AS hotel names go, this one’s a little unusual. Across Church Street, where I’m standing in the Welsh Border town of Chirk, is the Hand Hotel. Parts of it date back to 1610, during the reign of James

7 11.3km / 7 miles / 4.5 hours Ascent 680m/2231ft

6 20.6km / 12.8 miles / 7-7.5 hours Ascent 1122m/3680ft

4 38.9km / 24.2 miles / 12-14 hours Ascent 2927m/9603ft

Lochs, glens, forests, mountains and moors. Twists, turns and elevation. The very best of Scotland inside a few hours of thrilling, scenic riding…

Jim Perrin revisits an old haunt to reveal the real high point of the ‘White Barrier’ via Wales’ highest waterfall, a pair of ponies, pubs and ring ouzels thrown in for good measure