I am an intermediate level XC rider located in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire who has fairly recently (couple of years) started getting back into trailriding again. To date most of the routes tackled in and around home - Kirkhill, Bennachie, Pitfichie. I have 3 kids under 7 yo so opportunities for routes further afield are rather limited although I bought Kenny Wilsons Mountainbike Scotland recently and have been trying out some of the routes on there notably Loch Einich and the Ryvoan Pass. Have also found the neep site very useful for providing routes in and around the North East. I guess I just want to say hi and would be happy to hear from anyone who enjoys thrill of being out in the wilds as much as for the riding itself. I ride a stumpy FRS comp 2007 and absolutely love it to bits although around a month ago I had my first serious crash on Clachnaben which brought me back down to earth with a bang as well as bruised ribs and seriously skinned knees and arms. Despite this I still love the bike although I wont be going back there in a hurry. Am thinking about Glen Tilt next, anybody got any heads up on this route?
Alright Fin, where did you crash on Clachnaben ? The 'direct' way down to the car park ? Was planning an ascent that way, but gave up after pushing through the tress, some nasty drainage ditches further up so glad I was on foot.
Glen Tilt is a classic route - epic scenery. Which way are you going to do it if a traverse - Braemar to Blair ?
Another couple of epic(ish) classics near you - should be on the neeps site - are the Mt Keen ascent and the Fungle. Can do a there and back with both routes, but it's a long day.
good to hear from you. Got a flat on the direct descent from Clachnaben just after the stone staircase and as a result the bunnyhop over the next drainage ditch didn't quite go according to plan and next thing I knew was flat on my back having gone clean over the handle bars. Ribs still pretty tender despite it being over 3 weeks ago. Pleased to say the bike is okay though. Worst thing about it is that it was a fair slog getting up in the first place from Glen Dye and was really looking forward to the descent having eventually reached the summit having pushed a fair bit on the way up. There is an alternative route which I may try next time which means continuing further up Glen Dye and then heading up the track onto the Hill of Badymicks and then onto the Hill of Edendocher which joins up with the original ascent route as mentioned in the neep site but as a descent which quite fancy as it would be pretty fast and quite technical at the same time. Would probably head fom Braemar to Blairfor the Tilt route. I know that you can do this section as part of a 3 day epic which includes the Corrieyairack pass but not up to that fitness level yet. Have also heard that the Tilt ride is one of the best for scenery. I plan doing the Mt Keen ride at some point though logistically bit more problematic in that you need a car at each end - well I would anyway. I have walked it from both sides years ago now and must say i am looking forward to the descent down Glen Mark. I love Glen Tanar and have done a couple of the shorter routes in and around there including a short section of the Fungle. Where are you from yourself Gav, and have you been riding long?
The alternative descents from West of Clacnaben are fast and technical, especially the first one from all accounts, but hopefully no ditches to jump. Next time I'm up there, will go past Char bothy and then upto the col to the east of Mt Battock. Bag the corbett and then head east along the top to Clacnaben.
Unless you are doing there+back, Glen Tilt is also a bit of problem with cars/transport. Other option which is still a 2/3 day ride, is from Blair Atholl, head up the Gaick to Kingussie and then down Glen Feshie and then follow the landrover track east which takes you back to the Glen tilt turn off. Couple of river crossings to take into consideration though. There's no bridge at the Geldie anymore, just a ford and I imagine could be tricky if in spate.
Did up and down Mt Keen from the Glen Esk side a long time ago, lots of pushing, and a scary descent with conti's and no toe clips, let along spds. Think it's a better ascent from the North. This site is good for checking out how rideable some of the tracks are.
Living in Dundee myself Fin, and riding well over 10yr, although pretty slack the last 2/3 mind.
Apologies for that, showing my ignorance there, meant to say the Gaick pass instead of the Corrieyairack. Would be interested to hear how you get on next time you tackle Clachnaben from the other side. In light of the logistical problem sassociated with transportation at Tilt I have decided to tackle the Green Mile track NW of Ballater. Doesn't look too demanding although has a pretty good single track section heading back north towards the Dee. Cheers for the advice and will check out the link you provided. Will update after the weekend ride.
Aye, post some Grid refs and a report - always good to find out how rideable these things are. Other couple in that area but more for bike+hike, if you are into a bit of hill bagging, is from the end of the road goes to the Linn of Dee and back - can't remember the name, but there is a track that is very rideable and great soltitude/scenary eventually upto the plateau of Beinn a'Bhuird. More drainage ditches after the forest though, it's not a landie track to the summit anymore but still pretty rideable all the way.
There's also a track from between Braemar and Ballater at the car park that goes North to eventually to Tomintoul. You get pretty high, and there's a couple of easy Corbetts to bag either side of the col. Can't remember the names off the top of my head, but it's pretty obvious - the two Corbetts begin with C IIRC ! Seriously good descent on that one.
I am definitely not averse to a bit of hiking, did a lot when I was a an early teen though didn't really appreciate it the same I dont think. Very good, certainly options anyway. Cheers for now.
Biked theGreen Mile early evening tonight. Great weather and overall very good ride though not that long. Parked just a bit further north along the road from the Mill Of Sterin. Landy track up is a fair slog but after about 40 minutes the reward once the bealach between Craig of Loinmuie and the Coyles of Muick was reached was a wonderful view of Lochnagar out to the SW. The first part of the traverse along the treeline under Meall Dubh is a pretty boggy affair but persevere and things improve after about 0.25 miles when challenging singletrack opens up. The portion from Craig Liath down to the start of the forest singletrack is particularly steep and had to really concentrate on this portion though immensely enjoyable as was the swooping descent after this down the overgrown LRT through the trees past Loch Ullachie to the tarmac road again and then the estate LRT back to the start position. Couple of hours to complete although if you start and finish at Ballater which is what is suggested on the neeps site then you could probably add another hour onto that. Sorry but no grid references or tracks to submit but I dont have a GPS and just went equipped with the map I had downloaded from the neeps site, incidentally the same route is featured on this months Singletrack magazine. Very enjoyable and would certainly do it again. Good bit of wildlife as well with Red Deer, Black Grouse and Jays seen.
