill past Loch Drunkie and past a picnic area and continues mainly uphill until you see a barrier on the left for Cycle Route 7. Continue on Cycle Route 7 and a short time later the track starts its descent towards Aberfoyle. When you reach the Go Ape activity centre, the track forks. Cycle Route 7 turns to the right, but the direct route back to the car is to the left.

Another navigational error at this point meant we stayed on Cycle Route 7, which takes you over the footbridge and heads down towards Aberfoyle. Realising our mistake, we took the track for the Oak Coppice Wood Trail and followed the singletrack round until we saw the sign for the Highland Boundary Fault Trail. Following this singletrack took us back to the river, downstream from our previous crossing, and once we climbed the other side the trail joins onto the Rob Roy Way. Turn right and you are back on course. The singletrack sections here are worth doing, as they twist and turn through the trees.

The Rob Roy way passes Aberfoyle golf course, and nice views of the Forth valley from the landrover track can be had. The landrover track heads back up into the forest, turn right at any junctions and head downhill back towards the car park. You soon come to the junction where the first navigational error was made, so you know you don't have far to go before you reach the gate and make the final right turn to head into the car park.


Photo Gallery

Braeval car park		Take eastern exit		Head uphill		Rob Roy Way on left
On the wrong track		Turn left here		Track to take us back on course		Soft going in the wet
Heading up through the trees		No traction in places		Approaching Rob Roy Way		Rob Roy Way heading uphill
Singletrack starts after gate		Singletrack runs next to road initially		Easy going even in the wet		Singletrack climbs through the trees
Some sections too slippery in the wet		Heading out into open countryside		Out in the open		Rocky outcrop
Ford easily crossed		Boggy sections still manageable		Climbing back into the trees		Leaving the open countryside
Biek and hike required due to the wet		More muddy sections		More boggy sections causing problems with traction		Wet conditions make braking difficult
Having a rest due to the mud		Track continues downhill		First sight of Allt a' Chip Dhuibh		Very boggy sections here
Allt a' Chip Dhuibh		Singletrack alongside Allt a' Chip Dhuibh		Singletrack joins onto forest track		Singletrack starts again in the trees
Singletrack through the trees		More boggy sections		Burn easily crossed		Heading through the fire break
Track resembles small burn		First glimpse of Loch Venachar		Another burn crossing		Turn left here
Singletrack down to Loch Venachar		Singletrack down to Loch Venachar		Steep in places		Rocky in places
Joining onto Cycle Route 7		Cycle Route 7		Loch Venachar		Cycle Route 7 continues to the right
Cycle Route 7 heads through the trees		Looking back at undulating track		Misty Loch Venachar		Head of Loch Venachar
Cycle Route 7		Cycle Route 7 joins Forest Drive		Sign post		Head uphill to Aberfoyle
Heading uphill		Turn off to Loch Drunkie		Beware of traffic		Forest Drive
Picnic area		Information signs and toilets		Loch Drunkie		View from track
Cycle Route 7 branches off to left		Approaching the summit		Track heads downhill around corner		Heading downhill to Aberfoyle
Go Ape activity centre		Cycle Route 7 heads over bridge		Final section to Aberfoyle		Interesting water feature
Sluice gates		Oak Coppice Trail		Oak Coppice Trail		Highland Boundary Fault Trail
Turn down to the right		River crossing below		Track climbs on the other side		Track climbs back to Rob Roy Way
Rob Roy Way		Aberfoyle Golf Course		Aberfoyle Golf Course		Views of Forth valley
Rob Roy Way on the right		Rob Roy Way turns uphill to the left		Heading downhill to car park		Heading downhill to car park
Car park east entrance on right