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Aberdeenshire is an area of Scotland we've not been to, so we are heading up there next week. We will be up there for 8 days.
What are the stw recommendations for places to ride (xc and dh), see and eat/drink. Extra points for wild swimming/lido locations. Also, we are in the camper van, so places to stay would be welcomed.
Trailforks is your friend.
So much, wouldn't know where to begin.
Pitfichie.
Scolty.
Ballater.
Aboyne.
Tarland.
Glenlivet.
Drumtochty.
Fochabers.
The new free ride trail is due to open at Glen Livet. Linn of Dee up the road from Braemar in a nice spot for wild swimming and you can stop overnight in the car park. I’ve also seen folks swimming in the waterfall at Linn of Avon - ride down Glen Avon from Tomintoul.
My daughter is hoping to go to Aberdeen Uni later this year, I'm really looking forward to it as an excuse to head up there more often. The riding is ace and the NEAT project is bringing money in for some excellent developments. There is definitely a buzz around.
Glenlivet is lovely and Tarland 2 is getting great reviews.
Shout here when you're up and I'm sure some of the locals will be more than happy to show you around. I'm based a few miles north of Aberdeen and more than happy to if the timing works (though it's a bit daft next couple of weekends with enduros and DHs planned).
As above, Trailforks will help, as all the good stuff is on there. There are so many trails, it can be a bit overwhelming though!
The trails to the S of Aboyne are probably my personal favourite. Really varied from built flow trails (Relish), to old eroded tracks (Fungle) and then steeper, techy 'enduro' trails (Panic Button, Rattus, Masterblaster etc). Brand new trail centre just opened at Tarland - about 17km of singletrack, all community funded and backed - definitely worth a visit. Pitfichie used to host SDA races BITD, and more recently has had SES and local enduro races on it (AES), so worth checking out the trails there - Tomb Steen, Phoenix DH, Slippy Willie, Macciatto all worth riding.
Worth trying to meet up with some locals though, as there is just so much riding, that finding it all yourself might be a challenge.
Burn o'Vat car park, near Dinnet allows single night stays by campers. Otherwise there are loads of good spots, but DM me for more details, if needed.
Add in Bennachie (across the river from Pitfichie) and Clachnaben/Kerloch near Banchory.
Theres also the Formartine/Buchan Way if you fancy flat fast XC/Gravel riding.
Anyone know, is the open air pool at Stonehaven harbour currently open?
The folks above are right, there's enough riding on Deeside alone for a fortnight of forest fun.
Don't rush to overlook the mountain riding too; there's a lot of that, if you don't mind a bit of a push or carry. There's been fresh snow again this morning above about 600m on a strong northerly but it'll thaw away fast at this time of year.
A good intro to the mountains would be Morrone directly above Braemar village, shorter ride and always worth a wee jaunt. Out the golf course road and then up the (steep) landy track on the south side of the hill to the masts, drop down the path on the NE side back to the village.
There's a lot of old school xc/gravelly riding too, especially around Ballater towards StrathGairn, Donside and into Glen Avon. Happy days...
Go for a swim at Stonehaven harbour (not where the lido is). There is a pebbly beach just south of the harbour. The guy from Stonehaven Paddleboarding has a wood fired sauna there too if you fancy that too. A bite to eat in either of the two pubs at the harbour is nice too. You can also walk over to Dunnottar Castle from there.
The Stonehaven pool doesn't open until the end of May, unfortunately.
As mentioned, the south end of the beach & sauna combo is awesome.
Catterline, just down the coast, has a great bay for swimming, lots of seals, a good pub for food (The Mussel Inn) and an overnight parking spot if you can negotiate the steep narrow road down to the old harbour.
Even better is Braidon Bay - if you can manage the cliff path & ladder bridge from Catterline there's a big, pebbly beach in the shadow of Todhead Lighthouse. You'll probably have it to yourselves. There's a waterfall at the north end if you need fresh water.
Best place to get lunch down past there is Charleton Farm, just north of Montrose. ( Huge playpark if you have kids. )
If you're down that way then Drumtochty has almost unlimited trails too.
The A957 Stonehaven to Banchory (Slug) Road has a few riding spots (Swanley\Durris\Cairn-mon-Earn) and several places to park up your camper.
If you ride Clachnaben then there's a good swim spot at Glen Dye under the road bridge.
Out Aboyne & Ballater way you can swim in the Dee at Dinnet. The Black Faced Sheep in Aboyne is good for cakes or lunch.
Pitfichie is probably my favourite riding spot and the Hotel in Monymusk does excellent cakes.
Most of the forest car parks seem to be ok for camper vans parking up. I've often turned up to ride in the morning to see folk camped out.
Was up there working many years ago and sampled Pitfichie, Bennachie and Kirkhill.
Great trails and really friendly, helpful locals who let me join them, showed me the best trails and shared their haribo's.
I used to think Aberdonians were dour, miserable, insular bunch - how wrong I was.
I used to think Aberdonians were dour, miserable, insular bunch – how wrong I was.
Lots of folk think that unfortunatly :/
Depending on how fit you are and if youre riding every day theres a few places could be done on the same day but youd have to be a monster! but I usually find it better to just spend a day at one place and enjoy the trails rather than rush them, the only time ive done this is when i did Heartbreak Ridge in the morning then had a play about at Aboyne early afternoon before i had to head home and pick the youngest up from school.
You could probably park overnight at the trails in Aboyne and Scolty but I couldnt say off the top of my head if theres any no overnight parking signs as i never do. Glenlivet on the other hand ive seen lots of people stay overnight and they do have toilets open 24/7
Thanks all.
We had a great week away and the weather held out. In the end I rode Heartbreak ridge and Mastermind at Ballater, Tarland 2, Glenlivet, Bennachie and then Comrie croft on the way home.
Stayed at a lovely carpark near the old tidal swimming pool at Portsoy one night. Was lovely, no phone signal and just the sound of the sea. Also had a good stay on the harbour at Port Errol and great meal in the Kilmarnok Arms.
And to top it off, we did the wood fired sauna at Stonehaven. Lovely.
10 places to drink