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 serves as a perfect getaway from all the events happening in 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 guarantees fun even if the weather forecast is far from cheerful, which was the case on 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.
The church ruin in the foreground is from the 17th century, and the current church in the background was built in the 19th century.
Here, 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 prettiest I saw in Scotland – and there are plenty of nice ones to pick from. Moreover, between the weathered tombstones, nature hinted that the spring was 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..
..lively rivers..
..and lovely 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. I took in the irregular shapes around, a shadow play of sun rays and trees, and the air as clean as it gets. 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! 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 poetic inspiration here, no matter the millennium. But anyway, more trails waited to be explored, so I set off again. Yay!
By the time I returned to the parking lot, I was happy and ready for the next week. I can't stress enough how vital these personal escapes are. Whatever activities suit, they improve physical state and recharge mental well-being. Cheers to the local trail builders for the day.
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