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Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:31 pm
by Jonathan
I've got about 8 days for a bike packing trip towards the end of April. Originally I was keen on the Cairngorms but it seems the consensus is that there will be plenty of snow.

I'm looking for a mountain biking route rather than gravel biking. I assume that the Borders will be more suitable, does anyone have any suggestions for that area? Any other routes I should be looking at?

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:38 pm
by ScotRoutes
Something taking in the HT550 might work. The West Coast generally sees less snow and warmer temperatures than the Cairngorms.

Most of the snow would normally be gone from the Cairngorms by the latter part of April too.

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:26 pm
by whitestone
The Central and Northern loops of the HT550 would fit the bill. We did the Northern loop on the May Day BH last year and had a very little snow, one drift across the track descending from Bealach Horn. If you don't fancy the Postman's Path then the original route out to Poolewe could be taken. The only other genuinely technical section is the bottom of the Coire Lair descent in Torridon, this can be avoided by turning left just before the Teahouse bothy, but even if you walk the harder bits it's only twenty minutes or so.

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:49 pm
by fatbikephil
Eastern cairngorms / Mounth worth a look the Deeside trail being a good shout plus there is plenty of other stuff. Better chance of good weather to boot :-bd

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:32 pm
by Jonathan
Thanks all. I think I'll do the Deeside trail then round the outer Cairngorms loop.

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:53 pm
by ScotRoutes
Jonathan wrote:Thanks all. I think I'll do the Deeside trail then round the outer Cairngorms loop.
If you post a reminder a couple of weeks before you set off I'll try to give an update on the ground conditions so you know what to expect.

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:37 pm
by Jonathan
ScotRoutes wrote:
Jonathan wrote:Thanks all. I think I'll do the Deeside trail then round the outer Cairngorms loop.
If you post a reminder a couple of weeks before you set off I'll try to give an update on the ground conditions so you know what to expect.
Thanks! Any chance you could open any gates for me as well please?

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:18 pm
by ScotRoutes
TBH, there aren't very many!! Not compared with Englandandwales at least..

Re: Scottish route advice for April

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 3:06 pm
by padonbike
The Cairngorms could be fine in the Glens and possibly even some of the Bealachs will be reasonably passable up to 750m if you don't mind a bit of pushing and/or there hasn't been too much snow.
The best routes in the Cairngorms involve river crossings and even if the rivers aren't high from snow melt, they are reasonably deep and fairly/very cold at this time of year. You need to seriously factor in regaining body heat after crossing, even if only up to knee level! If you find out which YHA and independent hostels are open and aim to arrive at these each night, then regaining body heat is not so big an issue. If you are bivvying I would imagine it becomes very difficult. Staying in a bothy, but with with no fuel for fire is doable but you need to choose your dry kit, sleeping bag and food carefully, especially if air temp in <5C.