Ae Up

Having spotted this off road route from Beattock to Ae when I was running on the SUW, I had it in my mind to come back and use it as a basis for a ride. So this Sunday I went down to give it a bash.

I saved the one mile ascent of tarmac by driving up to Easter Earshaig justifying it, that I’d be doing enough miles anyway later on. The route starts off obvious enough with a blue Sustrans directing you into the woods, and the occasional marker. I thought it'd be just follow the track to Ae, straightforward enough.

This way...

Except that there has been recent works to build a new forest highway (maybe for forest extraction to come). Seeing sprayed “WALK” signs on rocks pointing me down it I assumed this to be my route as there was no obvious signage or evidence to suggest otherwise (here comes the ass out of u part). It was 30 minutes later and several more “WALK” signs before I realised that I was being brought back to Beattock village. Retracing my steps (well good hill training anyway) I speculated this must be left from the Moffat Walking festival. So arriving back at the said new junction I followed the not so obvious other way and sure enough in 5mins came across a maker post. Once back on track, it is straight forward with regular markers to give assurance as you make your way through what is a very quiet area, Queensbury hill providing some of the backdrop.



Southside of Queensbury and
the middle of nowwhere

 
So I eventually arrived at Ae which is one of the 7 Stanes biking centres in southern Scotland, heading off to do the red route before coming back. Although this is a “trail centre” it has a more XC feel than the others and you have to work all the way round. About half way I came across a father & son who had punctured and got the wrong fit inner tube with them. I wasn’t able to help as I had only one spare tube as I’d gone and lost one when my seat pouch had opened accidentally, fortunately for me my bike tool hadn't fallen out as well.

Ae "North Shore" riding



Bike posing at Water of Ae



Towards the end of the loop I spent a bit of time trying to find a link back to my forest route without having to go to Ae itself but with no map I eventually accepted my fate after arriving at the top of the downhill route (now I know what the orange route is!) and rode back to the beginning where I then picked up the cycle track and reversed my route to Beattock without further adventure.