I've been meaning to correct a glaring omission from my personal heatmap, I've barely ridden anything in Angus or Aberdeenshire! I've got a week off coming up so am planning to do a fairly standard 60mm loop of Mt Keen from Tarfside, but also fancied riding from home (Auchterarder) on the road bike and grabbing a train back a different day. Picking a day with a prevailing SWesterly wouldn't hurt either...
I've tentatively put a route together taking in some stuff I've wanted to check out (Cairn O'Mount in particular) and finishing at Stonehaven. Distance has crept up but I've recently done similar and it felt like a good big day without being ruined by the end.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3107230846433911372
Anything good I've missed en-route?
Looks pretty good to me apart from the end. I’d continue over Cairn O’Mount towards Strachan and take the road that goes past Knockburn Loch and onto the slug road between Banchory and Stoney. Will add a bit of distance and the last road is busier but you get a good long descent down from Durris.
From where you are .....I'd go over glenshee down deeside and over COM getting the train from stonehaven back....
Edit - or laurencekirk IF there's a well timed train.... only a handful stop there.
Edit 2 - avoid the cairn o mount at rush hour it's a rat run for morons and not a relaxing ride.
I’d continue over Cairn O’Mount towards Strachan and take the road that goes past Knockburn Loch and onto the slug road between Banchory and Stoney. Will add a bit of distance and the last road is busier but you get a good long descent down from Durris.
An extra 10km, but if downhill it might not be so bad!
I’d go over glenshee down deeside and over COM getting the train from stonehaven back….
That is tempting, probably a nicer route but about 50% terrain I've ridden before. Think I'd rather combine Glenshee with the Lecht etc. en route to Aviemore.
avoid the cairn o mount at rush hour it’s a rat run for morons and not a relaxing ride.
Noted, ta!
+1 on " Cairn O’Mount towards Strachan and take the road that goes past Knockburn Loch and onto the slug road between Banchory and Stoney."
I stay in Fettercairn, the best road in the area is Glen Esk, Gannochy bridge to Invermark, 23km of perfect tarmac and stunning views. But a 46km detour because its a dead end
....but gravel tyres on and you can do one way on the gravel tracks west of the Esk. Up the west of the Esk from Edzell to just past Tarfside and back down the road is an ace ride.
Just don't go from Tarfside over to Aboyne via the firmouth road it's a killer 🤣
OP
What kinda mileage are you looking for?
Jump on the train to Dundee and there are some good circular routes out to the Glens.
Deeside loop (150)
Moulin moors loop (90)
Aylth-Glen Isla - Black lunans (60)
I stay in Fettercairn, the best road in the area is Glen Esk, Gannochy bridge to Invermark, 23km of perfect tarmac and stunning views. But a 46km detour because its a dead end
I think I could combine that with the Mt Keen loop? Only drawback is I'm planning to use the gravelised hardtail for that loop so even 23km (x2) of glorious tarmac to get a bit a much to trundle along.
Jump on the train to Dundee and there are some good circular routes out to the Glens.
Deeside loop (150)
Moulin moors loop (90)
Aylth-Glen Isla – Black lunans (60)
Good shout, I've been intending to explore more of the Dundee area anyway, a lot of that stuff is a reasonable Saturday morning loop from Auchterarder, but otherwise yeah I'll take a look at those loops, 150km is good, 150miles probably still a bit much 😎
I live in the western end of Angus and ride/explore these roads frequently. I'd echo suggestions covering Cairn o Mount and Sluggan, while normally I'd avoid the A93 to Braemar as the section from Blairgowrie to the ski centre is a real rat run of fast cars and low-flying motorcycles in normal hours.
There's a lovely quiet route going east from the back of Kirrie, then I tend to go via Justinhaugh, Tannadice & Fern to get along to Edzell & Fettercairn before the big climb. Another second for Glen Lethnott too. Bonny place.
There's any amount of riding among the very quiet back roads around Alyth, Airlie, up towards Lintrathen, Kilry & GlenIsla. Wee Bear cafe at Lintrathen is superb; Peel Farm is adequate. From there you can head up to Balintore, around into Prosen for a loop, then do the same next door into Glen Clova via Cortachy. There's a 100 mile route there alone, with stacks of options.. The standard of road surfaces in Angus is generally very good compared to most council areas and inspires confidence for making good progress. However, don't underestimate the climbing; a lower glens circuit like that can easily add up to 1500m+ of ascent, made up of lots of punchy wee sections. It's a great day out.
@longdog thanks for the reminder about the track on the west side of Glen Esk, that'll do nicely for the Mrs' first ride when her new gravel big arrives shortly!
Highland man, my wife's done the tracks up the west side on her cheap hybrid with 40mm tyres on with no problem. Also right up Glen lee to the bothies and to the Falls of Unich and up Glen Mark too.