Cairngorm experience

We start our self-sufficient trip in Braemar, deep in the heart of the Cairngorms, packing the kit trailers and heading off through Glen Feshie, one of the most beautiful areas in the Highlands, where you will experience truly unspoilt countryside.

 

Then we’ll pedal on through the Rothiemurchus Estate to Glenmore and over the wonderful, rocky Ryvoan pass. We’ll spend a night near Tomintoul, the highest town in the Highlands of Scotland and finally, ride through the remote Glen Avon and descend back into Braemar.

 

View customer photos in our flickr album.

Itinerary

If you have never cycled with a kit trailer before, you have the option of the full five-day holiday, the first two days of which we will spend riding on less remote and challenging terrain to build up your skills and confidence with the trailer.

• Day 1 (optional)
  We’ll meet in Inverness and then head down to Braemar, book into our accommodation and discuss the plans for the next few days over a coffee. We will then head off for an easy-going ride in the area to get used to the trailers and begin to build up the necessary skills for riding on all terrains with a kit trailer.
• Day 2 (optional)
  Today we will embark upon a more adventurous route to allow you to tackle more technical trails with a fully-loaded trailer and build up your confidence with it. We’ll also work on some camp craft, including finding and constructing the best camp site, kit familiarisation and safety. Once everything is packed away, we will head back to our accommodation for another comfortable night before our adventure begins in earnest in the morning!
• Day 3
  Starting from Braemar, at the heart of the Cairngorms, we’ll distribute the gear between our kit trailers and head on our way, through the Linn of Dee and alongside the Geldie Burn to our night camp in Glen Feshie.
• Day 4
  After a fantastic night sitting under the stars, eating, drinking and chatting, we will rustle up a good breakfast to prepare us for another exciting day’s mountain biking, starting with a cycle through Inshriach Forest, which spans an impressive 8,000 acres, and into Rothiemurchus estate. From here, we’ll cycle through Glenmore, over the Ryvoan pass and on to our camp near Tomintoul - and the Glenlivet distillery!
• Day 5
  Again, after a substantial breakfast, we will pack the trailers and head out for the last leg of our adventure that will see us cycling along the River Avon and into the fantastic but remote Glen Builg. We will pass Loch Builg before heading up to a height of 730 metres near the summit of Culardoch, then it’s downhill all the way back to our transport at the Linn of Dee.

Download pdf of full itinerary

Skill Level

Red with some very challenging sections including river crossings

Accomodation

If you choose to join us for some skills training you will be staying in a good quality B&B in Braemar on the first and second nights. Thereafter we will be wild camping.

Meals

Lunch will be provided on day 1, breakfast and lunch on day 2, and thereafter, all food will be provided and cooked by the group at camp.

Dates of Holiday

21st or 23rd - 25th May 2008

16th or 18th - 20th July 2008 Full

23rd or 25th - 27th July 2008 Full

3rd or 5th - 7th September 2008 Limited availability

 

Contact us if you require alternative dates

Price

Five days = £460 pp

Three days = £300 pp

Skills List

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Green grade

Green grade trails are suitable for: beginners or novice cyclists.
• Bike required: mountain bikes are suitable.
• Skills needed: basic bike skills are required for this grade.
• Trail and surface types: these will be relatively flat and wide. Trail surface might be loose, uneven or muddy at times. Might include short flowing singletrack-style sections.
• Gradients and technical trail features: climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features.
• Suggested fitness level: suitable for most people in good health.

 

 

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Blue grade

Blue grade trails are suitable for: intermediate mountain bikers with basic off-road riding skills.
• Bike required: Front suspension mountain bike.
• Skills needed: basic off-road riding skills to cope with uneven surfaces and small obstacles.
• Trail and surface types: as above, plus specially constructed singletrack trails. Trail surface might include small obstacles of root and rock.
• Gradients and technical trail features: most gradients are moderate but might include short steep sections. Technical features such as roots and rock might be present.
• Suggested fitness level: a good standard of fitness can help as some trails have short climbs.

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Red grade

Red grade trails are suitable for: proficient mountain bikers with good off-roading skills.
• Bike required: suitable for better off-road quality mountain bikes.
• Skills needed: good off-roading skills and techniques to cope with technical trail features.
• Trail and surface types: as above but steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect variable surface types.
• Gradients or technical trail features: a wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers and water crossings.
• Suggested fitness level: a higher level of fitness and stamina is required to deal with technical features and longer distances.

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Black grade

Black grade trails are suitable for: expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes.
• Bike required: a good quality full suspension mountain bike is recommended.
• Skills needed: advanced level off-roading skills and technical ability.
• Trail and surface types: as above, but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty.
• Gradients or technical trail features: expect large, committing and unavoidable obstacles and technical features. Sections will be challenging and variable. Might also feature 'downhill' style sections.
• Suggested fitness level: suitable for very active people used to prolonged exercise.

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Kit List

• Helmet
• Gloves (appropriate to the time of year)
• Glasses
• Cycle shorts/trousers
• Waterproofs
• Hat and spare gloves
• Bike in good working order (this will be checked before we set off)
• Pump
• Inner tubes
• Puncture repair kit
• Tyre levers
• Multi tool
• Allen keys 2,2.5,3,4,5,6,8,10mm
• Brake blocks or pads to suit your bike
• Shock pump if required
• Chain tool and joining pieces to suit your chain
• Water system (water bottle or Camelbak)
• Personal energy bars
• Any medication you require (you must inform your guide about this prior to the tour)
• Suitable day sack to hold all of the above