Braemer-Aviemore-Braemar

The following ride report was written by my friend David who did the ride in May 2005 with his girlfriend Lynda.

Day 1 - Braemar to Aviemore (via Tomintoul)

After parking the car in Braemar, we had a quick 3 mile warm up back along the Deeside road to Invercauld Bridge, where the off-road part of the journey was to start. After almost getting lost right at the start (thank goodness for signposts) we started the 5 mile ascent to Culardoch along well surfaced landrover tracks. The track passes around the west of the summit, thankfully not continuing right to the top, and we started the 3km descent towards the River Gairn, which we crossed at the bridge (NJ191021). The track then turns to singletrack for a short section round the East bank of Loch Builg, which was mostly rideable. After making the first river crossing of the day, we joined the Landrover track at the top of Glen Builg, which leads North for a few kms before merging with Glen Avon. After riding past the Lodge (well more of a mansion) at Inchrory, the track improves, firstly to a smooth landrover track, and then to a tarred road, which leads in to Tomintoul.

After grabbing a bite to eat we headed off along the road to Kylnadrochit lodge, before turning South West and following the fireroad through the trees, and out into Glen Brown. The path deteriorated for a while alongside the plantation, but after crossing the Burn of Brown we rejoined the landrover track and continued to Dorback lodge. After leaving the road at Ballintuim, and crossing the Dorback burn (wet feet again) the path continues up the Braes of Abernethy, and through a steep sided gully, until it emerges into Abernethy forest. Although not marked on the map we were using, there is a nice section of singletrack through the forest, which rejoins the fire road just East of Loch a Chnuic. This fireroad continues through the forest (through the ford, meaning more wet feet) and gradually veers South, past Ryvoan Bothy, and out into Glemore forest park. We then joined the road along the North bank of Loch Morlich for a quick (but wet, thanks to the torrential downpour) blast into Aviemore, where we stayed the night.

Day 2 - Aviemore to Braemar (via Glen Feshie)

After stocking up on food at Tesco, and a new set of brake blocks at Bothy Bikes, we started off on the Sunday in glorious sunshine. Unfortunately this was not to last. After heading East out of Aviemore we turned to follow the B970 to Feshie Bridge, and then the minor road along the East side of Glen Feshie. This was more tarmac miles than anticipated, but after the 52 (mainly offroad) miles of the day before, it was a nice gentle start to the day. After the road ended at Auchlean, we followed the well worn path to the bridge South of Achleum, and crossed to the West bank of Glen Feshie. This estate road has been tarred, and continues all the way to the bridge at Carnachuin, where we crossed back and made our way along the landrover track up the Glen. After a couple of detours, where the map and the road disagreed (the landrover track goes through the river at a couple of points, but there are alternative routes which keep the feet dry) we reached the end of the recognisable track, just as the rain started. The footpath marked on the maps is relatively easy to follow on the ground, but a lot of it is not rideable, particularly the section after the bridge above the waterfall. Completing the 8km section of footpath took us about 2 hours, most of which was pushing, although a few sections towards Geldie Burn have been resurfaced and are rideable.

Once the path joined the landrover track opposite Geldie Lodge, it was just a case of getting back to Braemar as quickly as possible, due to the rain having well and truly chilled the hands and feet. The path was well surfaced and we made good time to the Linn of Dee, where we joined the road, and headed back to Braemar (which was a lot further away than it looks on the map!).

Overall we covered about 40 miles on the Sunday, and 52 on the Saturday. The Saturday was a much more enjoyable day, with a better variety of tracks, and no pushing to speak of. Overall the route is recommended, and parts of it could easily be combined into a longer Tour of the Cairngorms.