The main reason though for not going over the hill which I remember to be steep and technical was as I mentioned in the intro there was a running race on and that hill was a pinch point so pretty busy. We chose not to get in the way of the tired runners. So a few factors.

@scotroute: No it is not. There are better trails out there if you care to venture that far imo. You know that. Pick you time and place not all can be done in one day. Bike choice too makes a difference as you know. We chose not too. WIYP

This last trip had more time to adventure out and find a tent pitch. https://youtu.be/fbPVyuLvD7I

Yes I agree just not laden up and on a time limit.

Thegeneralist: the fact you watched it enough to know Seosam77 watched it enough is good in my book. I have been over the hill before it’s not worth it.

@postierich yes the HT550. We sun hunted Scotland for a place to ride. We were very fortunate. The 3 from the USA we talked were grateful for the weather break too. They looked like they needed a bath. Hats off to them.

That evening going home reached Perth and it was raining low mist dank. A different world!

@whitestone Yes beautiful location.

@chestercopperpot +1

Yeah the rain is warmer in the summer :-/

@modgrips. Fair point but you also missed the point. When you decide and have allocated time, booked a place to stay, to go somewhere then the weather turns bad then to continue on the risk it could be futile to go ahead because the roads may be blocked etc. In my case 100miles north. Some would say do something else instead.

That was what I was trying to convey. I am sure many other people are in the same situation when time is tight.

I appreciate what you are saying.

Yes that I why I moved to Scotland (feeling very smug)

@metalheart yes exploring new track and starting late are not always compatible. The ride shown here was a bit like that especially because of the filming.

@trademark @dickbarton Yes totally agree. You don’t know until you take a look for yourself.

@frankenstein in that particular video I did use a Hero7 for place point and film. The on bike footage I used a GoPro Karma and Hero5. Here is a link to a video I made on my channel about the equipment I take with me including batteries

@shortbread Thank you for watching.

It has been recommended to me to be safe not to over fill the canisters so I weigh them

Whitestone: Thanks for the info. We are expanding east from Aviemore so this will be good thanks.

FOG: We used cottages.com. Hired a very tidy bungalow in the town.

Second year in a row we stayed in Ballater each for a week. Used it as a base to do local and trails further north like Learnie Red Rocks, Bonar Bridge and Golspie.

Notlocal:  ha there need a local to tell the history. I want by Trailforks info.

Rickmeister: using a gopro karma with a HERO5 camera.

Trysysjoint: The is rock the joint by Yavani

Hogynd: thx for watching 👍 music that is sometimes more difficult to find and matchup. Like to hear what you would do 😀.  Always looking to improve. Mind for some no sound track is the choice. The mics on GoPro’s are not the best for wind noise (really disrupting) and picking up the bike go by so a lot of silence or white noise. Imho not good.

Matt_outandabout: just the once is my rule otherwise be there forever. I do not review the footage on the trail to see how I/we did either. Record place record place. Go home and see what we have. Yes like to be smoother faster air a bit more. We are there to ride it primarily 😂 Leave the finess to you lot.

Notlocal:  agree with you there. I’ll have another look. I did find an impressive disused pink granite quarry with what looked like a walking trail of up the hilll. Did managed to ride to a farm from the quarry to join up with Mastermind. But did not find the trail around the back of the farm so took the road.

😂 it was a round trip we had 35km to the east of Ballater under belt b4 Mastermind in the afternoon + camera gear all the way. It took some convincing to do this after XC trails. Thx for watching 👍

Stanfree: thanks 👍 one of the reasons I do the videos is to promote Scotland, the least obvious parts.

Alanw2007: yes the trees and undergrowth disguised the proximity to the near vertical edge in many places. Quite a way down if you stopped and looked 😱

steezysix: thank you

Downhill fast: yes Culbin beach having travelled through the forest. Thanks for the info. Will put on the todo list.

Kcal: Roseisle Forest noted. Would not think so looking at the os map. Trail forks. Yes need to allocate a proper visit to the area.

Fasgadh: awesome thanks 👍

Yes slow enough for you to comprehend. Not all MTB all adventures need to be at fall speed. Take it as it comes. By all means go ahead break a sweat! Cya

Jam bo: excellent. In a way still think it is a good route just not the norm. Not that I’d do it again any time soon.  Midge net is not the luxury item now. Born out of necessity. Wife was a bit dubious about my contraption but changed her mind once could eat in peace.

Been midged to the point it’s hell camping that I decided to make my own anti midge not canopy for our tent  so we can now relax cook and take in the views

Made our adventure down Glen Etive a good experience instead of a nightmare.

Sandwood bay! So many they glued themselves to the fork stanctions by the seals.

@goodgrief May I ask where you found the Air-Liner for sell?

@amedias awesome 👍

@nobeerinthefridge ok thanks yes I’ll give a go when up there next

The last sgl trk starts at NH 8477 0365. The trail we did skirts round west of the Creag Dhubh and the sgl trks off that hill.

@whitestone starts and finishes at Feshie Bridge forestry commission car park.

@mikejd  the track by the wall in the last sgl trk scene is f you stood by the gate (not shown) looking right up the hill just before slope descent at 0:30

The track is in sequence. Artistic license only for the music 😜

Hairyscary: Doing it again? Thx for the feedback. Make the videos for that purpose, you, also a record for ourselves when to old to ride (long way off) and show off Scotland!

Nobeerinthefridge: whoops sorry thank you for the feedback

Kennyp: thank you. Hmmm I have not restricted the video’s ability to be full screen.

Stevenmenmuir: You know what to do! :D