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Ive just been reading about this and quite fancy it.
Has anyone done it on a bike? How long did it take?
Any other pointers? Which direction? Logistics, etc.
Cheers
Ive just had a look at this. I dont think you can do all of it on a bike. Just certain bits.
You can ride most of it according to their website. And where you are not supposed to ride they recommend an alternative.
I've done it from Grantown to Fochabers. Twice. As part of the Moray Way.
There is a section from Cromdale to Aberlour that is brilliant on a bike (if you like suicide gates and hike a bike followed by a traipse in the mud).
There is a detour on the road at the Grantown side of the bridge at Cromdale that picks up at Delñapot (sp?) That cuts all that shit out. Fully laden bikepacker.
I've also done most from Nethy to wherever it peters out now south of Aviemore.
I'm sure scotroutes will pop up soon to fill in the gaps...
My work here is (almost) done.
The SSW now carries on south of Aviemore to (almost) Ruthven Barracks*. PM me if you want an updated GPX file (I've not got around to adding it to Openstreetmap yet).
*from there it's a short road section to Kingussie and then the existing shared use path to Newtonmore. I expect they'll officially sign/launch that bit early next year.
I was at Boat of Garten station yesterday. Lots of folk on their bikes and a good bike shop/cafe there too
Very pleasant biking route, with no shortage of B&Bs, shops, cafes nearby and some wild camping opportunities too.
I've been up and down a few times over the years and have gradually watched the trail surfaces improve; for example Carron to Aberlour was given a make-over this summer, with improved drainage and a new grit surface. There's not much techy singletrack in it and few downhills of consequence, but that's not really the point; it's about the journey really. Can be done comfortably on a CX, Grrr bike, a hardtail, fatty, just whatever.
Strongly suggest that it be done 'downstream' to gain both momentum and to keep the prevailing wind behind you.
As it's a point to point in the Highlands, travel arrangements can be a bit awkward. Train to the start at your chosen, southwesterly starting point will then mean a bus journey back to link up again, starting from Buckie or Lossiemouth. Spey Bay to Buckie is just a few miles and includes a great wee section of woodland singletrack. The curry shop in the town square is fine.
It's sounding do-able (and on a gravel bike too) which is the answer I was hoping for.
Thanks all.
I did it a couple of years ago and definately take the detour at the cromdale part , Its not quite cromdale to Aberlour as stated but I remember the part beside the distillery being bloody awful and I think I quit up onto the main road. Nice enough I spose If you havent done it , the little old stations are very picturesque and Id like a look in the new distillery just south of Aberlour . It looks state of the art.
Based on experience acquired in August this year, trail surfaces from Cragganmore northwards are in fine fettle and I would be perfectly happy planning to ride it in December for example (as we did last year), simply provided that there is no significant snow on the ground.
Combine the Moray Coastal Trail and Dava Way for a varied loop
https://phatboys.club/bikepacking/whisky-coastal-trail/
when I rode it a few years ago I didn't like the look of some of the official route so made up my own bits keeping more offfroad and closer to the river
Its a nice bike ride tho