Take the road less travelled, it makes all the difference

Ifind maps endlessly fascinating, though not the electronic GPS kind, which, though practical on occasion, don’t have the same allure as a fold-out paper one. There is something special about spreading a map out on a table and poring over it to plan a route for your next ride. I have an old Bartholomew Cyclist and Touring map of Highland Perthshire from around 1936. The depiction shows that population centres, such as Pitlochry, have grown but the majority of the roads have remained the same.

However, what was most striking was the use of colour to depict altitude and terrain; the map as a whole was more like a beautiful work of art than a route-finding tool.

For me, a lot of what riding my bike is all about is the voyage of discovery on new roads and trails. While a lot of digital mapping is useful, it doesn’t spark my imagination in the same way that a paper map does. Even perusing a map for my local area throws up some gems of routes that I would never have ridden otherwise. When I visit a new region one of the first things I do is buy a local map and have a look at the routes.

When I’m abroad and faced with a blank canvas of routes to ride, I still find myself drawn to seeking out less populated routes. That said, I still want to ride the big climbs and famous cols but whether it be at home or abroad, if I see a wee side road heading off into the unknown it ignites my curiosity, and if I don’t explore at that moment then the first thing I do at the end of my ride is get the maps out and find out where the road or track leads to.

If I have time one of my favourite things to do on a bike is get lost. Generally, the worst that can happen is I get to a dead end and need to retrace my pedal-strokes. I’ve found myself climbing over walls, fighting through bracken or returning via less desirable routes, but each time I’ve finished buzzing with a sense of adventure.

As I get to know an area the opportunity to explore new roads becomes even greater. I like to follow my nose and the chances of appearing on the other side of a forest with an exclamation of “Where on earth am I now?” lessens.

I once did this on my mountain bike at the back of Kirriemuir. I had a vague idea of visiting an Iron Age hill fort and I set off in its general direction. I got to the top and then decided the descent on the opposite side looked great, so I rode downhill in the opposite direction to where I had parked.

The descent, as it turned out was short and actually not that much fun as I had to keep stopping to get through gates and wade through muddy bogs.

I eventually arrived at a road, by which time I had lost my sense of direction and only had the vaguest idea of where I needed to head to get back to the car.

I didn’t immediately recognise any landmarks but as I rode things started to become more familiar and it wasn’t long before I was back at my car, muddy and tired. But despite my less-thanexciting route choice I had still enjoyed the feeling of being lost in a familiar area, if only for a few minutes.

If you spend a lot of time riding the same routes, get a map, stick a pin in it and head off for new adventures on unfamiliar ground. Where to ride? Big Tree Campervan Youth Mountain Bike Series – Templeton Woods, Dundee, September 23.

Suitable for: Riders aged six to 16. Description: The next race in this series of mountain bike events for young riders takes place at Templeton Woods. The cost for each round is £6 per racer (in advance). For more information about the series, including how to enter, go to www.bigtreecampervans.com/mtbseries

Despite loving maps, one of Scott’s favourite things to do on a bike is get lost.