Discover the wealth of mountain biking / MTB routes in the Cairngorms National Park.
At over 4000 square kilometers in area, the Cairngorms offers a lot of riding terrain. This includes forest singletrack, long distance cycle paths, trail centres and ‘rideable munros’. Read on to learn more (or, for an overview read my guide to Mountain Biking in Scotland).
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What makes mountain biking here so special?
The Cairngorms hold some of the best mountain bike/MTB trails in Scotland. There’s a wide range of much-loved routes to be enjoyed here, of varying degrees of difficulty. The Badenoch and Strathspey Trail Association and Aberdeenshire Trail Association do a fantastic job of working with landowners and conservation organisations to maintain these trails. In addition, Scottish law means we have access to a wide range of trails – as long as we are riding responsibly. The national park provides plenty of facilities for visitors here and finally, midges are rarely a big problem!
Northern Cairngorms MTB routes
The northern Cairngorms includes the district of Speyside, a region famous for beautiful pine forest. One of its main villages is Aviemore, which provides a good base for the many visitors arriving via the nearby A9.
The northern Cairngorms has great options for high mountain riding, including so-called ‘ridable munros’. Being over 3000ft in height, riding up and down a munro is no easy feat. Therefore, make sure you have the appropriate skills, fitness and equipment (my Cairn Gorm Guided Mountain Biking is a good option here). Ben Macdui is one of the most committing MTB routes in the Cairngorms, with Cairn Gorm itself and Sgorr Gaoithe being another two. Whichever you choose, it is important to minimise erosion and avoid wildlife disturbance in these protected habitats.
For low-altitude options, you are spoiled for choice. Most villages have beautiful forest nearby, with mellow riding on shared low-gradient forest tracks. Gorgeous flowing singletrack is located in several places, but High Burnside near Aviemore offers the best bang for buck. In contrast, the Burma Road offers a popular low-tech loop taking in remote hill scenery, with a lung-busting ascent and arm-pumping descent. The Speyside Way offers a mellow, flat but very scenic long-distance cycle trail. All these together offer a great set of options for my Aviemore Mountain Bike day.
Aviemore Mountain Bike day
Aviemore has fantastic mountain biking trails: join me on some classic mtb routes with spectacular views! Local hire, with routes matched to your abilities.
If you’re desperate for a trail centre, then Laggan Wolftrax is time well spent, or Bike Glenlivet just across in Aberdeenshire. Cairn Gorm Mountain’s new MTB trails are lift-served and therefore chargeable. Carrbridge, Grantown and Boat of Garten between them hold some popular wee jump lines and even a modern pump track!
Planning to visit the Cairngorms National Park? See my mini Cairngorms Guide for helpful local info about visitor facilities and more.
Southeast Cairngorms MTB routes
Despite being on the eastern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, we often think of this area as on the southern side of the mountains, in the district of Deeside. The riding here is just as varied and rewarding as in the Aviemore area to the north, although maybe a bit less busy.
A classic route in the area includes Heartbreak Ridge, which ascends through forest to open hillside. There’s loads of options for riding into the mountains. Staying relatively low along Glen Dee, for example, eventually brings you round to the north side of the Cairngorms in Glen Feshie. The beautiful Glen Quoich, on the other hand, gets you access (eventually) to the summit of Beinn a’Bhuird. A slightly shorter and more punchy loop would be up and down Lochnagar from the Spittal of Glenmuick. And there’s loads more mountain riding possibilities besides.
The Deeside Way is a long distance cycle path from Aberdeen to Ballater (41 miles), which, although not technical, makes a good section for the Scotland Coast to Coast route. If you’re more into forest singletrack, the villages of Ballater, Banchory and Aboyne are the places to go from, with plenty of great routes nearby, of various difficulties. Finally, Tarland Trails is a recently-upgraded trail centre which has been getting rave reviews.
Crossing the Cairngorms is always a highlight of the Scottish Coast to Coast MTB route.
Hopefully, this has been a good taster to whet your appetite for exploring MTB routes in the Cairngorms. The weather can be wild, but the spectacular scenery means there’s loads of options to enjoy a great time on two wheels. Want a guide or coaching? Check out my guided MTB days below.
Leading and coaching near Aviemore and beyond
