A Day in the Life of a Land Rover Experience Instructor

November 20, 2007 on 1:07 pm | In Off-road Driving | No Comments

Written on behalf of Lead Instructor Will Cox

The day starts well as I drive to work in my Disco 300TDI (sad I know!) listening to Wogan on Radio 2 deciding whether I should be a Togmeister or not! Believe it or not it’s the only radio channel I can get in my Landy!Anyway I arrive at Land Rover Experience Scotland in Dunkeld, dump my kit and go down to the office to see what the day has instore. I have some how got myself into a position where the day could take me anywhere from 1 hour 4×4 sessions, a Prospect client from Land Rover or a good old half day Off Road Experience or even an enjoyable Level 2.It’s a good mixed day, I have a Half Day Experience in a real Land Rover (Defender of course), then the afternoon in the Range Rover Sport for a prospect client.

So after winding up the girls in the office and picking up my radio for the day, I go back up to sort out and do my daily checks on both vehicles and line them up with the other vehicles that are going out for that day. All’s well with the vehicles, surprising as Rick had been out in the Defender yesterday and it’s clean!! I kit out the Defender with our basic safety equipment needed for the day, do my radio check with the office and wait for a call from the office when my guests arrive.Time for a quick gulp of coffee and a crack with the boys, a quick look at the names of our clients and decide from their names what kind of folk they will be like. (all in the best possible taste) How about this – Ms Kate Maitland Smythe in the Defender and Zac Macgregor in the Sport, interesting! (well the morning could be)

Call comes through on the radio and I go around to meet and introduce myself to my morning guest. I gather up all the half day Experience clients and take them upstairs, after a welcome I run through a Health and Safety briefing and then deliver a presentation on the technology of the vehicles and principles of off road driving. (yes even the Defender has some technology creeping into it)
Then it is out to introduce Ms Kate to the Defender with an exterior and interior walkround, all the time I am gathering info on my client finding out their off road experience, background and what she is looking for from the day. (apart from a damm good looking instructor!!) My client is a farmer’s daughter who now breeds Hunters and owns a Defender 90, this is ideal so I can base my morning around this info.
After the vehicle walkaround and a Demonstration drive taking in the five elements, up and down hill, side slopes, mud / ruts and water, I get my client driving, there is lots of questioning, interaction and comparisons with Defender 90 and 110. The morning ends with a de-brief and present my client with a Half Day Experience certificate say my good byes, then head up and clean my vehicle.To be continued…

Annette Drummond
http://www.highlandoffroad.com
Loves all types of off-roading, mostly quad biking and Land Rovers

Golspie black trail

October 5, 2007 on 2:59 pm | In Mountain Biking | No Comments

Last weekend I went to Golspie and sampled some of the finest mountain biking in Scotland. Golspie is way-way up north east, like 70 minutes North of Inverness. We had spent the week on Lewis (the Outer Hebrides) and since the Calmac ferry comes in to Ullapool, which is about 70 mins north west of Inverness we thought we’d just ‘nip across’ to Golspie as we have heard so much about the Highland Wildcat Trails. We ended up doing the black trail, which is a 13.6 km steep-steep and VERY rocky lovely trail. As you approach the real start of the climbing (and actually you have a bit to go) at the ‘Treeline’ you have an option; to take the easy way out or to do ‘Fox Farm’; a narrow single track which is the rockiest climb I have ever been on! I am sure it is the most unique of its kind in Scotland. At the start I was baffled and thought I’d never manage but after a while I quite enjoyed the challenge. I find the bunny hop style to get over steep rock uphill very hard! After you rech the summit you have a proper downhill single track all the way home! And it is LONG!

The track has a superb sea view all the way and its very tranquil in a proper pine forrest setting, reminds me of Sweden! The downhill bit was very challenging sometiems, but most of the super big drop offs has red options to escape on to. I hade a great day and stiff muscles for about three days! More on the trails: www.highlandwildcat.com. I’ll be back and next time I hope to make a full weekend of it and tie in with some great rock climbing at the Camel. Cheers, Jenny

Jenny Glumoff
http://www.visitscotland.com/adventure
Main activity sport climbing but love all types of climbing, surfing, mountain biking and hill walking!

Cow Hill Trails - Fort William

September 20, 2007 on 3:12 pm | In Mountain Biking | No Comments

Ok so the spotlight really has been on Fort William lately as the World Champs went off and we now have a Junior World Champion in the shape of Ruaridh Cunningham for the Downhill event.

Anyway I was down in the Fort yesterday evening and had the chance to head up Cow Hill on the bike. This was the first time I’d been up, and the climb up what’s pretty much a landrover track is quite tough going on a downhill bike. We headed up to the mast at the top and the views out across Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil in one direction and Glen Nevis in the other were amazing. The cloud base was high and the hills were set alight with evening sunshine; cracking stuff!

More importantly though; the run down was great. We followed the path down towards Glen Nevis and then branched left down the multi use path. It’s a well made path with a good mix of firm and loose surface and some jumps and culverts to keep you amused.

The sum total was as decent workout and some big smiles when we got to the Braveheart carpark at the bottom of the downhill. If you’ve got a spare hour and a half then it’s well worth the effort.

Ben Thorburn
http://www.freeskiing.co.uk
Freeskiing and telemarking are my main sports but in the off season it's all about the mountain bike... that and a bit of hill walking and running.

Fort William getting ready for World Champs

August 31, 2007 on 10:31 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

A small town in the Highlands of Scotland gets ready to host around 700 of the best mountain bikers from across the world next week. The population of Fort William will double by drawing over 40,000 visitors throughout the week!

Good luck to the Scottish participants:
Ross Creber (under 23 xc)
Hamish Creber (junior xc)
Ruaridh Cunningham and Chris Hutchens (junior DH)
Ruth McGavigan (elite women’s xc)
Duncan Shaw (trials)

Still accommodation and tickets available on http://www.fortwilliamworldchamps.co.uk/.

Jenny Glumoff
http://www.visitscotland.com/adventure
Main activity sport climbing but love all types of climbing, surfing, mountain biking and hill walking!

Fort William local trail guide.

August 27, 2007 on 2:59 pm | In Mountain Biking | No Comments

Well we all know that Fort Bill is gearing up for when The Worlds kick off next week but for all those travelling and taking our bikes there’s a bit of a black hole if you’re looking for places to ride. The Forestry Comission’s Witch’s Trails are closed for competition from the 3^rd – 9^th Sep and I’ll probably end up with withdrawal symptoms and be itching to get out as soon as it kicks off; so if you’re anythink like me then a local trail guide would be handy… I’ve attached this guide for Fort William, aiming to provide you all with some quality alternatives in the area.

As a double, consecutive IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) Global Superstar, Scotland is shaping up as the place to be for amazing mountain biking; so when you’re planning your trip, don’t forget to pack your cycle legs and some midge repellent along with the rest of your kit.

See you there!

Download the Fort William and Highland mountain bike trail guide.

Ben Thorburn
http://www.freeskiing.co.uk
Freeskiing and telemarking are my main sports but in the off season it's all about the mountain bike... that and a bit of hill walking and running.

Fort William Down Hill rocks!

August 16, 2007 on 3:33 pm | In Mountain Biking | 1 Comment

Last week me, Robin and Ben went to Fort William to test the tracks before the BIG event kicks off. I never in my life thought that I would actually go on the down hill; I wanted to do the Cross Country, but the down hill scares me just looking at it! Under pressure from Ben and Robin I did do both the cross country and down hill after all…

I wish I could say how tough I am and how well I did - but the truth is I was shaking so much I nearly fell off! It is a very intimidating track. Thanks to our two excellent mountain biking guides, Donald and Bob, from Nevisrange I did make it down. The track has got some steep rocky bits, drop offs, natural forest parts, roots and finishes of nicely with ”the wall”… No wonder the best mountain bikers in the world are coming to ride it on 3-9 September for the World Championships.

Ben and Robin were riding like professionals - well done! Although Ben had a close encounter with a massive root at one point ;-). I was tasting the mud after the very last rocky drop off, like 20 metres from the car park. What a shame!

It wasn’t only scary, it was also one of my best experiences ever! Imagine riding in the shadow of the mighty Ben Nevis (the top of the cross country trail sits just next to the Ben), with excellent views over the Great Glen. The tracks are also so extremely well built by Forestry Commission Scotland, it’s like a reward to ride them. I would advise anyone to have a go - but get the kit and a guide! The DH bike did make me much braver, as did the full body armour. Off Beat Bikes in Fort William have everything you need. I walked maybe three-four sections of the DH track and had no aspirations to ride all of it - I just wanted to enjoy and make it down. Next up will be to visit the World Champs and see how it’s really meant to be ridden!

Jenny Glumoff
http://www.visitscotland.com/adventure
Main activity sport climbing but love all types of climbing, surfing, mountain biking and hill walking!

An Epic in the Cairngorms

August 10, 2007 on 4:25 pm | In Mountain Biking | No Comments

Wow! Last Sunday saw a crazy amount of rain in the Cairngorms. On the previous day, I had hiked high up onto Sgurr Mor with some friends on a beautiful blue sky day. But Sunday, on Sunday - the rain! Fortunately, such conditions are perfect for a bit of adventure mountain biking!

I took a couple of mates up Glen Quoich in the southern Cairngorms. We had an epic day! After a long, hard climb on a rough track, the trail levelled out. While this was a relief, it also meant that the trail became flooded to such an extent that we were regularly crossing pools of water 50 or 60 feet wide, not sure how deep they were or if they were hiding any surprises under the water!

After about 10 km, we reached the head of the glen and the point where the track crossed not one but two proper rivers! The water levels were up but we checked them out and deemed them safe to cross. As we hauled our bikes through the knee deep water, we were so wet we didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Laughter won, just! Once through the rivers, we then enjoyed an even wetter but much smoother return down the west side of the glen. Lots of whooping as we sped through deep pools, hoping that we’d not get stuck in the deep mud at the bottom!

Emerging back onto the road, there were 3 beaming smiles as we realised we’d made it and that a hot bath was just 2km away. Cruising along the quiet road, we managed to spot 2 roe deer and a red squirrel sitting on the edge of the road. The mist and cloud swirled among the Scots Pine trees, creating a magical and mystical feel to the glen.

Despite having the worst weather of any day of our long weekend break, the three of us were in no doubt that this day of torrential rain had been the best. That’s one of the great things about mountain biking. And also one of the great things about Scotland.

Stevie Christie
http://www.wildernessscotland.com
Director of Wilderness Scotland & also of the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival. Into most mountain sports, esp mountain biking, walking, climbing and sea-kayaking.

MTB at Drumlanrig Castle

August 1, 2007 on 10:37 am | In Mountain Biking, Uncategorized | No Comments

I made my second visit to the mountain bike trails at Drumlanrig Castle near Dumfries last Sunday. For those of you with families / partners who are not into biking, this is a great place to come as there is a castle, craft shops and an adventure playground to keep non-bikers happy while you have fun on the trails. Even if you are riding with novices, it is a good destination as there are some nice blue trails which run alongside or close to red trails.

As I was there with a novice rider and we didn’t have a lot of time on our hands, we followed trails 5 & 6. Trail 6 is a blue trail with some easy riding but also some fun singletrack sections. Trail 5 is red but follows Trail 6 for much of the way. However, it has lots of little detours of red standard which provide an excellent challenge and a break from the more sedate blue trail riding, and these can be followed without leaving your partner for more than 5 minutes at a time.

With lots of natural trails such as the twisty Whirley Birley and more challenging descents such as Dr Evil, this route provides a refreshing change from constructed trails. I’m already planning my next visit to check out the rest of the routes.

And given that Drumlanrig is less than 90 minutes from Glasgow or Edinburgh, shouldn’t you be planning a visit too?

A Day at Dunkeld

July 27, 2007 on 1:25 pm | In Outdoor Climbing | No Comments

I managed to squeeze in a day’s climbing at Craig a Barns by Dunkeld last weekend. The sun was shining and the rock was warm to touch - perfect for climbing. It’s been a wee while since I last climbed though so I wasn’t on the best form. My problem is simple - I spend too much time watching climbing films which have been submitted to the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival (I have the final say on which films are selected) when I should be out there climbing. It’s doubly bad as I regularly watch Dave MacLeod or Niall McNair on film, easing their way up E7s and harder - then I get onto the rock, look at much easier climbs and think - you mean I need to climb that??!!

Anyway, we had a good day out, caught a bit of sun and didn’t have any falls, so we went home happy. And again I find myself promising to get down to Alien Rock every week, and to grab every opportunity to get out on the rock while the summer lasts. I’ll keep you posted.

Mountain Biking in the Highlands

July 26, 2007 on 2:30 pm | In Mountain Biking | No Comments

My bike has been taking some punishment recently - and so have I! A friend of mine convinced me to take part in the Corrieyairick Challenge - a 43-mile mountain bike race from Fort Augustus to Kincraig, crossing the Corrieyairick Pass at an altitude of 800m along the way. I was keen to take part as riding the Corrieyarrick Pass forms part of Wilderness Scotland’s Coast to Coast mountain bike trip. It was a great day out, despite the constant headwind, with some superb riding and, between all the competitors, the Challenge raised thousands of pounds for a local charity.

No sooner had my legs recovered than I was up at the Laggan Wolftrax centre last weekend. And here is a big tip! Never watch mountain bike movies the night before going mountain biking - they have a habit of increasing your confidence to dangerous levels! We had a great ride round the red route until we came to the 240m of North Shore (basically boardwalk raised a couple of feet above the forest floor). Having watched some crazy North Shore action the night before (from a film which will be shown at this year’s Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival in October), I speeded up and raced onto the boardwalk. The morning’s rain had made the surface really greasy and on the 2nd corner - thump! - I was off and into a tree!

The tree was not damaged and, after 30 seconds or so, I realised that I wasn’t either (not seriously anyway). The rest of the North Shore was taken with a bit more caution before we let loose again on the final section of table top jumps. All good. If you haven’t been to Laggan, it’s well worth a visit.

Next up, a return to Drumlanrig Castle this weekend!

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