Cairngorms Tour

Dramatic mountain scenery provides the back drop for one of the best wilderness mountain bike tours in Scotland. Four fantastic days of riding make for an amazing circular tour of the Cairngorm mountain range. You will travel through deep glens carved out by glaciers, ancient woodlands of Scots pine, ford rivers and follow historic cattle drovers routes all in the shadow of some of Scotland’s highest summits. Few signs of civilisation during the day mean that you’ll be ready for the warm welcome of the Highland villages in the evening. Combine this with four days of quality riding and you have an unforgettable mountain bike adventure.

Trip Summary

Total distance: 185km / 115 miles (Average 46km / 29 miles per day)

Total climbing: 3800m / 12,500ft

4 days self-guided mountain bike riding
3 nights accommodation
Route Guide and maps
Full Mechanical back up
Emergency Assistance
Transfer to and from Glasgow at the start / finish of your trip.
All baggage transfers during trip

Cost? £185 with bunkhouse accommodation.

Upgrade all accommodation to B&B £45 (based on two sharing, evening meals not included.)

View Dates and Book Now?

We can run this trip on any date for groups of 3 or more. Contact us with your requirements.

Start / Finish Point: Blair Atholl Railway Station

Itinerary

Day 1: Blair Atholl – Kingussie (53km)

A committing first day. After dropping your baggage off with our support vehicle at Blair Atholl Railway Station, ten kilometres of tarmac on the old roads of the Sustrans cycle route to Dalnacardoch Lodge act as a nice warm up, stretching out the legs for the first hour. At the Trinafour turnoff carefully cross the busy main road heading towards the Gaick Pass. There are no escape routes and few signs of civilisation until you rejoin the cycle route at Tromie Bridge. On the way you will ride through the great trench of Loch an Duin on some wonderful flowing singletrack, past Gaick Lodge and follow the River Tromie through ancient natural woodland down Glen Tromie. At Tromie Bridge a few kilometres of tarmac takes you past Ruthven barracks and into Kingussie for your first overnight stop.

Day 2: Kingussie – Tomintoul (59km)

The morning brings wonderful riding through ancient forests of Scots pine over the Moor of Feshie, past Loch an Eilean with its island castle and through the sandy singletrack of Rothiemurchus estate to Loch Morlich. Head through the Ryvoan pass and over the Braes of Abernethy to Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands.

Day 3: Tomintoul – Braemar (38km)

A shorter day today, but once out of Tomintoul, there’s not a hint of tarmac until the day ends at Braemar. A gradual ascent following the River Avon brings you to the northern end of Glen Bulig. After descending to the Loch, you follow the singletrack along the lochside to the ruins of Lochbulig Lodge. A strenuous climb to the high point of the day on the western flank of Cullardoch, leads to descending for almost 10km to meet the road at Invercauld Bridge. A few kilometres of tarmac and it’s the third overnight stop in Braemar.

Day 4: Braemar – Blair Atholl (35km)

From Braemar you head west on tarmac to Linn of Dee, before hitting the dirt aiming towards White Bridge. At White Bridge pedal south, passing the mouth of the Lairig Ghru with stunning views towards the giants of the Cairngorms, Ben Macdui and Cairn Toul. Stop for a few moments at Bedford Bridge, which spans the mouth of Tarf Water at the spectacular Falls of Tarf. The afternoon gives the perfect end to the trip – a 20 km descent down the beautiful Glen Tilt, and back to the starting point in Blair Atholl.

Accommodation

The basic price includes three nights accommodation in good quality cyclist friendly self catering bunkhouses and hostels. You can upgrade to Bed & Breakfast accommodation for an extra £45 per person (based on two people sharing a twin or double room).

How difficult is it?

This trip is rated as “challenging” as it involves long days in the saddle in remote and often challenging off road terrain. To complete the trip comfortably you should be riding regularly and confident that you can complete long rides with 4 – 6 hours in the saddle. You should also be confident at handing moderately difficult trail obstacles such as narrow singletrack, rocks and roots. You should also be competent at navigation with a map and compass in featureless terrain and have equipment and knowledge to cope with poor weather and breakages to bikes and bodies.

How many people will be on the trip?

Self-guided trips have a minimum of four participants, and a maximum of ten. You are free to ride at your own pace or join up with other participants taking the trip if you wish.

What do I need to bring?