Cairngorms Cycling

Publicat el 20 de maig del 2024

Cycling in the Cairngorms National Park (John Crozier/Unsplash)

The UK’s largest national park, the Cairngorms encompasses 1,748 square miles (4,528 square kilometres) of mountain peaks, gorgeous lochs, sparkling rivers and ancient pine forest. It’s a prime destination for cyclists, with miles of tree-lined paths, gravel tracks and quiet roads forming an abundance of routes suitable for riders of any age and ability. Our pick of Cairngorms cycling routes takes in everything from gentle family rides to longer routes for more experienced cyclists, with unbeatable views for photographers to capture and the chance to spot ospreys, eagles and red squirrels along the way.

The best cycling routes in the Cairngorms

The road from Braemar to Glenshee (Martin Bennie/Unsplash)

There are plenty of fantastic trails around, but the keen cyclists of Pitchup have come up with this list of three of our favourite Cairngorms cycle routes.

Aviemore Loop (Ryvoan Route)

Distance: 25 miles/40 kilometres
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2-4 hours
Start point: Aviemore (Map)

If you’re planning a cycling holiday in the Cairngorms, the helpful team of local experts at family run Aviemore Bikes can set you up with gravel, mountain or electric bikes, plus several suggested routes with online maps that include a detailed breakdown of different sections.

Their circular Ryvoan Route follows mainly gravel paths, passing Abernethy and Glenmore forests, Loch Morlich and Loch an Eilein, with great views of mountain peaks along the way. It’s suitable for energetic leisure cyclists and families, but will get your heart pumping on some stretches and is long enough to provide a great sense of achievement at the end of the day.

Route:

From Aviemore, head towards Rothiemurchus and join the Old Logging Way towards Glenmore - a steady climb for 10 kilometres or so on a wide and smooth trail.

As you approach Glenmore, you can stop off on the beach at Loch Morlich for coffee, or to take pictures of the mountains reflected in the water, before heading to Glenmore Lodge outdoor centre through the forest.

At the lodge, continue through the Green Gate. Popular with hikers, this stretch passes Lochan Uaine, or the Green Lochan, where the turquoise water is another big draw for photographers.

Continue towards the Abernethy Nature reserve, following the signs for Ryvoan, and continue up the hill to Ryvoan Bothy (a simple hikers’ retreat). This is the rockiest section of the ride, so take it steady.

Follow the track for around 12 kilometres to the crossroads at Forest Lodge. Take the left-hand track through Loch Garten Nature Reserve and along beside the water, then the off-road path towards Boat of Garten.

At Boat of Garten, join the Speyside Way at Kinchurdy Road for the final 10-kilometre ride back to Aviemore.

Tip: If you don’t fancy quite such a long ride, the section of this route between Rothiemurchus and Glenmore Lodge has a network of shorter forest trails that start and finish at the Rothiemurchus Centre, and you can hire bikes there too.

The Linn of Dee & Mar Lodge Loop

Distance: 12 miles/20 kilometres
Difficulty: Easy (with one steep climb)
Time: 2-3 hours
Start point: Braemar (Map)

This delightful ride along the River Dee is easy to follow and consists largely of flat tarmac roads. It’s suitable for any age and level of fitness, with great views of the surrounding forest and mountains, and it’s notable for a couple of great places to stop along the way.

The Linn of Dee waterfalls, where the river plunges through a narrow gorge beneath an old stone road bridge, was a favourite picnic spot of Queen Victoria. Britain’s second-longest reigning monarch couldn’t be wrong, so we’d suggest packing some sandwiches. There’s a lovely circular walk through the forest here too, which only takes about an hour and is well worth the effort. On the return journey, Mar Lodge Estate (free to enter) is Britain’s largest National Nature Reserve, and another superb place for a walk.

If you’d like to try out this ride, mountain and electric bikes are available to hire from Braemar Mountain Sports (April to October).

Route:

From the centre of Braemar, follow signs for the Linn of Dee, which is about four miles west.

Cross the river at the Linn of Dee (near the village of Muir) and return on the opposite bank via Claybokie.

Continue to Mar Lodge, cross back over the river via the Victoria Bridge and retrace your outward route.

The Speyside Way: Newtonmore to Aviemore (19.5 miles/31 kilometres) and Grantown-on-Spey (16.5 miles/26.5 kilometres)

Total distance: 36 miles/58 kilometres
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 3-5 hours
Start point: Newtonmore

One of Scotland’s Great Trails, the 100-mile Speyside Way follows the valley of the River Spey between Newtonmore and Buckie. Some of the route is outside the park, but we’ve chosen two sections within the park that are mostly flat and follow cycle paths, forest tracks and woodland trails, with some short sections on the road. The terrain is suitable for cyclists of any ability, but it’s reasonably long, so you could consider breaking your journey in Aviemore. There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments on the way.

Route:

Follow the cycle path beside the road from Newtonmore to Kingussie. Consider stopping off to view the historic buildings at the open-air Highland Folk Museum en route.

From Kingussie, follow signs for Ruthven Barracks (imposing ruins that were home to government troops during the 18th century Jacobite Uprising) and then join the Badenoch Way.

Continue through the forest until you reach Loch Insh.

Follow the path along the shore and over the bridge to Kincraig.

Look out for the Speyside Way sign that directs you towards Aviemore. Some of this section is quite steep, with gates.

Follow the gravel path through the woods and beside the railway line to Aviemore.

Section 2:

Follow the path from Aviemore over open moorland with views of the Cairngorms, past the Spey Valley Golf Course and through the woods to Boat of Garten (a good place for a rest stop). If you’re lucky, you might spot the Strathspey Steam Train.

Follow the road and forest path to Nethy Bridge.

Continue to Grantown-on-Spey, following the grassy path along the disused railway line.

Tip: The Speyside Way is a great choice for hikers too. If you’re a keen walker, check out our guide to some of the best hikes in the Cairngorms.

Road cycling

In this article we’ve focused on the best cycling routes in the Cairngorms for families and leisure cyclists, but we know that, for some people, a cycle ride should be a real challenge. There are plenty of outstanding routes for road cycling in the Cairngorms, and you can find some suggestions on the Komoot website.

Our pick of these is the SnowRoads Scenic Route, a glorious 90-mile trail through the eastern areas of the park that takes in Britain’s highest public road at Cairnwell Pass, with many steep climbs and descents, passing attractive market towns, nature reserves, castles and distilleries on the way.

If off-road trails are your thing, take a look at our guide to mountain biking in the Cairngorms.

Planning your trip

Cairngorms National Park (Leonie Lejon/Unsplash)

Best time to visit

Scotland’s weather can be fickle. To make the most of your cycling trip, we’d recommend the period between late spring and early autumn (April to September) as the best time to try out these routes.

What to bring

Here’s a quick guide to essential items to carry, useful clothing for poor weather and which type of bike to choose.

Wear a cycling helmet and sturdy footwear.
Carry breathable layers and waterproof clothing.
Remember your puncture repair kit, a pump, and a tool with Allen keys for minor repairs, plus a lock so that you can safely leave your bike if you stop to explore.
Use saddlebags, panniers or a small rucksack that leaves your hands free.

Stock up on plenty of water, food and snacks to keep you going for the duration of your ride.
Bring some sunscreen and a hat that provides shade (just in case).
Choose a comfortable bike that suits the terrain; when it comes to cycle hire, we’d recommend gravel bikes – these are hybrid, all-terrain road/mountain bikes that are comfortable to ride and lighter than a mountain bike, but sturdy enough for cycling on the road or forest paths.

Safety tips

Check the weather forecast and the conditions of the route before you set out.
Carry a map and a mobile phone with a GPS app for directions.
Let someone know where you’re going, and when you plan to be back

The Cairngorms National Park is a treasured natural resource for everyone. Please leave no trace, and follow the advice in Scotland’s Outdoor Access Code.