Route Rundown

For enthusiasts of the great outdoors, there's no thrill quite like conquering the rugged terrain on two wheels. Mountain biking offers a unique blend of adrenaline, adventure, and breath taking scenery. Now combine all of that with like minded individuals, an early alarm clock, some strong coffee, and you’ve got yourself the ‘Rise and Grind’.

At 7:30am every Thursday morning Emily, along with others, start their day off with a beautiful sunrise (hopefully) on top of the Standing Stone Hill in Comrie. Mountain bikers, runners, hikers, all take on the morning voyage up the local hill and meet at the summit for a chat and a well needed hot drink. Nestled in the heart of Scotland, the Rise and Grind begins at either Comrie, Crieff or Comrie Croft Bike Shop, where riders are greeted by the guise of night and the flickering of bike lights, to begin the journey up the 1000ft climb.

There's nothing quite like the exhilarating blend of adventure and adrenaline that mountain biking offers. Picture yourself tackling the challenging uphill climb, knowing that the reward awaits—a fast and thrilling downhill ride. But Rise & Grind is more than just about the ride; it's about friendship, early mornings, and the aroma of strong coffee.

Standing Stone Hill, as it is known locally, is a hidden gem in central Scotland and can be reached from Comrie, Crieff or Comrie Croft Bikes shop. 

The initial ascent from Comrie sets the tone for the impending climb. As you begin to crank your way through the beginning of the circular walk, you’re greeted with pitch black darkness and the sound of the burn (Scottish for ‘stream’) cascading along the side of the path, with the odd owl making itself heard. It’s the perfect opportunity to be with your thoughts.

Shortly after this, you traverse across a stream and head along a tarmac path which leads you to the shaky bridge, which in wet conditions, is extremely slippery. After a short pedal, you’ll find yourself passing through a working farm and not long after, traversing lush green rolling hills which open up to an incredible view of Comrie and the surrounding area.

Throughout winter the ride is completed in darkness but as the days get longer lights can be turned off prior to the summit. If you pick the day just right you can be treated to the most incredible sunrises. As the clocks change lights can be left at home and the route enjoyed in daylight.  

From here, you’re greeted with a glimpse of Standing Stone Hill, leaving one final climb before you reach the meeting point. The last climb is definitely the most challenging, so knowing that the end of the ascent is around the corner gives you a boost of motivation when you need it most.

At the summit, there’s always a different group of people from week to week, and this is certainly part of the beauty of this route.

Depending on the time of year you choose to tackle the Rise and Grind will depend on how many layers you’ll need at the summit, as the wind chill up there can be brutal in the winter months. It’s to be advised that packing a spare jacket or base layer could be a life saver and will definitely make your summit coffee taste that bit nicer! Despite the potential cold weather making you feel a bit on the cooler side, the warm welcome from the other riders, walkers, and runners at the summit certainly makes up for that and is a great way to get chatting to some like-minded people.

Now for the fun part - the descent. Depending on which route down you take will determine where your ride comes to an end. Many folk will ride down into Comrie Croft to try and get a slice and brew if the Café is open, or even head into the on-site bike shop. Others will head back down into Crief, or Comrie - either route down you’re guaranteed to have a smile on your face at the end (well…except Colin it seems hah!).

Episode 2