Bike Trossachs / Gravelfoyle

Bike Trossachs mission is to develop cycling-related infrastructure, grow participation and deliver the Trossachs as a leading destination for cycle tourism. Alongside this is a goal to enhance healthy living, active lifestyle, and provide additional environmental benefits within our community and make cycling a key economic driver for the area.

This year, they took a big step forward in realising their ambitions by creating a part time Cycling Development Officer position for 9 months which Kerry MacPhee began in January. Kerry is an athlete and Gaelic-speaking Outer Hebrides gal. She describes herself as a bike pedaling trail shredder. Loves the dirt & love the hurt. Here she gives us the lowdown!

Through commitment, graft, and belief the core team have really put this wee village on the cycling map. The upsurge in cyclists visiting over the last 4 years has been incredible to observe and was really helped by the inaugural Dukes Weekender Gravel event held in 2018.

Bike Trossachs mission is to develop cycling-related infrastructure, grow participation and deliver the Trossachs as a leading destination for cycle tourism. Alongside this is a goal to enhance healthy living, active lifestyle, and provide additional environmental benefits within our community and make cycling a key economic driver for the area.

Bike Trossachs have a three strand approach to their mission:

Gravelfolye the destination brand, Dukes Weekender the flagship event and Bike Trossachs the company.

The Gravelfoyle strand encapsulates all things related to Aberfoyle as a cycling destination; waymarked gravel routes (A Scottish first) which will be launched this spring, promotion of Aberfoyle and the Trossachs as a cycle tourist destination, visitor information, and destination website.

Dukes Weekender was formally handed over to Bike Trossachs for 2022 meaning all the profits generated from the event will go straight back into the local community to develop cycling. This year, we are expecting to welcome 600 people to the village!

Bike Trossachs the company will focus on participation, community collaboration, community consultation, project management, and funding applications as well as the newly formed Bike Trossachs Cycling Club.

Gravelfoyle is an amazing cycle destination because of the diversity of cycle options - you can go for a mega gnarly, steep MTB shred from Limecraig or take in the more mellow lower XC trails around Go Ape.

Aberfoyle is at the centre of a ton of gravel routes from every side so you can figure of 8 anything to loop back through the village for an ice-cream, coffee and cake stop or even a bike fix at the bike shop.

A lot of iconic routes pass by here: West Highland Way, Badger Divide, An Tura Mor, NC7, Lochs and Glens Way...it's an adventurer and bike packers paradise.

It is also becoming an adaptive cycle gravel destination too with more adaptive cycle routes being added. As well as off-road, it's a mecca for road cyclists taking in the iconic Dukes Pass and Loch Katrine loop. We're truly spoilt in Aberfoyle!

If you're fed up with 2 wheels, there's the Loch Ard Sculpture trail to take in, plentiful lochs for some SUP or swims, lots of nature spots to take in red squirrels and birds, Go Ape is nearby if you fancy swinging from the forest rooftops and there are plenty of places to eat and drink in the village.

There is a huge free parking area directly behind the village and it's easily accessed from Glasgow or the North. You're guaranteed a warm welcome and a fab time in Aberfoyle.