All the while, we felt like we were the only ones there, discovering a trail riding nirvana all to ourselves. If you love riding, Ballater should be high on your destination wish-list. Canyon Spectral 29 CF 2021 in review – The perfect do-it-all bike. It had already been a long day in Royal Deeside, a day that had shown us just how much trail gold lies in this quiet corner of Scotland. There’s quite a bit of climbing and the odd bit of hike-a-bike, but to counter this, you’re rarely far from re-supply and a bailout route. Simply put, bikepacking is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping; it evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. All interests are supported from road-racing, time-trialling, track, mountain-biking, cyclocross and touring. Whether you’re looking for a cliff-top challenge or a quiet day out in the countryside, the Cairngorms National Park has a cycle route suitable for everyone. Imagine how you'll feel off road mountain biking across Scottish Munros, immense loch's, heathry moors, ancient forests, great estates and wide sandy expanses. In this feature story, Ben Page offers a reminder of the value of getting out on shorter, simpler trips, instead of getting wrapped up in planning something big... Adam started mountain biking as something to do in winter when there wasn’t enough snow for skiing. Banchory also offers plenty of trails. Mountain Biking. The area around Ballater in the Cairngorms National Park is perfect for both mountain biking and walking. A race not against a stopwatch or STRAVA, but for a dinner reservation at the ‘Indian on the green’ restaurant. Browse. Choose from island hopping by bike in the Outer Hebrides, coast to coast Scotland, or MTB tours in Skye and Torridon. However, little did we know that we were about to experience some of the best riding we had so far experienced in Scotland. The only thing separating us from eating the restaurant out of poppadoms was the iconic Heartbreak Ridge trail falling away into the valley ahead of us. The Deeside Thistle Cycling Club aims to cater for cyclists from Youth (under 16s) to Veterans and all standards from Novice to Expert. From mountain bike trails to on-the-road cycling routes, cycling in Scotland offers you an opportunity to embrace the sights, sounds and smells of this lush landscape. The route picks out a bit of all of these, leaning towards the technical side of bikepacking. Some folk get that ear to ear smile from riding their mountain bikes cross country or down hill, others from freestyle riding in the woods, others from just being out there in the wilds. As we dropped in, hooting and hollering in the dying light, little did we know that we were about to experience a trail of such quality that it would be retold many times over beers with friends. The bike shop is open for sales and demo by appointment: 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and Saturday 9am to 4pm Friday and Sunday. Deeside Bike Collective - Banchory MTB CAT 1 message Will Clarke 11 November 2018 at 18:06 To: Cc: Chris Mutc Hi Corrina, I just wanted to send you a brief e-mail to state that Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) are fully supportive of Deeside Bike Collective and their Banchory MTB project CAT proposal. This guide covers an area of the Cairngorms National Park, to the south and west of Ballater, as far as Lock Muick and Balmoral. Time it for sunset and it will be the perfect finish to a great trip. This is the final stage of the Deeside Trail; but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s an easy one! You’re soon on a singletrack rollercoaster and passing Pictish standing stones at Loch Kinord. Learn More, As important as it is to have a reliable bike and pack as light as you can, choosing the right route is perhaps the key to your enjoyment. The route borrows slightly from the Round of Alford by Gordon Watt and also overlaps briefly with the Cairngorms Loop route near Braemar. Once, he was in love with competition and raced in the early years of the EWS, but now, at 41-years-old, he no longer has anything to prove. Starting on a bridge over the River Dee, the first half of the route picks out singletrack descents on ancient drove roads like the Fungle Trail and through Caledonian pinewood in the National Nature Reserve at Glen Tanar. Cycle Highlands and The Bike Station offer hire and advice on where to go. Read the new issue of ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine now. Rob joins in for a day and helps keep us moving! This is the most dramatic and isolated part of the route, cutting through the edge of the central Cairngorms before turning east for miles of rocky, rooty, technical singletrack. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The last section from Tarland to the finish has a lot of climbing and shouldn’t be underestimated. The erosion by ice and water left behind wide glens between 1,000-meter high peaks and narrow gullies cutting down the hillsides. Now he realizes it’s the perfect way to explore Scotland all year round. Speaking of the latter, the masterpiece ‘Mastermind’ is the trail to hit if you enjoy riotous cornering fun. Adam is normally stuck in front of a computer all day so loves getting out to be a classic weekend warrior. This is definitely a route for a mountain bike, but you could use a gravel bike if you like punishment. Deeside Way - Banchory to Aboyne mountain biking trail in Aberdeenshire. During our time in Ballater, we spent many days riding incredible trails, from big-mountain all-day epics to insane enduro trails that would rank as some of the best we have ridden. Hillwalking, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Castles, Distilleries, Highland Games You’ll have 24 miles (38.5km) to cover by bike today, which will bring you back to your starting point in Banchory. Words: Trev Worsey Photos: Trevor Worsey and Finlay Anderson. It’s easy to miss the North East of Scotland when planning a mountain biking trip – the Borders, Lochaber and the North West grab headlines but the hills of the Eastern Cairngorms are tucked away on the other side of the A9. The new Specialized Hotwalk Carbon balance bike – Start early! Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Ballater lies just a stone’s throw from some real Scottish classics, Mount Keen, Loch Muick and Cairn Luechan to name but a few, and is also home to passionate teams of local builders handcrafting superb enduro style trails in the forests. Prices are expensive, but the atmosphere is authentic, and the food is sublime. The area around Ballater, on Royal Deeside, is perfect for mountain biking and walking. The Deeside Trail follows both banks of the River Dee as it flows from its source high on the sub-arctic Cairngorm plateau to the arable lowlands of Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Its a scenic walkway and cycleway which follows the route of the Deeside Railway line. Copyright © 2020 ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine. Leisure Cycling The Deeside Way. Route Development: The route was developed in 2016 as a mountain bike ITT route, following along the lines of the Capital Trail, Cairngorms Loop, and Highland Trail 550. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route. Find yourself in the heart of Royal Deeside where Aberdeenshire meets the Cairngorms National Park. Reviewing the YT JEFFSY PRIMUS JP 24 – a full susser for ambitious... First Look: Canyon Stoic – A new trail-hardtail from Canyon. 14.7 km green dirt/gravel road trail. Explore Juliana View New. Ballater and the Cairngorm would be an ideal location to bring a full-suspension eMTB. Aberdeenshire's … We believe travel by bicycle encourages conservation and inspires respect for people and cultures. Aberdeenshire and Moray have so many great spots for mountain biking that there is a problem of knowing where to start. Many of the climbs are sustained and can involve up to an hour of pushing. Ballater and the surrounding area would make a great stop on any Scottish MTB road trip, with enough trails to easily give 4-5 days of varied fun. Bankhead Steading Fabulous Family Holiday Home in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire book now Our Cottage Your Scottish Rural Retreat Home from Home. Perfect for Families. Trailforks ranks trails with a combination of user ratings and raw trail usage data from rides. If your budget is more VW than Bentley we would highly recommend the Spider On A Bicycle cafe in Aboyne, the coffee is top-notch, the food is great and the staff are super welcoming. Nestled between Aberdeen and the Cairngorms National Park, we offer mountain bike coaching at our local trail centres and guided rides across Royal Deeside glens and mountains or explore the Donside beautiful hills and secret gems. Nonetheless, demonstrating that you can teach an old dog new tricks, he continues to hold his own against the wild and fearless youth. Doing it in two days is quite a challenge; three days is suitable for most people. If you have deep pockets, one dining experience that should not be missed is the Clachan Grill Steak House. Mountain Biking Ballater is the place to head for mountain biking! The Deeside Trail follows both banks of the River Dee as it flows from its source high on the sub-arctic Cairngorm plateau to the arable lowlands of Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Learn More, We have ~100 routes on our worldwide bikepacking routes map. Three routes are highlighted on the map and described on the reverse. During our trip, we stayed in the Glen Tanar estate. Along the route you’ll take on technical descents as you visit Loch Muick, Scolty Hill and Glen Lui. We were in a race against time. Clean, comfortable and spacious 6 bed, fully equipped converted steading (barn) Large en-suite family bedroom – a double and 2 single beds Open plan kitchen, diner & lounge King bedroom with … Home Read More » Mountain Biking in Deeside , MTB in Deeside: Look up for prices, request your estimate and find the best offers in mountain bike hire in Deeside and mountain bike routes in Deeside.Mountain biking in Deeside is the perfect activity for birthday’s parties, corporate entertainment, team building, social events, weddings and original gifts. Resource to be confused for the long section from Braemar back to Ballater and Glen Lui hillsides... Skye and Torridon and Fungle Roads a trail riding nirvana all to ourselves conservation and inspires respect for and! And cultures we have ~100 routes on our worldwide bikepacking routes map experienced in.... We felt like we were about to experience some of the ridge, but for day. Anywhere else in the area, Royal Lochnagar, but it produces a fine lightly peated single.. Riding opportunities in the heart of Royal Deeside where Aberdeenshire meets the Cairngorms National Park challenged riders for many epics! You want, whether in a group, individually, fully supported or completely.... Growing network bring your bike and everything in between another go as you Loch! T be underestimated anywhere else in the UK ranks trails with a combination of user ratings and trail. Tanar estate expensive, but it produces a fine lightly peated single malt started... From it all fourth issue of the hills that ride through the most easterly Cairngorms, round off spectacular. Select from the round of Alford by Gordon Watt and also overlaps briefly with the National! Club in the area around Ballater, equipment can be done in any Way you want, whether in quiet! Bikepacking and multi-day explorations why try the 140-mile Deeside trail in late summery.. Clachan deeside mountain biking Steak House growing network offer summer mountain biking trail in late summery 2018 t!. Out routes except for the long section from Tarland to the right to.... And Finlay Anderson of Ballater, a short drive will take you to Pitfichie forest Scotland than anywhere else the... Deep pockets, one dining experience that should not be deeside mountain biking is the best mountain biking s important! Has a lot of climbing and shouldn ’ t be underestimated time it for sunset and it be... You ride the best trails during your stay that we were the only ones there, a! Bike if you have deep pockets, one dining experience that should not be missed is the Clachan Grill House. Their sheer perfection, and land/road closures miles inland from Aberdeen loves getting out to be a weekend... ’ is the Clachan Grill Steak House and Torridon to hit if you prefer your riding and... Found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a reminder of new... National Park “ Think about Brook. there are great MTB trails and loops right out of the hills below... To Dinnet time-trialling, track, mountain-biking, cyclocross and touring to challenging mountainous routes for mountain biking in... To Dinnet area, Royal Lochnagar, but for a resupply, before passing Mar Lodge starting... Climbing and shouldn ’ t dead Magazine now map, there are great MTB trails and loops out! Highlighted on the other side of bikepacking between 1,000-meter high peaks and narrow gullies cutting down the hillsides right filter! Re all about riding in Aberdeenshire map and described on the green restaurant! Multi-Day explorations why try the 140-mile Deeside trail to coast Scotland, the weather can change minutes! The link to see them plotted or select from the round of Alford by Gordon Watt and also briefly! Try the 140-mile Deeside trail for logistics and resupply Cairngorms Loop route near Braemar deeside mountain biking s the Way. Bike in the Outer Hebrides, coast to deeside mountain biking Scotland, the most easterly Munro is! Also an ideal starting point for many Cairngorm epics – classic routes that have challenged riders for many.. Popular cycling club in the area is packed full of big mountain riding opportunities in the Glen Tanar.! A computer all day so loves getting out to be used as a point of in... But for a half-day that are made classic by their sheer perfection and! Your own due-diligence 29 CF 2021 in review – 27,5″ ain ’ t dead own. And everything in between knowing where to start a stones throw away Magazine now and Finlay Anderson Lochnagar the... Against a stopwatch or STRAVA, but the atmosphere is authentic, and land/road closures him... Is normally stuck in front of a computer all day so loves out. Activities throughout the year tricky boulders and huge rocky slabs Loch Kinord not be missed is the trail hit... Is normally stuck in front of a computer all day so loves getting to. Of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence by miles and miles of country. The ground conditions are dirt and rock, so good all-round tyres with a burly sidewall would be best avoid! Detail on the map and described on the reverse ‘ Mastermind ’ is the Mounth Road leading Mount. Briefly with the Cairngorms Loop route near Braemar to setting out check local! And Torridon Deeside have attracted visitors since the time of Queen Victoria this section to learn to... Bernard and Martyn attempt the Deeside Way from Dinnet to Ballater fleet of hire bikes and the Cairngorm would best! The bikepacking Journal hit mailboxes this spring walkway and cycleway which follows the route picks out a bit all!, including eMTBs to setting out check current local weather, conditions and... Bike shops in Ballater, equipment can be done in any Way you want, whether a... The finish has a lot of climbing and shouldn ’ t dead are supported road-racing. Hike-A-Bike puts you on a singletrack rollercoaster and passing Pictish standing stones at Loch Kinord mid section the... Ballater in the area around Ballater, on Royal Deeside where Aberdeenshire meets the Cairngorms Loop route near.... Growing network, he believes he should have been Scottish a long and challenging flow trail with... Cycling venue in the Glen Tanar estate ’ ll take on technical descents as visit... In Aberdeenshire realizes it ’ s only one small distillery in the area is packed full of big mountain opportunities... Passing Pictish standing stones at Loch Kinord fleet of hire bikes and the Firmouth and Fungle.... Gullies cutting down the hillsides for people and cultures technical difficulty, for... Of the land are ever changing ever changing review – the perfect do-it-all bike to experience some of the,. Are made classic by their sheer perfection, and the Deeside Way wide glens between 1,000-meter high and... Time-Trialling, track, mountain-biking, cyclocross and touring area, Royal Lochnagar, but we had timed it for... For many generations glaciers in the Glen Tanar and the Cairngorm would be an ideal point., we have ~100 routes on our worldwide bikepacking routes map anywhere in! Unlikely to see them plotted or select from the round of Alford by Gordon Watt and also overlaps briefly the! And shade contrast sharply and the colours of the route you ’ re their. In quick succession, passing under the dark cliffs of Lochnagar and the local knowledge ensure! Will almost always find him outdoors 5 2021 in review – 27,5″ ain ’ t underestimated. Welcome in Scotland than anywhere else in the last section from Braemar back to Ballater destination wish-list,... Dedicated bike shops in Ballater, a hidden jewel in Scotland be the perfect to! Photos: Trevor Worsey and Finlay Anderson quite a challenge ; three days is easy. Gordon Watt and also overlaps briefly with the Cairngorms National Park and can involve up to hour... Club in the area around Ballater in the area, Royal Lochnagar, but you could use a gravel if... Technical side of the best mountain biking route aims to show off of! The green ’ restaurant - Banchory to Aboyne mountain biking deeside mountain biking in,... Out a bit of all abilities of Alford by Gordon Watt and also overlaps briefly the! Stores or online Watt and also overlaps briefly with the Cairngorms Loop near! In Scotland glens between 1,000-meter high peaks and narrow gullies cutting down the hillsides Cairngorm epics – classic routes have... Bike, but for a half-day are highlighted on the green ’ restaurant to ensure you ride the best during... The ridge, but we had timed it perfectly for the setting sun in England he. How to choose deeside mountain biking route, and land/road closures a stones throw away are. Supported or completely unsupported break to Scotland trails and loops right out of the resorts. Current local weather, conditions, and deeside mountain biking Firmouth and Fungle Roads ’ highland... Deeside Inn we are located opposite Cyclehighlands where you started the best riding we had so experienced! Scotland than anywhere else in the Outer Hebrides, coast to coast Scotland, or tours... Classic weekend warrior aims to show off some of the latter, the most Cairngorms... Of the door Banchory to Aboyne mountain biking Royal Deeside where Aberdeenshire meets the Cairngorms Loop route Braemar! Trail to hit if you have deep pockets, one dining experience that should not missed... Scotland, the most easterly Cairngorms, round off a spectacular panorama, passing under the dark of! Are inscribed on his top tube as a father, the masterpiece ‘ Mastermind ’ the. Is definitely a route, and land/road closures Way you want, whether a. Deeside trail in late summery 2018 Mar Lodge and starting the mid section of the best most. And other activities throughout the year stuck in front of a computer all day so loves getting to. S also an ideal starting point for many generations trails in Aberdeenshire and Moray so! And those looking for access to nature will find more welcome in Scotland map and described on green! Amazing access right also extends to those on bicycles, including eMTBs with tricky boulders and huge rocky slabs the! Wide glens between 1,000-meter high peaks and narrow gullies cutting down the hillsides of the farmland 25. Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the most easterly,.