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I’m staying near Aviemore for a few days next week (Newtonmore to be precise). Can someone suggest some gravel or road route ideas please?
The catch here is that I’m only just back on the bike after breaking my leg in January, so needs to be non-technical (crashing is NOT an option)and probably not killer length as my fitness is woeful.
Thanks,
(ps am aware of the wildfires - I’m led to believe they’re dying down now after some rain)
ps am aware of the wildfires - I’m led to believe they’re dying down now after some rain)
sort of - the peat fires they are thought to be burning up to 15ft deep in places. The rain hasnt been nearly enough to saturate its vaporising on contact due to the heat - I have a few friends on the hill in their retained capacity who are likening it to being in a sauna.
head in the other direction - "Most" of the fire affected area is in places east of loch morlich you wouldnt want to ride given your situation with the leg anyway.
head out glenfeshie or glentromie
I am sure i saw something on backcountry.scots/spin project strathspeys facebook page about recommended alternative routes around the area to stay safe.
The Burma road might be an option but the initial climb is a bugger, after that it's easy going though.
I’m sure @scotroutes will be along with good route suggestions soon, but if you’re wondering which bike to take then leave the road bike at home.
For a spin from the door in Newtonmore you could aim towards laggan wolftrax on the wee road past glentruim. There’s a few tracks to explore in the forests on the way and the actual middle of Scotland.
not killer length
Give me an indication of distance and I'll have a think.
There's an option of the old military road to Kingussie/Ruthven/Drumguish which opens up all sorts of options up Glen Tromie and over to Glen Feshie.
Nice loop up by Loch Gynack too - I'd head along the cycle path to Kingussie, up to the loch from there then back at a higher level to Newtonmore.
If you're happy to drive a bit first then there's a good gravel/road loop involving Dalwhinnie, Loch Laggan, Wolftrax and the Spey Dam. (TBH you could do it without a car but it adds in a few road miles).
There's certainly no need to be anywhere near the closed area.
I'm out staying on Loch Morlich at Glenmore campsite at the end of August (hopefully). If you google gravel routes Aviemore, the bike shop has a couple of recommendations - seen two short routes of 30-40km rides that means I'm only 'gone' a couple of hours at most (on holiday with MrsF).
https://www.visitcairngorms.com/gravel-biking-in-the-cairngorms/
As something a wee bit different I did a variation of this a couple of years ago:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56419123
The descent from the bothy above Laggan, along the River Calder, isn't brilliant going (soft mostly, but a gentle gradient) but at least downhill, in the current conditions, it might go a bit better. The climb up to the bothy is great gravel though.
Komoot activity here (note this DOES stray into the wildfire zone, you could simply turn back at Feshiebridge to shorten the route and stay out of danger).
We did the classic Ardverkie loop last weekend - from Invernahavon campsite just outside Newtonmore. We did shorter loop due to mrs_oab's health, but including Loch Pattack is a classic (with big climb...)and I have great memories of it. There are early construction works around Loch Earba, but they are not too big yet. Get it done before we have a few years where you cannot do it...
The gravel/mountain bike options are really nice in that area. You can road bike but the off road trails are so much better. I’d avoid the Burma road if you’re not fit, it’s not an easy climb and it goes on a bit.
The gravel routes around Ben Alder and Ardverickie estates are superb. And it’s only 8 miles on the road from Newtonmore to Laggan which then gives you access to the Spey dam road etc. or you can park at Dalwhinnie or Strathmashie if you want to avoid the traffic.
This is a short loop we did only last week.
https://strava.app.link/wjeKNeBCd5b
FWIW the ascent and descent to Loch Cuaich is a tough climb and very rough descent. I'd skip that bit based on your comments. You can pop out at Etteridge instead, ride a very short section of the A9 and cross over onto the Dalwhinnie road at Crubenmore.
I did this loop on my gravel riding week after Jenn Ride, I started in Delwhinne and stopped for lunch at Laggan before coming back on the road and the cycle path by the A9 as I ws kanckered from a weeks riding. The first 25 miles are completely off road all the eay to Laggan and as already stated the area around Ben Alder is stunning.
https://www.komoot.com/tour/3065826780
Give me an indication of distance and I'll have a think.
Well I'm just back from my first ride having got signed off by the docs yesterday. 20miles of 85% tarmac, 15% gravel, 600m of climbing around the eastern Peak. Felt pretty decent TBH.
I'd say think in terms of half day type thing, 40-50 miles max? I'm not averse to a bit of climbing, but the descent needs to be sensible.
I did the Badger Divide a few years ago, so have a faint bit of knowledge of Laggan/Ardverikie area.
@Staineypants route looks good. (I will have a car so can travel a bit!)
I’ve made a route for you from Newtonmore up the Tromie river road then over and down into Feshie. There’s no mobile signal up there so take your sat phone or inreach.Theres a good cycle path between Newtonmore and Kingussie you can use to avoid the traffic.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3518303430281862026
I'd say think in terms of half day type thing, 40-50 miles max? I'm not averse to a bit of climbing, but the descent needs to be sensible.
If you haven't done the Burma Rd then I'd put it high on your list. I did it with a pal recently and her comment was 'I see this is where the Scottish Gravel Council have been spending your council tax'. The surface on the main climb/descent is gooooood
Thanks for that @aberdeenlune. Hate to be a pain, but do you have that as a plain gpx or on Komoot? I don’t use strava.
I can get the broad idea of the route, just comparing the thumbnail to the OS map, but there’s one or two bits that seem to wiggle differently
Cheers!
here's a komoot link of that glen tromie loop:
Thanks @stevious. Having stopped being a lazy arse and actually had a look myself, I’d found most of it pretty easily.
Jon Edward’s hopefully this link will work https://connect.garmin.com/app/course/495550651
