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THIS ROUTE IS A GREAT ONE FOR THOSE WILLING TO FORD RIVERS AND CARRY THEIR BIKES FOR CERTAIN SECTIONS.  TAKING IN SOME FANTASTIC SCENERY AROUND SCOTLAND'S SECOND HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, IT'S NOT TO BE UNDERTAKEN LIGHT HEARTEDLY.

BEN MACDUI

I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS ROUTE IN WINTER, BUT A NICE PICTURE ALL THE SAME

TOTAL MILES :  ABOUT 16

TOTAL TIME :  3+ HOURS

MAPS :  LANDRANGER 43, BRAEMAR AND BLAIR ATHOLL

THE UNOFFICIAL ATTITUDE OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND ON THIS ESTATE IS THAT IF THEY TAKE A LANDROVER UP A TRACK, THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO STOP BIKES.  HOWEVER, THIS IS PRIVATE LAND SO YOU MAY GET A BOLLOCKING.

START

This one is best started from the car park at

Linn of Dee but you could start it from Braemar, adding about 10 miles onto the ride.

1        At the most northerly point of the car park there is a singletrack path through the forest.  Follow this up to the large

stone track and turn left.  Follow this track, turning left after the bridge and carrying on until you reach Derry Lodge.

2        Just before the trees start, turn left and cross the bridge.  Follow the track around to the right and then ford the

river.  If my memory serves me right, you can ride across it in summer but I leave that up to your judgment!  Turn left after the river and follow a nice undulating dirt track until the path forks where you need the left hand side.

3        Follow the river bank through the fenced enclosure (carry) and up to the footbridge (you can cross the river earlier if you wish and follow the obvious path up the opposite bank).  Cross the bridge and go up the hill (carry).  The path levels out and becomes a nice technical ride with big rocky drainage channels to negotiate.

4        Follow this path round the buttress of Carn a' Mhaim and down to the

river.  Double back and follow the path down the river Dee until you can cross to the landrover track on the other side (boggy).

5        This rocky track follows the river all the way down to

White bridge which you cross turning right to follow the river again.  The track joins the road just before the car park and thats it.

A WORD OF WARNING:  GO WELL PREPARED.  WE LEARNT THE HARD WAY AND ENDED UP PUSHING THE BIKES 8 MILES BACK TO THE CAR, IN THE DARK AND RAIN AFTER USING ALL OUR SPARE INNER TUBES ON PINCH PUNCTURES ON THE TOP SECTION.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

A good follow up to this is an easy out and back up

Glen Ey taking in the Colonels Bed, a nice sequence of water falls where someone important, who's name escapes me, hid during some war.  There is a nice ruined lodge at the top as well.

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