Park in the forested parking lot at the northernmost end of Bartley Road, and begin the route by riding up a gentle and straightforward fire road which heads north into the wilderness. After a couple of kilometres you'll reach a wooden bridge and a split in the road. Turn right and don't cross the bridge - there's a photo on this route showing the junction.

Climb up the increasingly rough and challenging fire road, keeping right at every opportunity. There are times at which the track gets too steep and loose to be rideable, but you should still be able to stay in the saddle for the vast majority of the climb.

Eventually - at 1200m altitude - turn right (there's a photo of the junction attached to this route) and head up an even rougher track which leads (via some more unrideable sections) to an undulating traverse over to Hayman Lake. After a tough climb, the cruise over to the lake comes as a welcome change, and while it does involve some ascent, the serious hard work is done by now.

Hayman Lake itself is stunning, but it's full of leeches and therefore distinctly unsuitable for a cooling swim!

Head south from the lake and bike down a track similar to the one you climbed up. The riding is bumpy and varied but all pretty fast if you keep charging!

Turn left at a junction at 1050m and join the Mcdougall Rim trail. The nature of the riding really changes here, and the quality increases. Winding through trees and linking a series of clearings - all of which provide huge views across Rose Valley Lake and the Okanagan Valley - the trail is always interesting without ever being overly difficult. Much of it is wonderfully flowy and the technical sections are usually pretty brief. Keep on charging all the way down to the parking lot!

By the time you get down you'll likely be tired, pumping with adrenaline, and thirsty! Cruise into town for a celebratory - and well earned - drink.