Guests often ask us how we found our network of routes. Some are on official maps, but most aren't. It's a question of finding promising-looking turnings (the 10% inspiration) and then exploring them to find out if they're a) rideable and b) connect up with anything else, rather than finishing at a cliff edge (the 90% perspiration).

Sometimes tracks are blocked by a rockfall or landslide or get very overgrown. If we haven't been somewhere for a few months we go to check it out before taking a group there. I spent last Sunday, walking the lowland trails around Nieles. I took a machete (and the dogs) and cleared a few brambles, but otherwise found that most of the trails were rideable, other users having worn a new path into the landslides of 18 month ago.

The wildflowers were amazing, the sun was shining but not too hot. So, all in all, a lovely way to spend the day.