Mythical Mountains and Epic Trails : Bike the Cairngorms

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!