Mythical Mountains and Epic Trails : Bike the Cairngorms

A collection of awesome mountain bike rides which showcase what make the Cairngorms so special

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Pedaling down a rooty trail. Rider: Greg Heil. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Stream crossing. Rider: Greg Heil. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Moody skies on the River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Fording the River Feshie. Photo: Ross Bell

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Fording the River Feshie. Photo: Ross Bell

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Fording the River Feshie. Photo: Ross Bell

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Fording the River Feshie. Photo: Ross Bell

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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River Feshie Loop. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Reindeer sighting. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Quick stop on the climb up to Meall a' Bhuachaille Corbett. Photo: Ross Bell

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November snowstorm on Meall a' Bhuachaille Corbett. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Meall a' Bhuachaille Corbett. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Meall a' Bhuachaille Corbett. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Meall a' Bhuachaille Corbett. Photo: Ross Bell.

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Meall a' Bhuachaille Corbett. Photo: Ross Bell.

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The climb to the plateau

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Accessing the plateau.

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Boulder field at Broad Cairn looking north east

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Lochnagar in the clouds

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Loch Muick, the start and end of the route.

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Lochnagar and the Glas Allt descent riven down the centre.

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Mountain Biking UK Magazine

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Description

With huge, desolate plateaus, soaring black cliffs and eerie, dark lakes, the Cairngorms of eastern Sctoland have an ambience all of their own. Even the name sounds enticing, and somehow intimidating; the Cairngorms don't always enjoy the best weather and there's something about the name which conjures up images of tough conditions and big adventures.

The winter climbing in the Cairngorms is legendary and the hiking (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/7012/hike-5-of-the-finest-mountains-in-the-cairngorms) and skiing (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/7624/ski-tour-and-freeride-the-wild-cairngorm-mountains) aren't bad either (!) but this guidebook is all about biking. Whether you're after cruisy riding and big views, or tough, challenging singletrail, there's something for you in here. Be it the turbo-classic loop through Glen Feshie, the ever-enjoyable Burma Road or the trip up and over Meall a' Bhuachaille, this is a fabulous selection of bike rides.

Over to the west lies the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis (which is home to some decent biking itself - https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/305/10-of-the-best-mountain-bike-routes-around-ben-nevis), and to the northwest are the wildest mountains in Scotland, but nowhere can quite match the Cairngorms' mix of accessibility, terrain and atmosphere.

So, saddle up and head east!

Adventures

Burma Road

Classic wild country MTB ride out of Aviemore

River Feshie Loop

A wet, technical loop in the valley near Aviemore that runs up and down the banks of the River Feshie.