Fire Tower Trail

The Fire Tower Trail on the outskirts of the Argyll town of Lochgilphead represents yet another example of a locally led, well supported initiative. The result is a handily placed centre with stunning single track trails. There are also spectacular views thrown in for good measure.

Situated in a Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) forest, the Fire Tower Trail includes big climbs and thrilling descents. From the FCS car park at Achnabreac the track climbs before the first section of sublime single-track. Known as Twisted Fire Starter, it traverses the hillside and then offers an optional loop, the Fire Tower. This is a potentially tricky little black graded ridge section that loops around the hill and it offers quite stunning views on a clear day, across the sparsely populated expanse of Argyll and out to the islands of Jura, Scarba and the Gulf of Corryvreckan, containing the third largest whirlpool in the world.

Coming down from the Fire Tower loop, which includes negotiating a hairy drop off, you re-join the Twisted Fire Starter as it begins to wind down the hill, ending with Quarry Drop - an exceptionally steep, vertical looking, drop back on to the forest road. The forest road takes you back uphill to the next section of single-track, a longer established section using paths and new trails. Then you're on to the self-explanatory Murder Hill which provides a bit of a test before it takes you back on to the forest road.

More great single-track follows, this bit ending with Water Splash - again, no explanation is required - before more forest road connects to the final section of single-track. This involves more thrilling descending, through the flowing, bermy Swamp Monster and on to some North Shore. It twists and weaves through the forest, narrowing in places to test your bike handling skills.

Yet more downhill single-track follows before a short climb takes you back up to where you began, at the Achnabreac car park. Measuring around 19kms in total, the Fire Tower Trail includes some 7.4kms of single-track - all of it thoroughly enjoyable.

Other Info

Routes
Red - Fire Tower, 19kms

Bike Shops/Hire
Crinan Cycles 01546 603511

Getting There

There is a choice of three starting points for the Fire Tower Trail:
Achnabreac - Park in the Forestry Commission car park, just off the A816 Oban - Lochgilphead road.
Kilmichael Glassary - Park in the village and cycle, or drive, over the River Add bridge (700m past the village), then turn right onto the forest track and park at the far end.
Lochgilphead - Park in the tpwn and cycle up to the Blarbuie Road end by the golf course.

Distance from
Lochgilphead - 1 mile
Glasgow - 92 miles
Edinburgh - 135 miles
Carlisle - 182 miles

Website

• www.forestry.gov.uk