[Closed] Braemar Trails

Depending what your into, its an obvious big mountain day. Another one i like is Using the Keiloch car park, head up towards Lochnagar on the main landrover track towards Meikle Map. Hike a bike up and then decent roughly towards Loch Callater. You will see a single track on the map to your right after Carn an t-Saigairt Beag (starts just from the Col). Follow fence posts up to it, decent is very, very good.

Other 'trail' option is Ballater and check out trail forks. Heartbreak ridge is a must do as are the mast runs - if you have not been on them before, they are certainly worth considering! Spoilt for choice of plush trails in Deeside just now!

Also got Morrone just outside the village for a fairly quick loop.

Where are you getting 5 hours of daylight from BTW? There's 11 at the moment on a decent day.

Thanks for the pointers.

Shortbread; 5 hours just an (conservative) guess, I've to drive up from Edinburgh, I'll probably get there 11ish (drop daughter at nursery first, then leave) add in some faff time and I'll probably be on the bike about midday.

Staying in Braemar, but I'll have the car so I'll check the other routes. Cheers

Sanny did an article in the mag a while ago with some loops in the area, there's plenty to choose from.

Thanks Phill, you don't know which issue? I'll look it up.

Cheers

Also worth looking at exploring up Glen Quoich tracks, then loop around base of Beinn a'Bhuird and then either back into Braemar direct, or towards glen Gairn, towards Loch Builg, then up and over Beach dear and back to Braemar. That'll give you plenty of miles and very little human contact!

Have done just that and comes in just under the 5 hours even with some nav. challenges.

Might be worth giving Chris @ Ride in Peace Adventures a shout. Knows the hills like the back of his hand and will get the most out of your time:

Alternatively you could park at the Keiloch and take the track to the west of Craig Leek and Meall Gorm to the shoulder up Culardoch and down the Bealach Dearg into the top end of Glen Gairn. From here follow the stream up to cross over into the valley at the top of the Slugain and then head down the Quoich, Whilst not marked on maps, there is a track along the north side of the Quoich water (with the exception of about 200m heather hopping at the end on the flat) that is simply whoopingly good, running through Scots pine forest carpeted with blaeberries. Finish off with a chug down the Quoich to the Linn and back to your car. Bliss..

^^ found that classic Cairngorm pine forest trail by trial and error last year, nothing technical but sublime doesn't begin to express it. Climb over Cullardoch gets the blood flowing..

Summit of Beinn a Bhuird was 1 hour 50 when I last rode it (park at Victoria Bridge and ride up Glen Quoich) so five hours back to the motor quite doable. You can descend to the Sneck then back via Julesf7's route or shortcut down the SE shoulder to the start of the unmarked track (Fergal on here reported that as a good descent).

Whilst not marked on maps, there is a track along the north side of the Quoich water (with the exception of about 200m heather hopping at the end on the flat) that is simply whoopingly good, running through Scots pine forest carpeted with blaeberries.

Should I also say that it makes an excellent bivvy spot?

Thanks for all the tips folks.

Loads of choice there, and my original route up the Beinn sounds possible, plus plenty of others.
I'll spend tomorrow pouring over the maps rather than working:)

Cheers

Just a suggestion if you are thinking of doing the Beinn a Bhuird route is to do it anti-clockwise. I think the online routes suggest doing it clockwise and you do get some good technical descending that way but the section below the Sneck has deteriorated over recent years and can be quite frustrating with random boulders breaking the flow. Doing it anti-clockwise means you get a 700m , 6km descent that is never very technical but is all rideable and is great fun. Beinn a Bhuird is the eleventh highest mountain in Scotland and normally it would be unheard of to ride it at this time of year, I have been up there in June and had to cross snow banks but this year has been exceptionally mild. Good luck.

Lochnagar today distinct lack of snow

Going to disagree re clockwise suggestion. The descent is definitely fun but it is a lot more rideable up with a lot less carrying than going up the Sneck. Personally, I love the rocky stuff and the steep scree run down to the saddle while you can bear west through the glen to Linn of Quoich further down. Of course, horses for courses! The important thing is to get out on the mountains though. It's all good! Might just go up and down the same way next time just for the hell of it.

Has anyone explored the trail that goes NNE off the north summit down to the river Avon? A wee trek back to civilization from there but...

Oh. Oh. Me! Me! I have! (Holds hands in air)

It is a cracking adventure. We did it on a glorious September evening in beautiful sunshine. The ground was dry and the heather short so it was easy to make progress as we travelled from tor to tor. We joined up with a peach of a singletrack trail which got just a little bit vague at the very end for the last few metres of vertical descent.

Mail me your e mail and I will look out some pics to give you a taster.

I really enjoyed it and would love to ride it again.

Sanny