Tromie Bridge – Aviemore: best route for a gravel bike?

I’ve got a nice wee loop I want to ride next week following Speyside Way as far as Kincraig then minor road to Kingussie, military road to Phones, hydro tracks up to Loch Cuaich and down to Dalwhinnie, cyclepath to the bottom of the Gaick Pass, then north through the pass to Tromie Bridge and then back to Aviemore.

I’ve done the latter section before and remember following obvious signposts along some beautiful gravel tracks, one in particular with a great view across the glen, but then I think I just hit tarmac for the last 20km or so.

What is the best route back from Tromie Bridge, is it to follow the Speyside Way? I’ve just let Strava route me along whatever is most popular but wondered if I should divert to pick up the track that follows the banks of the River Feshie down to Feshie Bridge. Don’t think I’ll be up for too much fiddly navigation at this point as I’ll doubtless be running late with tired legs 😂

Ideally I’ll head up to Loch Morlich for the final descent on the old logging road and pints at OBI, naturally 😎

i am up in aviemore for a week from tomorrow. if you see a lafge grey bloke with a short grey lady, on bikes, say hello.

From Tromie Bridge (just before actually) take the track to Drumguish, then across to Corarnstilbeg and then to Feshie Bridge. Basically, follow the Cairngorms Loop. You can also head past Baileguish to the Feshie Lodge road.

Rather than the SSW to Kincraig, head through Kinrara Estate. It’s much more pleasant.

Another option would be to head East instead of North at the Allt Bhran. To the dam on a good track, then quad bike tracks to the big new road over to Feshie Lodge. At least one crossing of the Allt Bhran required (until they build the new bridge)

I can give you some GRs later once I’m at a map.

126km that route. wish i was fit, would love to join you.

then minor road to Kingussie

Do you particularly want to go to Kingussie?

Sorry, just catching up with this. Thanks Scotroutes, is Kinrara the loop that goes underneath Torr Alvie but stays on the A9 side of the Spey?

Kingussie a means to an end only, just want to find the start of the military road to Phones.

Yep to Kinrara option.

The SSW now runs to Ruthven barracks. When you come off it, don’t turn right down the hill to Kingussie, carry straight on along a wee track. This eventually ducks under the A9 and carries on to a dead-end while running parallel to the A9. Go through the gate on your left and onto the hard shoulder of the A9 (it’s very wide) for about 150-200 metres. Cross the A9 to another gate and a RoW sign showing the way to Phones Lodge.

[/url]

We’ve been told that if/when the A9 is dualled hereabouts, we will get a new track which will avoid crossing the A9.

126km that route. wish i was fit, would love to join you.

Would be glad of company! Sadly family dynamics demand an early start and no stops sort of pace, but all welcome 😎

And this is the route from the end of Gaick to Feshie. Once it crosses the Allt Bhran it’s all a big new gravel road.

Ah yes, I’ve contemplated that section before, thanks. I really enjoyed the lower sections of Glen Tromie last time so will probably carry on to Tromie Bridge, but then will cut up to the Feshie, means I can use your SSW Ruthven connector on the outward leg instead. Win-win!

https://www.strava.com/routes/2952667405550974444

This one

[/url]

Though if you fancy a wee detour with a view, head up to the monument on Torr Alvie

As usual @scotroutes has it nailed😊

No need for me to add anything there, that’s a fair old loop there, just watch out for the crossing at Allt Bhrann if it pishes doon this week😉

Ok thanks gents, I’ll make a call about the Glen Feshie detour on the day I think, I did love the descent through Glen Tromie but had made a resolution to always try new trails so time to put that into practice!

No need for me to add anything there, that’s a fair old loop there

Yeah… I have no idea how long a route I have in me, longest rides this year have been 90km-ish. Early start and pancakes in Dalwhinnie should see me through I hope!

Sorry to jump om the thread but if you were to ride a loop from Aviemore using Glen Tromie, the Allt Bhran Link scotroutes posted above and Glen Feshie would there be a better direction for riding it?

Me personally, I would always prefer Feshie over Tromie anyway, I don’t find Tromie that nice a glen in comparison until right down towards the end even though it’s my local!

I would rather go up Feshie, ford the river then down the other side and cross over to lower teaches of Tromie than do the whole Allt Bhran part but that’s just me!

If doing the Feshie-Allt Bhran-Tromie loop then I think clockwise is best. It’s a steep climb from Feshie but a good whirl down to the Allt Bhran.

There is another good gravel loop in the area, Coire Fhearnasdail.

Bookmarking

Thanks for the advice and quick replies

I plan on heading over the Minigaig from Blair Atholl next week so I’ll be having a look to see if the new bridge has progressed.

There is another good gravel loop in the area, Coire Fhearnasdail

I recognise the name, I think Ed Shoote had a variation of that loop in his Scottish Gravel’ book.

Not a route for a gravel bike but the link between Loch Cuaich and Gaick Lodge is something that should become better known. You head east from the south end of the loch and hike a bike up onto Bogha-Cloiche. The direct line across to to Sgor Dearg is a bog but one can keep to the high ground near the summit. The point of the exercise is to ride the mental pony track down to Gaick Lodge; the riding is not hard but the exposure makes up for it!

I’ve just heard that, as of today, there are diggers at the location for the new bridge over the Allt Bhran but no structure yet.