So yesterday was a bit of an epic. My friend Graham and I decided to go for an explore on Ben MacDhui. We took the footpath up beneath the corries before breaking for the summit. I was amazed at just how rideable the route is with only a few intermittent sections of the climb being a bit too rocky to ride over. The descent off the top to Loch Etchacan was sublime as was the descent down to Shelter stone…..then it wasn’t so good. The walk / humph along the side of Loch Avon was a ball-ache though I was half expecting it. However, I hadn’t counted on the despair of Strath Nethy….never again! Having said that, the sun was out and it was quite pretty in places! We also saw a herd of reindeer near the summit of MacDhui.
So, where should we have gone after Loch Etchacan (excuse the spelling!)? I’m thinking the descent down to Hutchison Memorial Hut would be tasty having walked it in the past. But where after that? Should we have hikey biked over the Avon refuge then headed up Lairig Loaigh (or however it is spelt?) Has anyone any pics of this and has ridden it? Slightly kicking myself as we could have headed up Bynack Mor for the return leg to Glenmore Lodge. Doh! What’s the track like between Glen Derry and Avone refuge? Hike up, ride down?
What’s the track like from the refuge heading east? I suspect it may be as poor as the one along Loch Avon?
Alternatively, has anyone ridden from Glen Derry along the estate tracks towards Ballater then headed via Loch Builg to Tomintoul? Could that make for a big one day loop from Glenmore?
Cheers
Sanny




