Route Advice - Ben Macdhui, Bynack Mor and Lochnagar - calling all Experts!

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Route Advice - Ben Macdhui, Bynack Mor and Lochnagar - calling all Experts!

21 posts & 12 voices | Started 1 year ago by Sanny | Latest reply from mcmoonter

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Sanny - Member

Hello all

Looking for a bit of advice on the best way of getting to the summit and the tastiest descents off these three mountains. A trip to Lochnagar got cut short yesterday as a mate's rear hub seized solid - ho hum!

Anyhoos, re Lochnagar - what is the descent down to Loch Muick like?

Ben MacDhui - what is the riding like from Cairngorm across to MacDhui like. I've only ever walked up there in the winter and have heard good things about MacDhui. Which descent on the return leg to Aviemore would folk recommend?

Bynack Mor - has anyone ridden it from Ryvoan side? How much is rideable and what is the best route to take?

Cheers

Sanny

Posted 1 year ago #
shortbread_fanylion - Member

Sanny - we went up Bynack Mor from the Ryvoan side as day two of a three dayer in May, heading towards Braemar. It was pretty wet although the bottom half was rideable. Thereafter it was a push as it's pretty rocky, pretty solid rocks sticking out of peat and gravel. As it was so wet our rear wheels just sunk into the peat and we had 50 miles in the legs from the day before and quite a lot of beer so it made sense to push to the top I would imagine much of it would be just about do-able in the dry and with fresh legs!

There's a couple of nice descents from the top, not too long and not too tech and then it's quite steady to the Fords of Avon, heading south. Again, because it was so wet this bit was hard with lots of on and off, ride 10 yards, walk 10 etc. Once at the Fords of Avon there's some more pushing and riding to get to the top of the Lairig an Laoigh but eh descent from then on and the trail toward Derry Lodge is great.

I've ridden down Bynack Mor to Ryvoan and it's a great descent, multiple line choice fun as the track is wide. I did it as part of a loop from Tomintoul (south to Inchrory, up Glen Avon to the Fords of Avon and then the opposite of the way I described above, Ryvoan Bothy, Dorback Lodge, Glen Brown and back to Tomintoul).

I guess an alternative route would be to do Bynack Mor (either way) from Glenmore as a loop via Glen Feshie and Glen Geldie ot the Lairig Ghru. I think stuartie_c has done the Larigh Ghru option.

I can't comment on Lochnagar (it's on the list!) or Ben Macdui.

Posted 1 year ago #
stevomcd - Member

Sanny, I've walked down the Loch Muick descent off Lochnagar (not ridden it). I remember thinking it would be great on a bike. Steep and technical (roots and rocks), but definitely rideable and minimal man-made nonsense (flagstones, drainage ditches, etc.).

Posted 1 year ago #
13thfloormonk - Member

Bynack Mor descent TO Ryvoan is one of the best I've ever ridden, despite a rock taking out my front cogs I got a brilliant day for it though, howling cross winds at the top and bright sunshine. The stuff on the way to it from fords of avon was great too, if not entirely rideable.

I had a mostly wretched time (in terms of riding anyway) on Macdui, riding up from Glen Derry and descending to Coire Feacal Clas. The ride up might have been more rideable without the camping gear and pannier rack, and the descent was good in places, but I was VERY conscious of leaving tracks in the very fine gravelly surface in places. Actually in retrospect I think most of the wretchedness was because of the camping gear I was carrying, but pick your descent carefully.

Posted 1 year ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

I hesitate to say this sanny - But MacDui is the other mountain I have real reservations about bike access on because of it incredibly special and fragile nature. Is there anyplace for a bike up on that plateau?

Opinion is much divided on this one.

I merely ask the question.

Lochnagar, carn ban mor, the rest of the munros fill yer boots.

Posted 1 year ago #
Sanny - Member

TJ

How do I always pick the hills you have concerns about?

Posted 1 year ago #
Sanny - Member

So what are the choice descents off Cairngorm? Looks like there are several to choose from judging by the map. And what about the best way up?

Once you are up top, the traverse to MacDhui looks like it could be fairly doable. The pics I've seen suggest a fairly well trodden path for at least some of the way over.

Posted 1 year ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

Sanny - dunno - I only have concerns about the two and you chose 'em both!

Others who know and love the mountains disagree with me on MacDui.

Posted 1 year ago #
stevomcd - Member

Cairngorm to Macdui is a well-trodden path for the first half of the distance (or thereabouts) and I wouldn't have a big problem with riding it. However, from what I remember, the summit dome of Macdui itself is mostly loose rock so the path disappears. Before that, as the plateau is so wide and flat, the main path becomes several faint trails. Pretty vague memories there though, haven't been up in a year or two.

Posted 1 year ago #
cuckoo - Member

Others who know and love the mountains disagree with me on MacDui

I've just got a walking book about the Cairngorms and they pretty much agree with you TJ. Their advice "don't go any higher than you have to".

Posted 1 year ago #
enmac - Member

We did the descent of Lochnagar to Loch Muick a few weeks ago - there are some youtube clips on the link below. It is mostly rideable, but lots of drainage ditches. I managed to split my face open on one of the ditches so didn't do a fair bit of the lower steeper section.
Neeps do Lochnagar

Posted 1 year ago #
messiah - Member

Hi Sanny... your exploring my part of the world now
I'm normaly secretive but here goes...
Ben MacDhui summit best from Braemar side. Up Sron Riach and back down Etchachan - Hutchison - Derry Lodge. Your mostly riding and carrying on ROCK and paths if you go this way. Alternative to Sron Riach is Carn a Mhaim - the longest most exposed ridge in the Cairngorms - awesome views down to the Larigh Ghru - but it makes the already long carry from the top of Sron Riach much longer.
From Aviemore side I've only taken a bike round the side of Sneachda and up that way. Remarkably little carrying required but quite a lot of pushing... but I did it in May and the whole top platou was snow so there was us and a few skiers (best time of year to limit footprint).
Last time I walked up top there were distinct paths but thats 10+ years ago. I've not ridden back to Aviemore from the top of Cairngorm so can't comment... I can think of a few route's which would be fun but I would want to avoid the ski area.
Bynack Mor I've only scooted round on the Lairig an Laoigh. There look to be a few descents down to Loch Avon but any path above the Fords involves lots of pushing and carrying.
Lochnagar... Glas alt Sheil is lunacy... best route is up the lightening strike and over Broad Cairn then round the horseshoe (taking in the tops if you wish). The lightening strike can be ridden up... and on the descent there is only one corner I cannot get the bike round!
2-3/4 hours up for 30 mins down
Alternative is up from Invercauld and back round through Balmoral and Ballochbui which is almost all rideable… but longer and a bit of a chunter.

Posted 1 year ago #
NickScots - Member

I have ridden Cairngorm about 5 years ago. Rode/pushed up the ski access road then onto the summit path. Then descended on the Ficaill ridge. Fast at first then a stepped path, saddle right down, then down from the ski car park to loch Morlich via the built walkers path, mostly rideable but some large drainage gaps.

Ben Macdhui, debateable, it is fine gravel over the summit plateau, just as much trace as walkers.

Posted 1 year ago #
stuartie_c - Member

Hi Sanny,

Not ridden on Ben MacDui so can't offer anything there.

Bynack More - I've done a loop from Linn of Dee which took in BM from the Fords of A'an bthen descending to Ryvoan as per shortbread_f. Bit of pushing on the way up but not too bad. I returned via the Lairig Ghru which was a proper bastard until you get past the boulder fields beyone the Pools of Dee then there is a superb descent into Glen Luibeg. Big day out...

Lochnagar - I'd recommend the circuit I did last year from Braemar. Ride to Invercauld then into Ballochbuie Forest to pick up the track that takes you to the col between Lochnagar and Conachcraig. Then you can ride the path round Little Pap to pick up the Glas Allt path. This bit is 95% rideable in the dry (stay away if it has been raining for any length of time...). The path up the Glas Allt is very well surfaced and is rideable until you reach the first stone pitching. After that its alternately carrying and riding. This will deliver you to the summit of Lochnagar after a tootle along the plateau. The descent is well worth the effort - first down past the Stuic then Carn an t-Sagairt Mor then all the way down to Loch Callater. After that you have a number of options - straight back to Braemar, through the Bealach Buidhe to the main Glenshee road and/or up Morrone via the LRT for a final superb descent back to your starting point.

You'll find some photos and maps here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartie_c/sets/72157621029568634/

Cheers,
SC

Posted 1 year ago #
stuartie_c - Member

Oh - ask McM and Shearer about the descent down the Glas Allt to Loch Muick on a day of high winds and hailstorms...

I didn't look at a bike for a month afterwards!

Posted 1 year ago #
messiah - Member

Macdui top in May with bikes and skiers.

Name that path?

Posted 1 year ago #
Sanny - Member

Cheers guys. All good food for thought. I'm still smiling at the Jocks Road short loop I rode on Sunday. What a terrific descent for not too much effort in getting there.

I did wonder about the Hutchison Hut descent as I've only ever done it in the winter in a whiteout.

Posted 1 year ago #
CaptainMainwaring - Member

Name that path?

That's the Glas Allt Shiel path taken from the ridge leading to Broad Cairn - I claim my £5

TandemJeremy - Member
Sanny - dunno - I only have concerns about the two and you chose 'em both

TJ, not correct. You also have concerns about Braeriach from a thread a few months ago. Would it be easier to say which ones you don't have concerns about?

Posted 1 year ago #
CaptainMainwaring - Member

Hmm, so I don't get my £5 then?

Posted 1 year ago #
messiah - Member

I live near Aberdeen... you will never see £5 on me.

Posted 1 year ago #
mcmoonter - Member

The Glas Allt Shiel path is pretty epic. The day Stuartie is referring to we descended it in a gale force wind. The waterfall was being blown uphill. We were getting blown off our bikes.

Pick your day.

Posted 1 year ago #

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