Haven't done Ryvoan myself, but Inshriach is a belter – although not sure I've ever taken the same route through that forest twice! One of favourite routes up there is to link up Loch an Eilean with the Inshriach route using the singletrack/tracks from Loch Gamhna to Glen Feshie. Makes a nice 50-60ker that takes around 5 hours (for me).

From Kenny Wilson's book, I've also linked up the Glenmore, Loch Einich and Loch an Eilean routes – they all connect together nicely for a decent and not too tough 5-6 hour ride.

There's always the Carn Ban Mor ride from the black book, although don't expect to have much energy left afterwards.

I've been looking into doing a ride that looks like a good big mountain route, running past Ryvoan, SE over the shoulder of Bynack More, down into Glen Derry, then up the east side of Ben Macdui and back to the ski car park. Could be good, but snowfall might make the plateau impractical this time of year.

Absolutely – you can't go wrong with Inshriach. It's really not too difficult a route to navigate – I got confused at the summit cairn of Creag Dubh (think that's correct) and took the left path rather than right, as Mr Wilson says. Keep right coming off the top and it's just fun all the way. Unforgettable riding.

BTW, let me know if you come across the view in the photograph from the book. I swore I got the route right the second time, but never came across that view!

Burma Road is good, too, and not too tough when done Kenny's way, anti-clockwise. Definitely one for when you fancy some scenery rather than interesting riding, though.

Oh yeah, I did most of the Ryvoan pass route you describe with Kenny himself (he destroyed us on a fully rigid singlespeed, which was nice). I did Ryvoan Pass before this, and it was magnificent but you're exposed so pick your day. Make sure you DESCEND to Glenmore, don't go up from Glenmore, it will be no fun at all.

Coogan, that's Carn Ban Mor. Fantastic, and will have some snow on it now.

Allyharp – give the guys at Bothy Bikes a call. They will give you some top tips and let you know what conditions are like

That pic is of the trail which ends at Corarnstilmore. You have to travel further up GlenFeshie and then double back to do it. It's a belter.

We were at Inshriach yesterday, if you know the trails there are some absolute peaches even at this time of year. The Kenny Wilson route through there is not a good one though!

Flyingfox were you with us over the weekend in Aviemore? Sounds like the route we did. I didn't realise so many of the crowd I was with posted here. I was the bigger 118 twin!

The Ryvoan/Nethy Bridge/Slugain route is grand, but do it clockwise. Nothing technical on it, unless you divert through Badaguish, but lovely scenery and a chance of a bar meal at Nethy Bridge. Don't expect the wee corner shop to be open – it closes for lunch (durr….)

Loch Einich is a nice short run but there are a couple of (potentially) sizeable rivers to ford which could be (a) deep and (b) bloody cold at this time of year.

You can join up Loch Gamhna to Inshriach via Feshie Bridge and you'll find lots of little tracks on the way.

What we did last weekend was:

Friday night … night ride around the Badaguish XC course (if you find a rear light, give's a shout).

Saturday … start from Badaguish, do the last bit of the course before heading up over Sluggan and around to Forest Lodge, Ryvoan and Glenmore Cafe. Hot chocolate with brandy and stollen, then man it up the grass of the Hayfield and up to a really rooty traverse above the Gorms side of Loch Morlich (I've been doing this travers for years, but have never heard it named). Down to connect up to the track to Rothiemurchus Lodge then the (mostly) wet moorland trudge to the Lairig Ghru, then yahoo and back to Badaguish. We left at 1000 and got back at around 1515.

Sunday was DeVs wi the Captain's armband at Inshriach. Top cakes in the Inshriach Nursery afterwards. Seek it out.

Aye, do the Ryvoan Pass so you're dropping into Glenmore, not the other way round. Bit of a push for not much (unless you're coming back the same way).

Was I with you at the weekend? I thought I was with my wife but that beauty in the pink does look similar to me. No wonder the missus has been a bit weird with me recently.