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Happy with another bits of route, will he heading N through Glen Tromie (from the Gaick, from the S) and heading for the Dava Way. So, pop out of Glen Tromie at Drumguish, maybe detour through Glen Feshie, spot of cake at Inchriach Nursery, through Aviemore and on to Boat of Garten.
Now: I can head through Abernethy Forest (lovely, and into Nethy Bridge, but IIRC the Speyside Way then is gate horror; I really CBA with that with a laden bike - I could just hop on the road and head for Speybridge; OR head N, through forest to near Carrbridge then the Carr road to Dulnain (even looks like a small track if feeling adventurous), only issue is that'd be about a mile on the A95, not ideal.
Anyone opinions on the Carr road alternative? It's that or the road from Nethy to Grantown..
Sorry I can't help you with a route but I do love that part of Scotland, I'm usually there at this time of year.
You need Scotroutes
scotroutes or donald right enough. scotroutes over on W Coast at the moment I think.
Druidh is yer man. Have a look at his scotroutes blog, he's gone aviemore to Grantown and then Dava way a couple of times this year already. Even bivvied close to us but never said hello. Shocking lack of manners 🙂
sheesh. so called friends eh 🙂
Right!
Nethy to Grantown has quite a few gates. That's the way I've gone a couple of times now. I'd say it's bad, but not so bad that it's worth avoiding.
Other gated areas as the bit just past Cromdale and then when it cuts down off the road before Tormore
[url= https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6136821593_3f2a819c56_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6136821593_3f2a819c56_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/amhPfR ]GATES!!![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/22384952@N02/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
cheers colin. I'm not heading by Cromdale, it'll either be back road and Speyside Way at Delnapot, or Dava Way and hop off at Rafford (or follow through to Forres).
I just don't fancy manhandling a bike with (likely) panniers through numerous gates when there's a quiet road alongside (or via Carr and Dulnain). See how the weather is on the day - mid June so at least won't be short of daylight 🙂
Aye - those gates are a bastard with panniers. By the time I reached bit in the photo above I was taking them off and throwing them as far up the track as I could manage! My point was more that the Nethy-Grantown bit isn't as bad as that 😉
True, depends on the gates too, I don't recall the Nethy ones being quite that level of purgatory right enough.
Will be in Nethy again in July, with bike(s) and family - might hook up for a quick spin??
Blair Atholl to Elgin on Thursday, as off-road (realistically) as I could make it.
Some nice diversions round from head of Glen Tromie into Feshie, and round Inshriach Forest.
Anyway, plumped for Speyside Way from Nethy to Grantown - was mostly OK but there were a couple of those silly lift and separate gates that are difficult enough with normal bikes, all but impossible laden. Resorted to lifting bike over but not easy and nearly pranged my wheels in process. Grrrr. No wonder it says its not cycle suitable (why can't they just swap the gates out?)
Dava Way was a bit harsh, when tired and laden as well -- never really got a rhythm going and surface a bit too ballasty to get a good spin going.. However, bit over 12 hours and I was home.