Glentrool has two waymarked green routes: at 6km The Glen is the shorter but has more singletrack, while the Palgowan route is 14km and mostly on forest roads.
The trails start out together, sharing the same singletrack as the blue route. Soon the trail crosses the Black Linn (bridge) and meanders along its banks, through tall larch trees, before joining a minor forest track.
Continue climbing out of the trees and onto a section of contouring singletrack, following it to a road crossing.
Choose your route
At the crossing, the short Glen route crosses the road and continues on singletrack, while the long Palgowan route turns left onto the forest road.
The Glen
If you take the Glen route, continue on the same gentle singletrack as the blue route around the Pulnagashel Glen before dropping back down on forest tracks which lead back to the visitor centre.
Palgowan
If you choose to ride the Palgowan route, turn left on to the forest road and head north towards Palgowan and more open countryside. After crossing through a field along a muddy farm track, you'll reach a minor public road which you can follow all the way back to the visitor centre.
If, however, you have energy to spare, take the climb around Glencaird Hill, with fine views behind you, before entering the trees for a long descent to Glentrool village, joining up with the public road of the shortcut described above.
Grade: Green (see trail grades for details of this grade)
The Glen:
- Distance: 6km
- 35% singletrack
- Estimated time to ride the route: 1 hr
Palgowan Route:
- Distance: 14km
- 10% singletrack
- Estimated time to ride the route: 2 hrs