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This was our first port of call on the Easter trip this year (2004). It was also the furthest away from where we were staying in Dumfries, so after dropping the gear we went straight over there arriving just after lunch. Probably the best decision we made, as the general consensus was that this was the best of the lot.

One thing in it's favour is that as soon as you leave the car park you're on the trails. Brilliant. No lost time, and no discouraging hill to climb such as the crawl up to the action at the Great God Glentress. Below, Dave and Jason wait while young David prepares the afternoon meal! (not).

Hard work, all this cycling. He wasn't when we got there!

September 4th 2005 - Sean, Jason & Terry

(now including JayCam shots!!!)

This seemed like a good idea at the time - just leave Newcastle early, wiz over to Newton Stewart, do the ride and wiz back home. BUT - it's bl**dy miles to Kirroughtree, probably a bit too far for a day out if the trip there and back tires you aswell. On top of that we actually missed the turn-in a few miles before Newton Stewart and lost half an hour in the wilderness. We didn't know at the time but we were right in the middle of the Black at one point, as it crosses the Queens Way road a few times. A quick dash into Minigaff and a word with the locals had us on the right route again.

We kicked off about 12.00pm and decided to follow the Black Route to give Andy's young 'un Sean a good savaging. He was on Jason's old FSR with an inch or two of suspension both ends. That should give Jay and I an advantage, I thought, as we set off. But it didn't and he was away like a rabbit, totally carefree over the rough stuff and styling it up every time he lifted off.  It cost him a hard fall early on and a few near misses later, but speed wasn't lacking and fear was only an issue for me following behind, watching him tackle the trail like a veteran. No, that's me, I mean like an expert.

Unfortunately it wasn't very long before the trail signage degenerated into farce. I'm sure it was OK last time we were here, but this time - pretty naff. We took the advice of fellow riders a few times but I'm still not sure if we went the right way at every junction. Apart from that, it was just as we'd remembered it with plenty of fast, swoopy, technical and hard sections and nowhere to be less than completely alert due to the proximity of hard boulders (yes, I hit one a mile from the end!), trees and loose edges to the sides of the singletrack bits. Jason had one slide off the side but stayed aboard so other than that the only problems were mechanical - Sean's chain kept jamming between cassette and spokes, and Terry's new XT rear changer kept jumping. We overcame both of these and bashed on regardless. Good to see a young lad prepared to get his hands dirty (well, Andy's gloves at least) - AND he seemed to know what he was doing mechanically.

On this trip we did manage to find, and more-or-less conquer,  McMoab, the big chunk of rock that looks like a giant whales back. Our energy reserves were down a bit by the time we found it so it was really tiring on the climb, and over the chunks of white rock scattered over the approach.   And the wind on the spine of the thing was amazing, almost taking me off to an early granite grave. What was also amazing was the grip the granite was offering - absolutely gluey to MTB tyres. That was just as well, as after the descent from the big stone Jason discovered a little gem - almost a sheer rock drop near the fireroad about 20 to 25 feet high. Obviously it was there to be conquered, so Jason duly did the honours. Terry followed him down - it looks hellish from the top, much steeper than the Slab at Dalbeattie - and then, with hardly a word, Sean rolled over the edge aswell - and he was up for a repeat attempt duly completed with no probs, as did Jason.

Left a bit with that camera, Jason From here there seemed to be more climbing than anything, including "heartbreak hill" up from the Queens Way. This is what finished Terry off for the day. Once he'd pushed up this beastie there was nothing left for the rest of the climbs which were walked very slowly. Then blow me if Ashie didn't send two text messages , one straight after the other. So what? So, I was half way down a fast fireroad drop getting my breath back and had to stop, thinking it was something more urgent!

Still quite a few sections of excellent and tricky singletrack left in the 8 or 9 miles remaining which were enjoyed to the full, and we got back to the car just after 5.00pm and 21 reasonably hard but extremely satisfying miles. Same night and next two days I was totally f**ked (that's FLAKED). Some more of Jason's piccies:

!Hairless chases the Hare

Quite like the idea of someone else taking pictures, so feel free to offer them.

VIDZ: Jason & Sean going uphill    Jason & Sean Drop    Terry& Sean Drop

 11th June 2006