Anna Clark tells gives us the background on Trossachs EBike Tours
Anna explained that her cycling tours are aimed at leisure and occasional cyclists, both locals and holidaymakers, with the ebikes taking the strain so riders can concentrate on the marvellous scenery. Using the various levels of electrical assist, mixed ability riders can cycle happily together. There is no throttle on ebikes in the UK, so riders do have to pedal to move along, but going uphill or into the wind feels like cycling on the flat!
Anna has been exploring our wonderful area for years with her family, cycling, hillwalking and generally pottering about. Around four years ago, she discovered the wonder of electric bikes and hasn’t looked back. They are such a great way to explore places you might not normally be able to reach by bike, due to long distances or steep hills.
To prepare for leading cycle tours, Anna took the excellent Cycling Scotland Cycle Ride Leader course for road and cycle path routes, a comprehensive outdoor first aid course and the Velotech Bronze cycle maintenance qualification. Working in partnership with Katrine Wheelz Cycle Hire at Trossachs Pier, Anna started offering guided day tours last summer, mostly to international visitors from Europe, North America and England. After some great feedback, she has been encouraged to expand the range of tours on offer, meaning she has spent the winter researching some new commentaries.
Tours usually have between four and six riders, but private bespoke tours are also available. Many visitors are amazed by the wild beauty of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, so close to the main hubs of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The popular Loch Katrine Explorer tour takes the virtually traffic-free lochside road from Trossachs Pier to Brenachoile point, used as a setting in the Outlander television series, and onwards to Stronachlachar, with spectacular views up and down the loch. The tour combines history, wildlife and incredible scenery, and Anna also brings along some relevant treats for riders to try! Glengyle on the loch was home to Rob Roy MacGregor, Scotland’s own Robin-Hood style folk hero, and the history of Loch Katrine as Glasgow’s fresh water supply, from Victorian to modern times, is fascinating.
The tours usually last around 4 or 5 hours, with time allowed for a picnic or a stop at The Pier Café at Stronachlachar for their delicious home-baked cakes and coffee. No previous ebiking experience is required but the minimum legal age for riding ebikes is 14. The tours are a fantastic option for visitors or locals who want to learn more about the area and go further and faster on an ebike.
