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101 Mountain-bike routes in Scotland Harry Henniker (1998)
Mainstream Publishing 1 85158 936 8 223pp £14.99
Well-described mountain bike routes all over Scotland - generally of
the off-road touring variety
 
There are any number of guides to various kinds of cycling in locations
various. Henniker’s stand out for a number of reasons. His knowledge
is that of a life-long enthusiast who runs Bike Bus – a service providing
transport for cyclists. He packs all of Scotland into a single volume.
And, his routes are straightforward to follow.
Given the size of Scotland, covering it all in only 200 or so pages
is no mean feat, but he manages it. There are routes described from Dunnet
Head to Maidenkirk – or very nearly. There are also immensely varied
– including both modest circular routes and some of the more ambitious
journeys that are possible in Scotland.
Henniker’s kind of rides are the tracks and trails that were once
the preserve of the Rough Suff Fellowship. Glentress does get a mention,
but his main interest is not really the high octane thrills and spills
of downhilling.
Each chapter is accompanied by rudimentary maps, and is described. In
all probability, you would need a set of OS maps to actually take to the
hills and follow most of these routes. Indeed, one wonders how long it
will be before volumes such as Henniker’s are offered with CDs containing
sat nav files that riders can download to their own handlebar guiding
devices.
It is vital to check at the front of the book so that you understand
his system of icons. The author carefully describes the road surface on
this routes - and some are footpaths along which it is all but impossible
to cycle, as well as fords that will, in most circumstances mean wet feet.
So long as you are expecting such challenges, all will be well - but a
family ride along what you expected would be landrover tracks, that unexpectdely
gave way to a mountain footpath, could be more challenging that is comfortable.
The author maintains that Scotland is the best country in the world
for mountain biking. That remains a matter of contention – but he
certainly provides more than enough evidence for someone to make a comprehensive
evaluation of the quality of Caledonia’s potential for aficionados
of the knobbly tyre.
PS August 2008
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