Help wanted reg Cairngorms

Hi all,

This year I am the lucky one to plan a trip for four of my friends and myself. My plan is to do a trip in Scotland. Where we'll hopefully have some good riding and some fine whisky tastings. Normally we have around seven days of cycling during our yearly cycle trip. This is what I have planned so far:

Day 1 (Aviemore - Glenlivet Distillery):
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mqdxzuigytwkfsyp
This is a long first day. 70ish km of riding. I found there are the Glenlivet Bike trails. Are they any good?

Day 2 (Glenlivet - Braemar):
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=kumteqzuzohwsujk
This is mainly the standard track I've used from the Cairgorms loop.

Day 3 (Braemar - Pitlochry)
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=hgprwrmbgnrlxvbj
I have read somewhere that the singletrack next to the river Tilt is fabtastic. Is it really? Anyway, we are ending this day at the Edradour distillery

Day 4 (pitlochry- Kingussie)
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=iinxoholpdtuucvx
A part of the Gaick pass. This will be the toughest day... 80ish km.

Day 5 (Kingussie - Hutchinson Memorial Hut)
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pneeywzvkejphjme
This is also a part of the Cairngorms loop. I haven't changed much on this track

Day 6 (Hutchinson Memorial Hut - Aviemore)
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mugnaffiipubcziv
I believe we will be absolutely knackered by now.

I am wondering what you guys think of the route I had planned. I took the Cairngorms loop as a base and then modified it. I am not sure if all is rideable. A little hike & bike doesn't mind but we do not want to push our bike bike the whole day.

Do you guys have any more tips or know sections I definately have to ride?

Cheers all.

Casper

Hi Casper,

Sounds a great plan, you've been talking about this one for while, have you not?

Last weekend a few friends and myself rode from Blair Atholl up Glen Tilt to Braemar, then over to Tomintoul via Glen Builg which looks like part of your route. This section is all rideable infact 90% land rover type tracks ideal when you're ladden with camping equipment as we were, tho there's a few single track exceptions.

In Glen Tilt - from just before Falls of Tarf to Bynack lodge approx 8Km. Largely rideable, a few river crossings/fords, so expect wet feet I took a pair of speedo water shoes that double up as camp shoes.

the banks of Glen Builg is rough singletrack but rideable (depending on how much luggage you're carrying), but it's short regardless

Our route varied from yours there after as we entered the abernethy forecast across to the ryovan pass and then south down glen feshie.

In general looking at OS maps all the parallel broken lined tracks will be fine for riding, tho there's some super sick gradients about, I saw 26% on my Garmin last weekend. the single broken lines can be dubious, anything from great trails to rough, faint and disappearing in places. Tho, as this is the Cairngorm national park, these are all well trodden routes. Actually a huge amount of investment has also taken place to develop paths as it's a busy place.

enjoy

G

Casper, I live not far from Aviemore so let me know if you need any help during your visit. We have holiday apartments too, so if you need accommodation we can offer you mates rates.

@gmac. Yes it is on mybucketllist for quite some time now. Thanks for your feedback! The speedo water shoes is a good tip! It is comforting that the paths are well ridden. Let's hope it'll all be rideable reg the 26% :shock:

@Highlandsflyer I'll probably come back to you on this one as we haven't booked anything for accomodation...

What do you think is the best time to do this trip regarding midgies?

MynameisCasper":qswktobe said:

What do you think is the best time to do this trip regarding midgies?

Click to expand...

If you especially like getting bitten by midges try July, August or September............

If you don't - I'd suggest Christmas :xmas-big-grin:

The midgies are out in huge numbers at the moment, I've been eaten alive on recent evening rides.

Small update... We will be doing this trip in June

Now I have another question. Does anyone know if the Sronphadruig lodge is a Bothy and if not, if the Glass Choir Bothy is a good alternative?

Cheers!

This site is a good guide... http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/locationmap.asp
It doesn't contain all the available bothies but the ones in here are generally open most of the year.

Thanks for that link. Very usefull info!

Re:

There's this one too, http://ukbothies.freeforums.org/index.php

The guys on there post fairly regular updates of bothies they've been to.
Might give you an idea what condition some of them are in and maybe how busy some will get when you plan to go.
There's also some info/clues to less well known or secret bothies.