Tak Ma Doon to Auchenbowie, Central Scotland

Tak Ma Doon to Auchenbowie

Riding out of the town of Kilsyth is a famous hill climb called the Tak Ma Doon (Take me down in broad Scots). The road takes you down from the Campsie Hills above Kilsyth to the town. Except for this ride, I've already climbed up it (I've filmed this part before if you want to try it - here) and this ride gives you the brilliant and fast downhill section from the scenic viewpoint car park to the forests that surround the Carron Valley Reservoir.

The forests around the reservoir are full of excellent mountain bike trails but, being on my road bike, this ride sticks to the main tracks through the forest before rejoining the main roads just below the reservoir dam finishing up at the crossroads at Carron Bridge.  From there we continue Northwards up some challenging inclines before you to enjoy long spells of fast downhill sections through some gorgeous Scottish scenery.  The roads are very quiet, meeting largely only fellow cyclists.  It finishes just outside the small hamlet of Auchenbowie which is centred around the old mansion. The final frames have views across the fields to Stirling and the Wallace Monument.