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[b]Been wanting to do this run for years now![/b]
Everytime we go to Laggan Wolftraxx we speak about doing this:
Planning to do it, next Saturday with a couple of mates.
Getting a train from Perth to Dalwhinnie (Scotland) and cycling back.
The track we will be riding on roughly follows the A9 and is visible in parts from the road.
Wondered if anyone has done it?
What is the track surface like?
How long roughly did it take you?
Is it a good ride?
Thanks in advance!
Alan 🙂
I've done it - and bits of it - a few times.
A wee write-up (South to North) here: http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/p/a9-mini-tour.html
You'll have some alternatives, but lots of it follows the old A9 through the towns and villages that have now been bypassed. The most direct option will have you on the current A9 for about 2.5km just south of Pitlochry to Ballinluig. The other main choice is whether you take the NCN route past Luncarty into Almondbank or just follow the cycle track down the side of the dual carraigeway.
I have a GPX file of my route if it's any good to you.
Surface-wise, it's a bit loose and gravelly from round about Drumochter summit south to near Dalnaspidal.
For some sections, you'll be right next to the road, others will take you a wee bit off and at the section just north of Calvine you go through a nice wooded section that teems with wildlife.
When you get to Bankfoot, consider taking a detour to Stewart Tower Farm Dairy. They do fabulous ice-cream 🙂
Boggles.. I had a wee nosey at it on my way down the A9 last week. Looks to be mainly surfaced like the cycle path in Monifieth down to Klilliecrankie then roads into Pitlochry before picking up the track again down to Dunkeld. There are some fire roads that run alongside the path but they climb up into the hills. Could be a good deviation tho.
Don't think it will be terribly exciting but scenery should be ace. Time wise... I reckon 30 mins for us super fit biking gods.. But in reality 5-6 hours, don't want to make everybody envious.
I've ridden the Sustrans North a couple of times. It's doable (just) on 23c slicks, but is really good on a CX. It's not the most direct route especially around Pitlochry but it's a nice route to do.
I did Aberfeldy to Aviemore a few years ago accompanying someone on part of their End to End. I had 23 slicks and luggage. Certainly would not choose the mountain bike to do it, too much like hard work, as it's all "smooth" to one extent or another. Certainly much better than the main roads in Edinburgh!
[u][b]Well - we did it![/b] [/u]:)
Yesterday, weather could not have any better, sunny, warm - no wind or rain.
We followed route 77.
Dalwhinnie to Blaire Atholl was excellent, fast and quiet, notiecably downhill.
Blaire Atholl to Perth was enjoyable, but mostly on roads, all be it b roads with very liitle traffic.
It was 62.25 miles, took us 6 hours which included a few breaks.
A thoroughly fabulous day out with mates that i would do again - as soon as my tender rear end heals! 🙂
[b]A few miles past Dalwhinnie:[/b]
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[b]Alan - nice nips[/b] 😉
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[b]Snack time! - House Of Bruar:[/b]
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[b]Lunch time - Aviemore:[/b]
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Was a great day all in. We'll find the ice cream place next time.
Must have been a strange isolated cold breeze at that particular moment!
Looks good mate..
Altough i doubt you had lunch in Avienmore, you went the wrong way if you did.
My money is on Pitlochry...
Ur right mate! Ooops, Well spotted.
It's Aviemore btw, not Aveinmore 😉
Nobody likes a smartarse... ; )
Shouldn't the title be " Dalwhinnie to Perth.. Anybody RIDDEN it?" by the way?
I blame my phone for the error.
Rode / ridden - Who cares! 🙂
A bad workman always blames his tools 😉