A Memorable Day on Blencathra at the Age of 3


The wee man is starting to get a real passion for the outdoors even at the grand old age of 3! Being surrounded by pictures of mountains, sunsets and the odd bit of action this should be no surprise to us! With a little break in the dull weather it was the ideal time to climb Blencathra and show the wee man that when you put your mind to something anything is possible!
The chosen route was Mousethwaite comb, Scales Tarn, for a picnic and then head for the summit. Sharp Edge would be a challenge for another day! The wee man impressed us walking almost to the top of Mousethwaite Comb needing little encouragement other than his walking pole!


After a little drink and rest at the top of the comb we headed for Scales Tarn. As with all toddlers that age splashing in puddles is a great thing to do but on a mountain not the best ! With lots of water running down the path we had to do some distraction tactics all the way across! There were lots of Fireman Sam rescues to attend! 




Approaching the beck leading to Scales Tarn it was evident that the nights rain was going to make it an interesting crossing ! The outdoors teaches kids so much self discipline which becomes more evident when you need them to respond to instructions when things get a bit exciting!!



Having safely crossed the beck it was evident that the wee man was ready for his picnic! This route was proving to be great for a toddler as there were lots of places to aim for, keeping them interested and motivated !! 


The picnic was a success and watching the gusts across Scales Tarn provided some entertainment although that was not needed with the view that was in front of us. Educating the wee man about Sharp Edge was important and he was keen to cross it the next time we were on the mountain! Leaving Scales Tarn we decided to dress him up as it was getting quite windy. Having his rucksack with a rein on it was very assuring although not to be relied upon, on the steep paths.








Although the path climbs steeply to the summit ridge it is over quickly with a view to keep your mind off the hard work. We made topping out dramatic for the wee man getting him to climb over the rocky outcrops! He was feeling very proud of his mountaineering exploits! 



The excitement for the summit was building and in the end we could not stop the wee man from running to the summit! Although his legs were tired he just kept going! Once on top he had a well earned drink, applause from fellow walkers and time to admire the view! 

A very excitable and tired wee man was standing on the summit of Blencathra feeling very proud of himself and we too shared this feeling! 
It was soon time to head down and home! The zig zags really helped keep him entertained pretending we were Tom Thomas from Fireman Sam flying his helicopter. We also stood to watch the scramblers on Sharp Edge.



With only a small amount of carrying on the shoulders we were soon back at the car giving each other high fives for what had been a memorable day on the hill!
The wee man was certainly a tired little boy but the smile on his face at the end was one of relief and pride! We are sure that it will not be long before he is once again stood admiring the view over the lakes from one of the many amazing summits!


Mountain Biking with A Toddler


It was always very important to us to keep the wheels moving when kids became part of life's equation! We did alot of research as to what we could do to keep mountain biking and experiencing the thrill of off road on two wheels!
Whinlatter Blue Route
The first priority was to ensure the wee man had a balance bike so he could experience his own thrill on two wheels! As soon as he got his bike he became hooked! He soon mastered the balance but the issue for us he increased in speed dramatically and became more and more daring !
Keswick Railway Line
We researched different ways to mountain bike with a toddler but information is thin on the ground even on the world wide web!! We eventually came to the conclusion that we wanted to carry him on the front and also have an alternative for road and trail. This led us to two options. 

Four cross track Mabie Forest
The first was the I Bert Safe T Seat which was a forward facing seat and seemed very easy to fit. We ordered it right away and within days it came and did exactly what it said on the tin! I fitted it to my Scott Scale. I have changed the handlebars on this bike which helped and hindered the fit. The wide bars have really helped with the stability and handling but the flatness of them made getting the wee man in and out a bit of a squeeze! We just had to take his shoes on and off when he gets in and out! 
Whinlatter South Red
The seat has a great harness and is padded making it a comfortable ride. In the colder months we cut legs out of an old sleeping bag with ties to cover him to keep him warm! This seemed to work and allowed us to keep riding in the cold! 




Whinlatter South Red

The bike responds well with the seat on and even when it gets a bit rough the ride is not too uncomfortable on the front due to the forks taking most of the impact! Obviously you adapt your riding to take into consideration you have a wee man on the front but being able to interact while enjoying the trails together is awesome! We have ridden mainly trail centres blue with the odd bit of red but it really is down to what you are comfortable riding.

The wee man is now 3 and is on the verge of out growing the seat. There is a weight limit of 38lbs and fits age 1-4. We would fully recommend this and is worth the £80 price tag!

 AE Forest Blue Route

The second option we went for was the Weehoo ! Although a bit pricy at £285 it has been worth every penny! It is different to other tag alongs and trailers as it gives the wee man the option of pedalling! Everything is adjustable and it fits to the bike very easily! 





We have ridden with this on quite narrow singletrack and road. It handles extremely well and is also very good training! You do need to remind yourself that you have it on the back and a wide berth is needed around obstacles but it does improve your line choice in general! Again we adapt our riding to take into consideration the Wee man behind!

Cartmel Fell 

Whinlatter Blue
Newcastleton Red Route
Ae Forest Blue
Hartside Pass
Hartside Sing Song keeping the Coast to Coasters Entertained!

Cartmel Fell


Riding up Hartside pass is always a good session and the wee man loves coming down! It is great when you have to sing the Oki Coki when gasping for breath up hill but all good fun!
It is important to protect their eyes when sat behind the bike and we have found that sunglasses are fine but swimming goggles are better!
Sunglasses and buff on Hartside Pass
Goggles and buff at a mucky Glentress


The panniers on each side and the big net pocket on the seat is great for carrying all you need to with a toddler in tow! There is even two net pockets either side of the seat for waterbottles and snacks! 

Ae Forest Blue
The harness system is bombproof and there has been no complaints about being uncomfortable! The wheels are 20" so you will need seperate tubes. We had two punctures in the first few rides and it is important to note that you need to take a spanner to get the wheel off. The chain is not the easiest to deal with when changing a tyre but we found putting the wheel in at an angle helps! 
Eating buttons whilst giving instructions!
The weehoo can be used with kids up to 9 yrs old. We found this to be an awesome addition to our bike collection! We are planning a cycle tour in the summer and have every faith that the Weehoo will continue to be great! Our advice at the start is to do short rides and build up! It is always good to build in little breaks to give them a run around or even take their bikes then when tired they can jump in the weehoo and you can strap the bike on !

Giving a helping hand!
We would really recommend the Weehoo for trails and road! We have managed to keep riding in some shape or form and instead of our big mountain bike adventures we now have mini adventures which are just as much fun and at times challenging!



Lightweight and Luxury Island Hopping
















Day 1 Ardrossan to Lochranza (Isle of Arran)

It was time to saddle up the bikes and head for the Isle of Islay via the Isle of Arran. We headed to the Ardrossan early to catch the Calmac to Brodick. It was certainly alot cheaper than a car to go across the water! Excited at the prospect of just leaving the car and having 2 wheels and a small amount of kit was liberating when life is governed usually by timetables and deadlines!




The weather forecast for the next few days was a little mixed but we were looking forward to getting on the open road! The ferry ride is soon over and we could see Goat Fell as we approached Brodick.

Once off the boat we headed towards Lamlash Bay. The weather was starting to turn and it was time for raincoats! However this did not deter us from the stunning scenery and great riding.



Once we had finished admiring the view over to Holy Island we headed towards Kildonan admiring the view out to Ailsa Craig and the lighthouse on the small island of Pladda.




The riding is undulating but the roads are fairly quiet and there is always a good view to keep you interested as it changes around every corner.



It was soon time for lunch and a stop at Blackwaterfoot and the Kinloch Hotel. Having burnt a few calories we were stocked up! The next stop would be Lochranza and the Apple Lodge B&B which would be home for the night.



Riding on the newly laid tarmac was quite a relief and made the riding alot more easier! Although towards Lochranza the roads do flatten.


Checking the directions to the B&B and admiring the view at Lochranza allowed us time to reflect on the great days cycling that we had. It also allowed us to get our bearings ready for tomorrow catching the ferry to Islay.

The B&B was lovely and the people very accommodating towards us and our bikes. We had been given the annex on the side of the house which gave us a self contained area to sleep and chill for the night. Evening meal was to be had in the Lochranza hotel which was friendly and a lovely walk from the lodge.





A lovely meal in the Lochranza Hotel was just what the doctor ordered after a great days cycling. We headed back to the B&B admiring once again the stunning view. We went over the route for tomorrow which consisted of two ferries and would see us landing on Islay.



Leaving the B&B in the morning was not the most pleasant experience as the midges decided to have their breakfast on 3 riders from Cumbria! We soon shifted along the road relieved not to be followed! The ferry port was 1 minute down the road so we were not worried about making the ferry. The morning was stunningly calm and we had time to admire once again the fantastic view.


Excited once again about embarking the ferry with our bikes we were soon settled sailing back to the main land to land at Claonaig. The route meant we had to ride the width of the mainland to meet the sea the other side at Kennacraig.


We climbed over the top taking in the great view in all directions. It was then freewheeling to the ferry port at Kennacraig. We arrived a little too early so decided to head down the road to find a cup of tea in true 'girls on tour' fashion! We eventually stopped at the West Loch Hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming and we even had homemade complimentary cookies!! Riding the A83 back was a scary experience!

WARNING: If you see a B Mundell lorry beware! We saw 2 drivers in the space of half an hour and one purposely did not move out and went so close we thought he was going to hit us! The second we saw in the ferry port and he coupled his trailer up wrong then went off so fast it uncoupled and hit the ground, good job for air brake leads! This could have been a nasty accident! Unsafe and disgraceful behaviour from both drivers! Should not be on the road! Unfortunately they seem like the main haulage company on Islay so we were quite worried! We penned an email to the company to explain our concerns but in its true unprofessional capacity it didn't respond!


Anyway putting that aside we were soon relaxing on the ferry to Islay sailing out of West Loch Tarbet. Our plan was to ride from Port Askaig to our B&B at Bruichladdich. However unbeknown to us Port Askaig was shut and we were heading for Port Ellen on the south side! Change of plan needed!



When we arrived the weather was less than welcoming but at least we would be warm on the bikes! Coats on we were soon heading north to our luxury B&B for the night. Lightweight and luxury was the aim of the trip!



The weather soon brightened in typical Scottish fashion! The cycling was flat and we were flying along to Loch Gorm House which was going to be home for the night!


A mile before we arrived the heavens opened and we were soaked! I dread to think what the lady was thinking when we arrived looking like drowned rats to a 5 star B&B! When inside we were wowed by the place! A shower and change later we were treated with cakes and tea in the drawing room!! This was certainly the luxury bit!!

After a chill we ordered an exciting (at times scary) taxi drive to Port Charlotte and the Port Charlotte Hotel for tea! 3 courses later we decided to walk the couple of miles back to the B&B discussing the days adventure! 

Due to the change in route the next day was going to be an early start! The B&B owner was so kind she offered us her car which could be left at the ferry port with the keys in it if we wanted to take it rather than ride the 20 miles in the morning! The majority vote was to ride so it was a dawn start back to the ferry! 


The weather was once again mixed but we were enjoying the tranquillity of the Scottish Isles! Soon we were back at Port Ellen waiting for the ferry! The Ferryman was a little disappointed that we had drunk tea and not whisky!

The way back was going to be a bit of a jigsaw puzzle catching 3 ferries and riding 2 Islands and a mainland peninsula before arriving back at Ardrossan in time for tea! The first ferry was caught and we enjoyed the cruise back to Kennacraig!

The ride back over to Claonaig is stunning, a good climb, great scenery and a downhill to finish! 



As you can see from the picture we just missed the earlier ferry but decided to ride along the coast a little to sample the scenery! There is not much around except stunning beaches and quiet roads!



After our little explore it was time to board the ferry back to Lochranza before tackling the climb over the top to Sannox.

The climb starts immediately out of Lochranza but is gentle and there is plenty to keep you mind occupied! Over the top we freewheeled down the glen enjoying the speed and view! The road had recently been maintained judging by the stunning tarmac! 


Along the Sannox road the sea keeps you company along with the steep sided mountains! Having walked in the area there were now familiar landmarks! 
One more tea stop before we arrived in Brodick to catch the ferry home!



Sad to leave we had thoroughly enjoyed the magic of the Scottish Isles even though it had been a fleeting visit ! We all vowed to come back soon !