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Sidlaws Mountain Biking route Time 1-1/5 hours Distance 6 miles Terrain narrow rocky single track in places, uneven terrain. Some steep climbs and descents.
The following route is a suggestion
of a route the absence of way markers and landmarks make it difficult to
describe accurately the route, take map and compass, and once you get to know
the area, explore and let us know if you find a better route Despite its proximity to Dundee, and the relatively short distance this is a real thigh burner of a route which gives some exciting descents, fantastic views and the exposed hill route gives you the feeling of being out there in the real countryside Start at Balkello woodland car park the car park is locked later in the evenings so park on the road if you are not sure of making it back to the car in time the closing times are posted at the gate. There is a small lay-by 50-100 yards down the road towards Tealing From the car park head through the gate at the northwest corner and continue to head northwest. The path climbs up slowly at this point. Head through a large opening in a dry stonewall and veer north at this point until there is a junction. The main walkers path goes straight on. Here you need to take a left up a steeper grassy path. Keep going until you get to the most north-westerly point of the field. In the corner there is a style over the wall. Now head west over the brow of a hill and down a wide grassy track under the large pylons. As you come down the hill there is a right turn take the right turn and a wide land rover track takes you up a thigh-burning lung bursting ascent. After a while you leave the pylons as they head off to your left and keep going up. The step hillside of .. lies on your right. Once you start to plateau and feel like you are almost at the top the track splits. You want head straight on as the path veers off to the left. 100metres later you arrive at a gate. You go through the gate, keep going down the path for a short distance until you arrive at a junction take a right turn here and follow the track down, splash through a little burn and follow the path as it winds back up the hill. (Note you are not heading to the summit of the first hill) You head up through some trees until you find a left turn follow this its heads back downhill and eventually leads you to a junction of two fences. From here you can head straight down the hill to the car. Or head north again away from the car park after 50 yards there is a branch of the path off to the right follow this and it takes you round the back of the second hill. Keep heading up the hill till you come again to a fence. Climb over the fence and take a left. This takes you down some uneven lose rocky single track it is bike-able but take care. From the bottom of the hill go through a gate and head straight up the 3rd hill. Keep heading for the pylons at the top of the hill. Before you reach the pylons almost at the top of a hill, a fence stops you going any further. From here you need to head down the hill, heading right (westwards) across the face of the hill. Eventually you end up in a field if you cross the field there is a style which brings you back onto the main path head straight down this wide land-rover track. After a short descent you hit a junction take the path heading straight on (slightly to the right) it takes you down a narrow track until you arrive underneath the pylons again. Turn right and keep running parallel to the pylons. Eventually you will find yourself on familiar territory. Head back to the car from here
Alternative routes I have found recently!
1. If you head to the summit of auchterhouse hill from the start, rather than skirting around it. From the summit initially descent off the "cairn" its a few old rocks in the ground that used to be a fort! Follow the path as it veers west (to your left) after a hundred yards or so. A rocky start leads you to some tricky, if a little rutted in places, singletrack down to thye "normal route" skirting around the west side of the summit 2. there are some narrow trails underneath the south side of the middle hill of the three (Balluderon hill). difficult to describe, but worth exploring
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