Riding through clouds to find clear views.
Day trips into the mountains are extremely good. Breathing the fresh air while exploring new horizons results in a fresh mind and new ideas. One can concentrate only on the present moment, which is relaxing, and it serves as a perfect getaway from all the events that have been happening with the world recently. So the other day, I drove to Balquhidder, a small settlement on the southern edge of the Scottish Highlands, north of the Trossachs, to get doses of this goodness.
I parked by the Balquhidder's village hall and set off on my bike. Unlike hiking, riding a bike guarantee fun even if the weather forecast is far from cheerful, which was the case of that day. After a few pedal strokes, I got to the local kirkyard. Like in many Scottish villages, it looks like the time here stopped a few centuries back.
In the foreground is a ruin of a church from the 17th century, the one in the back is the current one, built in the 19th century.
Here, I where I learned that a Scottish folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor, lived here and is buried in front of the old church. The cemetery itself is among the nicest I saw in Scotland - and there are plenty to pick from. Moreover, between the weathered tombstones, nature gave a hint that the spring is just behind the corner. Another reason for excitement!
My plan was to head up the Kirkton Glen, a valley that rises from the village towards the summit of Meall an Fhiodhain. But before starting the climb, I rode around to warm up and to get my legs going a bit. Just outside the village is Loch Voil..
..pretty rivers..
..and views.
Continuing into the glen, the path took me into a beautiful forest.
The clouds ripped open, but no bother. The rain wasn't heavy, and the trees shielded any wind. With rising altitude, the temperature dropped and I reached the snow line.
The amount of snow was gradually increasing, and when the trail changed to a riverbed, I had to do a bit of hiking.
Shortly after this photo, I got to the end of the glen. Here, the path widened and turned back to follow the other side of the valley down. Aided by gravity, I was able to ride again. Descending on the wet snow was good fun, the bike was in a constant drift, yet manageable. The rain quit, and just as I was passing a chair-like rock next to the road, even the sun came out. That could mean only one thing: lunchtime!
Under the Meall an Fhiodhain.
From here, I was in for a treat. The glen has purpose-built mtb trails. So I tucked the camera away into my backpack and thoroughly enjoyed charging down through forests and scenic glades. Eventually, I made it on a large rock face overlooking Balquhidder and Loch Voil:
Having another snack, I was grateful for having opportunities to enjoy locations like this. Apparently, in Celtic times, this area was known as a place with a close boundary between Earth and Heaven. And now, I was here. How cool! All these irregular shapes, a shadow play of sun rays and trees, and the air as clean as it gets.. It is somewhat poetic. Later at home, I found out that an old song by Robert Tannahill mentions:
"..Where the high mountains run
And the bonnie blooming heather
Where the ram and the deer
They go bounding together
Spend a long summer day
By the braes of Balquhidder.."
I guess many found some inspiration here, no matter the millennium. Anyway, as more trails waited to be explored, I set off. Yey!
Once I returned to the parking lot, I was happy and ready for the next week. I can't stress enough how vital are these personal escapes. Whatever activities suit, they improve physical state and recharge mental well-being. Cheers to the local trail builders for the day.
If you liked this article, you are welcome to explore my Blog Archives for more posts, like:
|
|
Thanks for reading!
Comments are closed.