Just back from a trip to Scotland to do the Cairngorm Bikepacking Loop,decided to ride out of Aviemore and it seemed to work very well bothy wise due to the weather.
https://www.strava.com/activities/948754451/segments/23199153176
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Left Aviemore at 10.30am on Sunday waiting for the rain to stop staring out of the Mountain Cafe window, it didn't so we cracked on starting the outer loop clockwise rain stopped and we made fast miles on the tracks hitting Braemars chippy at 7pm decision was made to go off route and find Bob Scotts Hut with resupply of a few cans and treats for our night stay over.Bothy was found and it was half occupied with a fire blazing result shame we had to listen to a boring sod called John from London who became the Bothy Nazi telling us the rules he told us he came to the Bothy for a week at Easter for the last 25 years WTF!!!!
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It is an amazing location and looked forward to our return on the inner loop 🙂
Another late start with lots of faff and we continued our route onwards towards Blair Atholl for a lunch which turned into a beer and burger lunch and a hour and half. The Bothy Bar was great but onwards we continued, on a bit of road which was a nice warm up until the sod of a cold head wind for at least 15 slow miles weather flicked from sunshine to the odd shower and thoughts turned to the nights accommodation as we looked at the clear skies we knew it was going to be a cold one.
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We approached Aviemore with tired legs but the route vears off and a quick chat a split appeared as people wanted resupplies and all I wanted was a beer. Jason rode off in search of supplies and I talked the others into getting food at Glenmore lodge it was late 8.30ish so we had to crack on for the 9pm cut off. Speeding through the easy trails we quickly reached Pinemartin bar which had live music and beer with a shop so stop we did and drank to closing just as Jason returned from Aviemore after a failed attempt for resupply as it was Easter Sunday he missed last orders and informed us Ryvona Bothy was only 2 miles away if that.
A early rise for sunrise did not disappoint and I sat for 2 hours watching the world wake up in freezing conditions, a time I will cherish.
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Day 3 began with the Inner loop to complete around 60 miles in total and I checked the route elevation and it did not look to bad, stunning scenery helped blank the bog hopping wide water bar off on of the trail, the tiredness was hitting us all and it seemed like an eternity to reach Bob Scotts Hut. Most of the food was consumed and thoughts of pizza and beer spurned us on the final leg which contained the hardest bit of the route a bog fest which was so energy sapping with a heavy bike.
We reached Aviemore at 8pm and a round of high 5s where dished out probably to the amusement of the diners in the windows we dragged ourselves in side stinking after 3 days on the trails and ordered lots of pizza and beer.
A great route which I would recommend to all but a reminder be prepared!!
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[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2825/34019145672_85f6eb9733_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2825/34019145672_85f6eb9733_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TQa1Nm ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Meh. S'alright I suppose... 😉
Edit: I see you did the double river crossing in Feshie rather than the landslipped singletrack. I guess you were so wet by then you didn't care 🙂
Did you fit in any other trips?
Dunkeld which was scary!!! 😀
I see you did the double river crossing in Feshie rather than the landslipped singletrack. I guess you were so wet by then you didn't care
Amateur! 😉
I'd have thought Mike would have warned you off that, he was still looking shell shocked after his crossing when he caught us up in October.
I definitely need to get this one undertaken this year. Need a bit more fitness in my legs first though to do it in a oner... 😳
It was cold in the NE, must've been colder in the 'gorms... Brave man.
looks marvellous, nicely inspirational 🙂
was a few bridges out past the Bothy was cursing doing some of the single track as I lost fluid in my rear brake, was mainly following Jason Maguire AKA Goose as he was route leader!
I was halfway across the Feshie before my mate called be back (and I was routemaster that day an all!) 😳
The turn off is a little vague to be fair... Mind you I did the same at the turn off at the Geldie to the Eidart (crossed that before we realised, despite me telling my mate 'we stay this side of the rivers.... '
Nice that Rich, very nice.
Thanks for sharing that, looks like a great couple of days out with a good weather mix!
Was out at Nethy Bridge myself all last week, but was limited to early morning rides before the kids got up, so the furthest I managed was a 60k ride with Burma Road in it.
A few more pics here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/albums/72157682920009016
[quote=postierich ]A few more pics here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/albums/72157682920009016
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Ace.
Excellent
Ace! Thanks for sharing
Looks a bit bonkers... i'm deffo a stay at home / hotel kind of guy looking at them pics/write-up
Wow that sounds like a great escape to do would love to do this one day!
feeling inspired now, thanks
Excellent
September piemonster?
Nice photo's Rich, see you got it easy at the Fords of Avon though... 😉