Cairngorms National Park

This area includes the Cairngorms National Park, Britain's biggest, which includes the largest area of sub-arctic mountain landscape in the UK. As you might expect, it is a paradise for experienced mountain bikers. And to add to the spirit of adventure and explorations, trails are rarely waymarked - instead, bring a map (there are good mountain biking route maps available locally) and go and explore.

And in the process of exploring you will find yourself amidst some of the UK's most dramatic scenery, exploring the most stunning traiils, from forest roads to wide tracks, to the kind of trails that for some mountain bikers are the ultimate: natural singletrack.

Starting in and riding through the Rothiemurchus Forest, there is a labyrinth of low-level trails, some well-surfaced, others that weave through the forest, over exposed roots and rough ground. But it is very solid ground - good, hard Cairngorm granite forms the foundation, which makes the whole area ideal for mountain biking.

Most of these paths are popular for walking, too - extremely popular; so bear this in mind when you’re  using them on a bike.

Being such a vast wild and mountainous area, the Cairngorms offers great scope for multi-day trips. Helping to string together such expeditions is the fact that the glens contain a multitude of paths and tracks, many of which have been used for hundreds of years for cattle droving and to connect villages and towns. Glen Feshie is particularly recommended, while Lairig An Laoigh is also good, and a bit tougher. The area is also well-served by bothies which make multi-day trips a great option.

Possible places to start are at Inverdruie, just outside Aviemore on the road to the ski resort, or, further along the same road, near to Glenmore Lodge, the national outdoor centre. A good route from here takes you through the Ryvoan Pass, through Abernethy forest, around the back of the Kincardine Hills and back over the Sluggan Pass to Loch Morlich.

There are times in the Cairngorms where trails may be un-rideable, (too rocky or boggy), times when you just have to get off and walk, but the surroundings are so stunning and dramatic that this is a minor inconvenience. An exception is perhaps the Lairig Ghru, a popular long-distance trail that is certainly more suited to walkers than mountain bikers due to the underfoot conditions.

Similarly, there are times during the spring and early summer when it may be better to choose somewhere else to ride because of the sensitivity of the wildlife in this area. 

The Natioinal Outdoor Centre at Glenmore Lodge has trails and skills loops specifically designed for mountain biking courses which they organise - other than that there's not much in the way of centre-based or waymarked trails. Some would argue however, that you don't go to the Cairngorms for way-marked trails. If you like your mountain biking raw and adventurous, spend a day exploring the Cairngorms - the options are vast and varied - and once you've been seduced by this area … you'll be back.

Other Info

Routes
Green – None
Blue – None
Red – None
Black – None

To get the best from this area, nip into a local bike shop for some routes advice or alternatively hire a guide who will help you explore this beautiful area more fully.

Bike Shops/Hire
Bothy Bikes 01479 810111
Fat Tread Bikes 01479 812019
Basecamp MTB 01528 544786

Getting There

Aviemore lies off the main A9 between Perth and Inverness, then follow signs for Cairngorm and Loch Morlich, to Inverdruie or, five miles further along, Glenmore Lodge.

Distance from
Elgin - 49 miles
Aberdeen - 97 miles
Edinburgh - 126 miles
Glasgow - 140 mile
(Using Aviemore as the destination end)

Website

• www.mountainbikers.org.uk