Dunoon Dirt Dash

[boxelder]

Definitely more trip than adventure, but a few of us rode the DDD over two days, based from Dunoon. Not knowing the area, I found it, unsurprisingly very Arran like, but without the big hills.
Day one saw us head north through Carrick Castle to lunch at Lochgoilhead, then Cowal Way to Strachur and back along loch Eck. 95Km. Warm and sunny, with a dip in the sea and got to watch a nuclear sub escorted down the Clyde.





On the Cowal Way past Curra Lochain.


Day two were the shorter loops south and west. More naval activity on Loch Striven and then a surprisingly tough HaB section over Bealach na Sreine into Glen Kin - wouldn't fancy that in the drizzle with the beasties out. You can just see 2Bob in the last pic, and I still had 10 mins hike to the bealach and another 20 mins HaB down to the forest roads of Glen Kin. Contrasted with super smooth 'hero gravel' up Glen Massan and the blast back down into Dunoon. 65Km.









Saw fox, red squirrel, loads of herons, seals etc. Plus the RN hardware. If in Dunoon looking for food, would recommend The Lorne, and we stayed in the Park Hotel, which was a bit tired, but clean and good brekkie, for £30 B&B.

[Dyffers]

What was the terrain by the Lochan between Goil and Strachur like? Easy push or ridable?

[fatbikephil]

'Tis nice round there! Did the bit from Glen Kin to Loch Striven in 1990 something and it was horrible. We then went up the loch side and the singletrack to Ardtaraig which was OK but looked like it didn't get much use.

What was the terrain by the Lochan between Goil and Strachur like? Easy push or ridable?

I'd heard that section was a mission but Andy's pic looks OK. Guess its very dry just now...

[boxelder]

What was the terrain by the Lochan between Goil and Strachur like? Easy push or ridable?

95% rideable. Just a bit of pushing at first along the loch side.
It looks to me like they've had a digger up there and dragged up a 'kest' - maybe even added some surfacing. It's only thinking back on it now that I remembered the scrappy bit at the start. There are a few over enthusiastic drains across it, but otherwise good. Suspect it will become overgrown with time. There was a metal road sign half way along with 'Cowal Way Rest Area' where the surfaced path was a bit wider - someone with a sense of humour....?

[fatbikephil]

The person I knew who walked it yonks ago described it as pathless so obviously they have sorted it since. Makes for a good link so will do it next time I'm over there

[Dyffers]

I've always avoided it when I've been up there, especially in early spring and autumn, as it had a reputation as a bogfest. I might have a look when I'm back in the next few weeks.