Looking for some pointers from the hive mind. I rather fancy a Spring Adventure riding from Dunkeld via Loch Ordie to Pitlochry then via Comyn’s Road to eventually reach Aviemore.
Has anyone done any of the tracks lately or even at all? Comyn’s Road has precious little on the internet and I am going by the old classic Scottish Hill Tracks by Ralph Storer.
It would be great if anyone had any advice, hints or tips and, better still, pictures!
Cheers
Sanny
The Dunkeld - Loch Ordie route is still a popular one and a bothy up there was the venue for the BearBones Winter event last year. You can descend via Tulliemet and stay that side of the A9 to Pitlochry.
I assume you'll then use NCN7 to Killiecrankie, whereupon you can cross the river and stay on the south side, along the quarry road and cross into Blair via the footbridge near the golf course.
Comyns road doesn't really exist. Heading up the Banvie is fine, then down to cross the Bruar at Cuiltemhuc. At this point you just push uphill through heather until you reach a short bit of track that ends at some old shielings. Again, it's a heathery push up to Sron a Cleiric and then try to find the remains of an old track. If you are very lucky you'll come across an area that has been bench cut into the hillside and express some joy at rediscovering this ancient route. The track doesn't really develop until you are almost at the floor of the glen.
From there you have a couple of options. Head down Tromie to Drumguish and either take the SSW or head via Corarnstilbeg to Feshie Bridge following the Cairngorms Loop route, or head East when you reach the Allt Bhran and head for the big new track that comes over from Feshie Lodge. If you are very lucky the new bridge over the Allt Bhran will be available.
My knowledge of Comyns Road comes from backpacking it a few years ago so it may be out of date. I've certainly never been tempted to ride it, simply based on my previous experience.
Can back up the Comyn's Road comments -Going is good on the plateau without their being much of a path on the ground. Steep loose descent on a path to the Garbh Ghaig gorge and roads out once on the normal Gaick drag. I don't remember long struggles with bog like the Badenoch side of the Minigaick summit. An excellent walk - I have some photos up on Geograph.
(Walked this one, have ridden the Gaick and Minigaick routes)
Thanks guys
That is really useful!
Cheers
Sanny
The Dunkeld – Loch Ordie route is still a popular one and a bothy up there was the venue for the BearBones Winter event last year. You can descend via Tulliemet and stay that side of the A9 to Pitlochry.
It was. Don't have much to add other than than the track up from Dunkeld is decent, if wet (but everywhere was wet in December). Did that bit in the dark. There were a few fallen trees to the east of Capel Hill (this was just after Arwen) made thing hard going, but passable - suspect you might be going to the west anyway.
Not gone north of Killiecrankie on a bike when starting at Dunkeld, always tended to head up from the Loch of Lowes parking, up to Loch Broom then skirting around Pitlochry to Killiecrankie and back down the other side of the river back to Dunkeld, is something on the trip pushing you to Aviemore, i always preferred going west from Pitlochry, Loch Tummel and so on, used to love heading around Aberfeldy with the view of Schiehallion.
My experience was similar to Scotroutes - I have memory of a *lot* of heather bashing on foot with a heavy pack, but I don't remember it being too far. I was grateful for the cuppa at House of Bruar though, all stinky fleece surrounded by Barbour...
For Dunkeld to Pitlochry head North from Ordie to Loch Ossian Mor and then on to Loch Broom. Round the edge of Loch Broom past the fishing hut and you're on some forest road that you can descend West to the South end of Pitlochry. Alternative is follow forest road a little bit West and then North through the trees and across some heather with a faint path to cross the A924 into forest above Pitlochry with some nice tracks to descend into Pitlochry. Along Faskally and Pass of Killiecrankie to eat chips in Blair.
What about from Blair up Glen Tilt to Linn of Dee then across the lairig an laoigh to Aviemore?
Re Tilt. Yup. Know it well and have ridden it in the other direction. I like it a lot. I also fancy a loop of the Gaik then the Minigaig. Is that the best way to do it?
Lairig an Laoigh is mint. I know plenty hate it but I genuinely love it.
Really appreciate the knowledge folks! Oh and the chips at Atholl are indeed excellent. They do a mighty fine chip butty. I rode up Tilt to bike up Carn an Righ last summer. Two Munros then a beautiful tailwind ride down the Glen. I was a very happy camper that day.
The info about Comyn’s Road is enough to tempt me to give it a good go.
Cheers
Sanny
Was just about to say what BearGrease said. Have ridden around that bit a lot on DofE expeds.
I'm also fairly sure I've been up on Comyn's road on a recce for something else, but like others it was on foot not bike. It certainly didn't register as somewhere I wanted to ride a bike, but from what I gather from your reputation OP you have a different threshold for 'bikeable' than most 🙂
@Sanny - if you have the choice, I reckon Comyns Road might work better Southbound. At least you'd have gravity assist on the most heathery sections.
"a beautiful tailwind ride down"
Unpossible! 😉