Venue: Stinchar Bridge

Photos for The Four Lochs

Videos for The Four Lochs

Comments and ratings for The Four Lochs

The stincher bridge four lochs is a local route for me. Challenging but good fun though the route on MTBtrails needs updating. The single track which leads to point 11 is no more due to forestry and l... read whole comment... gallowayphantom gave this trail 5 stars about 5 years ago

As the second half of this ride comprises mostly forest road, it is definitely one to do with company. cat89 gave this trail 4 stars about 5 years ago

The Four Lochs

This tour of the Carrick Forest takes in Cornish Loch, Loch Bradan, Loch Doon and Loch Riecawr as well as passing the restored Doon Castle. Although mostly on forest drive, there are a couple of good singletrack sections.

The route:

From the carpark, cross the forest road onto the path which leads over the bridge (tag 1) and into the forest. Follow this as it heads through the forest, over another bridge and through another short wooded stretch.

Where the path emerges from the trees, ignore the turn-off to the left (tag 2) and continue to follow the path you are on as it climbs, gradually at first, and then more sharply, up the hill.

After passing a few cairns and a small lochan, the first descent to Cornish Loch is reached (tag 3). From this Loch, the trail winds gently down through the forest, following the course of the river, before taking you up over one small climb prior to rejoining the forest road. Do not be tempted to take the apparent "shortcut" that avoids the climb (tag 4) as you will just end up carrying your bike!

At the road (tag 5), turn right and and then right again after a km or so (tag 6). Shortly after following the road round a right hand bend, take the path off to the left (tag 7) and follow this alongside Loch Bradan, until you reach a turn-off to the right (tag 8).

Follow this path to the right as it climbs away from Loch Bradan and then descends towards Loch Doon, heading into the woods at tag 9.

At the junction shortly after the lochan (tag 10), turn right then left onto a short singletrack section. Then, where this joins the road (tag 11), turn left then right to join the lochside road.

Follow this road to the castle. If you are not interested in seeing the castle, you can turn right onto the path up the hill at tag 12. Otherwise, take the path to the right just after the castle (tag 13) and follow this as it winds up the hill then descends back down to rejoin the forest drive.

Turn right onto the forest road (tag 14) and simply follow this past Loch Riecawr and back to Loch Bradan, where you should turn left to return via the road used on the outward route (tag 6).

Stay on this road and it will bring you back to the Stinchar Bridge carpark after a few km.

Photos for Stinchar Falls

Videos for Stinchar Falls

Comments and ratings for Stinchar Falls

There's some natural single track which heads down from point 1 down the right hand side of the river and rejoins the forest road about 200mts down from point 2. This track continues over the road and... read whole comment... gallowayphantom gave this trail 2 stars about 5 years ago

cat89 gave this trail 2 stars about 5 years ago

Stinchar Falls

This short route may be ridden as a route in it's own right or linked onto the Cornish Hill and/or Loch Bradan loops. The route involves little climbing and follows mostly fire roads and easy singletrack, with a short on-road section towards the end.

The route:

From the carpark, return to the road and turn left over Stincher Bridge. Then, almost immediately, turn off onto the hardcore path on the right (tag1) and follow this as it widens to a fireroad and then reaches a junction (tag 2).

At this junction, turn left and follow the fireroad for about 1km until you see a path - signposted to Stinchar Falls - leading down the hill to the right (tag 3). At the foot of this descent, turn left and folow the path down to where it ends at Stinchar Falls (tag4).

To return, initially head back up the path you came down, but instead of climbing up the zig-zag path you came down, continue up the hill via the fire road, ignoring the turn-off to the left after the bridge, until you reach the road (tag 6).

At the road, turn right and follow until you return to Stinchar Bridge. Alternatively, turn right then take the first fire road to the left if you wish to ride to/round Loch Bradan.

Photos for Cornish Hill

Videos for Cornish Hill

Comments and ratings for Cornish Hill

Interesting when done in the opposite direction.Gives a good decent back to Stincher bridge, but watch out for walkers and give way gallowayphantom gave this trail 4 stars about 5 years ago

Just wish this trail was longer! cat89 gave this trail 4 stars about 5 years ago

Cornish Hill

A short and sweet loop taking in forest and open hillside, mostly on singletrack. This loop may be easily combined with other routes from Stinchar Bridge.

The route:

From the carpark, cross the forest road onto the path which leads over the bridge (tag 1) and into the forest. Follow this as it heads through the forest, over another bridge and through another short wooded stretch.

Where the path emerges from the trees, ignore the turn-off to the left (tag 2) and continue to follow the path you are on as it climbs, gradually at first, and then more sharply, up the hill.

After passing a few cairns and a small lochan, the first descent to Cornish Loch is reached (tag 3). From this Loch, the trail winds gently down through the forest, following the course of the river, before taking you up over one small climb prior to rejoining the forest road. Do not be tempted to take the apparent "shortcut" that avoids the climb (tag 4) as you will just end up carrying your bike!

At the road (tag 5), turn left to return to the carpark. Alternatively, turn right to continue on to ride round Loch Bradan.

Photos for Four lochs 2

Videos for Four lochs 2

Comments and ratings for Four lochs 2

Four lochs 2

This tour of the Carrick Forest takes in Cornish Loch, Loch Bradan, Loch Doon and Loch Riecawr as well as passing the restored Doon Castle. Although mostly on forest drive, there are a couple of good singletrack sections.

The route:

From the carpark, cross the forest road onto the path which leads over the bridge (tag 1) and into the forest. Follow this as it heads through the forest, over another bridge and through another short wooded stretch.

Where the path emerges from the trees, ignore the turn-off to the left (tag 2) and continue to follow the path you are on as it climbs, gradually at first, and then more sharply, up the hill.

After passing a few cairns and a small lochan, the first descent to Cornish Loch is reached (tag 3). From this Loch, the trail winds gently down through the forest, following the course of the river, before taking you up over one small climb prior to rejoining the forest road. Do not be tempted to take the apparent "shortcut" that avoids the climb (tag 4) as you will just end up carrying your bike!

At the road (tag 5), turn right and and then right again after a km or so (tag 6). Shortly after following the road round a right hand bend, take the path off to the left (tag 7) and follow this alongside Loch Bradan, until you reach a turn-off to the right (tag 8).

Follow this path to the right as it climbs away from Loch Bradan and then descends towards Loch Doon, heading into the woods at tag 9.

At the junction shortly after the lochan (tag 10), turn right onto the forest road and stay on this. At the junction (tag 11), keep right

As you approach the bottom of the hill and the loch road in the distance. The forestry commission have created a new forest road branching off to the right (tag 12). Turn onto this through the gate. Carry on up the hill and enjoy the views of the loch and the Merrick in the distance. At tag 13 turn right on to the forest drive

Turn right onto the forest road (tag 14) and simply follow this past Loch Riecawr and back to Loch Bradan, where you should turn left to return via the road used on the outward route (tag 6).

Stay on this road and it will bring you back to the Stinchar Bridge carpark after a few km.