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Hi
Is anyone able to provide a Strava/GPX route?
Is from Glen Esk or Glen Tanar regarded as the best route?
Gang of us coming from Edinburgh so Glen Esk is probably preferable if that still gives a great route.
Planning on doing it before the end of the year, so it doesn't have to be the longest/most epic route with add ons...just to be up and down in a day would be great at this time of year. Happy to go back for more next summer.
Many thanks
Fraser
Try looking at Grizzly Munro Diary on YouTube FB Insta, he (Sean Green) might have done it already?
I prefer it from the esk side. The climbs ridable. The downhill on the other side can be nadgery
If your more into the winch and plummet riding than the technical descending you may prefer to push up from the north if doing the loop
https://www.strava.com/routes/2761230494193127866
There you go, I just drew it on Strava routes, have included the descent Master Blaster at Aboyne for you too as this should not be missed.
Edit, just read your message properly and realise this is the mega version. Well worth doing. I have only gone up from Taner and down Esk, I think the other way would be rubbish.
Gang of us coming from Edinburgh
If you live in a Level 3 local authority area you should:
avoid any unnecessary travel out of the area
if you have to travel for essential purposes, follow the guidance on travelling safely below
Just did that route on Sunday. The Mount Keen climb from the north is a bit of a push. Descent is better that way. From south climb is easier descent is steeper. The Fungle road was the best part for me. Can share the route on Garmin or Strava.
Just laughing at @bruneep and the need for bold text!! That goes without saying...it'll be done when restrictions allow, obviously, but thanks for pointing that out...
Thanks for the advice folks. @cultsdave - the length of that makes me think that I may need to re-think and come back in summer.
Took us just over 4 hours riding time on Sunday. We wasted an hour on top of that on mechanicals. https://www.strava.com/activities/4309298323
You can't ride to the actual summit, because it is a rocky tor and strewn with boulders, final 50m are most definitely a carry.
I've only done Mt Keen from the Invermark parking ( Glen Esk side). Took me less than 2.5hrs, Would have been a lot faster with a rear tyre, I ripped a sidewall about 100m into the descent and rode the rest of the way down on the rim.
https://www.strava.com/activities/339757815/overview
Don't forget to check the weather, there could be snow and ice on the summit any time from now until mid-May.
@aberdeenlune - that's much appreciated. Seems quick for an offroad loop with 5000ft of climbing, so we might need to add a bit of contingency on top of that!
It's probably one of the easiest munros to do on a bike. It's not especially difficult, but given you're unlikely to be allowed to ride it before the start of December that's probably a good thing as conditions up the top of the better rides in the area like Beinn a Bhuird or Lochnagar will be bad at that time of year.
I liked it from Glen Tanar - it's a nice day out, the roll along the glen is lovely and once you get out the woods there's some good wildlife to spot (I saw a weasel having an amazing death match with a hare, and I've spotted eagles in the area).
The climb up is just about rideable (I did it in 2017 when I was 3 stone heavier than I am now and rode basically all of it), then you rumble along the top, take in the view and turn around for the descent. The descent, at full pelt on a modern bike, is alarmingly quick. Almost 2,000 feet of descent despatched in under nine and a half minutes, after an hour and a half of climbing! I think many would consider that a poor ratio, but, despite the heinous arm pump I’d got by the bottom, it really was a great descent. It's not mega death tech (or, to be honest, any kind of tech) which may or may not put you off.
Another option if you're in the area and don't fancy the drive to the Glen Tanar side would be to head up to Glen Clova and do the Capel Mounth loop, making sure you find a GPX that drops down via this descent-
I'd say that was a better ride than the options on Mt Keen.
Be aware that the path on the Northside has been "improved" since those pictures above were taken. It's a lot less technical than it used to be, but at least they have built bike routes to the side of the drainage channels. This is the first time I have seen these features.
Some options of routes are shown here:
I would agree, the Glen Clova, Loch Muick, Capel Mounth ride is a lot bigger bang for the buck in terms of effort vs fun.
That Corrie Chash desent is a cracker
Its a bit short and easy but you can tag other stuff on. Or indeed find better in the neighbourhood as others suggest.
Thanks everyone, really useful info. Sounds like the full loop would be a great day out, and that from either side its a quick and rideable up and down! Looking forward to it 👍
I rode it via a clockwise loop from Glen Esk returning via the Fungle Path. It was a day so hot that walkers were abandoning the Mount Keen ascent and going down to sit in the river. Rode then pushed up to the summit then boulder field followed by the sanitised path down. The Fungle Path was frustrating as it was clear that S to N is the better way to do it.
It’s a good solid day out, have done it a few times starting and finishing in the square in Aboyne. Without wanting to state the obvious it goes pretty high so particularly in December you’ll need to keep an eye on the weather, and get an earlyish start for the light. There’s a cafe in Tarfside for halfway warm-up, just a short diversion along the road. “Glen esk retreat”... looks like its still open according to google, but prob best not to rely on it!
If you live in a Level 3 local authority area you should:
avoid any unnecessary travel out of the area
if you have to travel for essential purposes, follow the guidance on travelling safely below
From the Scottish Government website;
Exceptions
This is a list of limited exceptions from the guidance not to travel into or out of Level 3 and 4 local authority areas;
local outdoor informal exercise such as walking, cycling, golf, or running (in groups of up to 6 people from no more than 2 households) that starts and finishes at the same place
So I reckon ok to travel for a walk/cycle of Mount Keen.
If the OP and his gang, undisclosed number are 6or less than and from the 2 households yes he can. But a 5-6 hr round trip driving and a similar cycle time means that at somepoint non local services to them will be used.
The hills will be there for years to come, why risk exposing others in in lower tiered areas?
Not seen my son and his family in central belt since March as we don't think k it's right to risk anything happening Rtc, breakdown, taking ill etc and burdening local communities.
Perhaps read the updated guidance published 1 Nov here https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/?fbclid=IwAR0gPu3BkRfP7kc7DDesbwD_WUKKuJgcr6WcdnIK-qek5g1n-DyDbb7pZT4
Which in the exceptions part, in fact the para below those you quoted states “ travel locally (within around 5 miles of your local authority area) to reach a place to take exercise outdoors”
Even the quoted para states “local”. It’s a bit of a stretch to claim Mt Keen is local to Edinburgh! OP stated they were waiting for restrictions to be eased in any case.
For the avoidance of doubt, as I didn't intend for this to become a Covid debate...we'll follow any restrictions guidance! Thanks all, hugely appreciated. Fraser