Scotland route advice needed

[jhudsy]

Hi All,

My partner and I are hoping to do a 3 day cycle tour in Scotland in Mid-September. Ideally, we were hoping to end the tour in Aberdeen (as getting there is the excuse for the tour).

Looking at the map and the Caladonian Sleeper timetables, Fort William to Aberdeen seems like a good choice (though I'm not sure if 3 days is enough for this trip). However, it looks like this route would include the A86 until at least Newtonmore. So the first question is how busy (and hilly) this road is? Also, does anyone know if it is possible to take side roads after that point? Google maps seems to show that it is, though some of these are B roads, and I'm not sure how busy they will be.

Any advice or comments, as well as suggestions for alternative routes would be welcome.

Thanks,
Nir

[lloyd]

I'd reckon the A82 as far as Spean Bridege will no doubt be busy, the A86 from there to Newtonmore less so. That said the A82 can be avoided by using the B road across the Caledonian canal from FW to Gairlochy.

There's two B roads from Kingussie to Aviemore, one which shadows the A9 route, both are fairly quite. I've cycled most of the southern one, and it's more scenic and not particularly hilly.

I haven't done much east of Aviemore so can't advise there.

[jhudsy]

Many thanks for the advice Lloyd. Does anyone have any suggestions about the road after Aviemore?

Nir

[steve.y.griffith]

After Aviemore a good route would be B970 to Nethy bridge then by lanes up to the A939 to Tomintoul. This is an old military road known as the Lecht and climbs pretty high you will realise why Tomintoul claims to be Scotlands highest village. Fantastic views of the Cairngorms . From here its pretty much down hill to Ballater (about 20 miles) and then follow the Dee to Aberdeen (avoid thr A raod and take lanes onthe other side of the river.

Tomintoul has plenty of B and B's and a good SYHA B abd B's are cheap in this part of Scotland £18 to £20

You can't go directly east from Aviemore as the Cairngorns get inthe way. Heading north towards Elgin is far less interesting. more agricultural but I admit flatter!

Steve

[JR42]

Here's another suggestion. Instead of getting off at Fort Willian, why don't you get off (or train back to if the sleeper doesn't stop) at Rannoch Station. You could then do the delightful ride from there to Pitlochry going past Loch Rannoch and Lock Tummel. These roads are quiet and there is a choice to ride on either side of both. You could also cross over to the Tay valley by taking the Schiehallion route over from Kinloch Rannoch.

From Pitlochry (nice place, camping, YHA and hotels all readily available) you could then take the relatively quiet A924 to Kirkmichael and then the B950 to join the A93 Glen Shee road. From here you could either chose to do the Glen Shee road to Braemar (steepish climb from this direction - 12 or 10% depending on which sign you believe), but a great introduction to the Cairngorms (The A93 isn't too busy except perhaps at wekends, even then not too bad), or skirt round the southern edge of the mountains on the various B and minor roads towards Aberdeen, perhaps crossing over the Cairn O'Mount road.

If you end up with the Braemar option, you can then follow the River Dee to Aberdeen - southern side roads are generally quiter (but can be prone to Motorbikes at the weekend).

I think this route would be 3 days at about 40 miles each, with only the middle day quite hilly.

I live in Aberdeen, so if you want any other details let me know!

PS - I wouldn't call the Tomintoul-Ballater road easy. The Lecht road includes a 20% section, and once over that there is another demanding ridge to cross on going from the Don valley to the Dee valley before getting to Ballater. But it is a very beautiful route none-the-less.

[daviddd55]

sounds like a demanding 3 days - a lot of traffic on the fastest routes - I'd think again about what to do in that time.

[bob simpson]

The sleeper does stop at Rannoch so it would be possible to get off there.
Alighting at Spean Bridgw and Tulloch would also be options if you wanted to avoid Fort William.

[Auchmill]

Depends what you mean by busy. Scottish roads away from the central belt are generally reasonably quiet.