Cairngorms Loop

whitestone · Post by **whitestone** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:51 pm

No, I haven't just done it, it's an article on bikepacking.com http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/cairngorms-loop/ Some lovely pictures.

ZeroDarkBivi · Post by **ZeroDarkBivi** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 6:01 pm

Has anybody heard when the next 'mass start' event will be? I heard it was moving from Spring to Autumn, to avoid the snow.

fatbikephil · Post by **fatbikephil** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 8:16 pm

According to the website its April 29th 2017 and then September 17th 2019...

stucowp · Post by **stucowp** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 9:13 pm

Did the lower loop this year, well most of it and it was truly stunning landscape. Well worth a venture up, i've also read they had snow the other day as well already!

ScotRoutes · Post by **ScotRoutes** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 9:18 pm

stucowp wrote:Did the lower loop this year, well most of it and it was truly stunning landscape. Well worth a venture up, i've also read they had snow the other day as well already!

There was a little sleet on one of the summits. Not sure I'd count that as actual snow

FWIW, we also had some snow lying on the summits two years ago at this time.

(4th Oct 2014)

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 9:28 pm

No snow needed I'm hoping to go do the loops next week after bb200 so I'm praying that this weather we r getting is hanging around a bit longer. I have a feeling though the days are going to be short of light n long nights in the tent but it's better than sitting at home!

Mariner · Post by **Mariner** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:11 pm

Is that official that it now starts/finishes at Aviemore as per the write up?

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:29 pm

I thought the start/ finish was Blair Atholl but I guess u could start anywhere still the same route surely

ScotRoutes · Post by **ScotRoutes** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:37 pm

Mariner wrote:Is that official that it now starts/finishes at Aviemore as per the write up?

This route deviates from the original ITT route making it more ridable and more touring friendly. The start of the route is Aviemore allowing for a better resupply option before heading out. It also avoids a steep hike-a-bike to Blair Atholl through Fealar Lodge, instead continuing down to the city via Glen Tilt on singletrack and gravel roads. As of 2016 parts of the trail near Ruigh Aiteachain bothy have been washed out by violent storms and not restored – an alternative way to Feshie Bridge via Feshie Lodge road is part of this route.

It would appear the author made a few changes for various reasons. Removing the "sting in the tail" to Fealar Lodge certainly cuts a massive amount of effort and the track near Ruigh Aiteachain is fine so there's no need to avoid it.

AFAIK the official route still starts and ends at Blair Atholl. Worth noting though that Alan Goldsmith said he'd accept an Aviemore start/end point as being good enough to be a HTR550 qualifier.

Mariner · Post by **Mariner** » Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:48 am

Thanks for clearing that up.

Justchris · Post by **Justchris** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 6:42 pm

htrider wrote:According to the website its April 29th 2017 and then September 17th 2019...

What website? 17th September is a strange date.

Thanks
Chris

AlasdairMc · Post by **AlasdairMc** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 6:58 pm

It's on the Cairngorms Loop site. I would guess the September date is because the midges will have hopefully died down by then.

ScotRoutes · Post by **ScotRoutes** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 7:15 pm

AlasdairMc wrote:It's on the Cairngorms Loop site. I would guess the September date is because the midges will have hopefully died down by then.

FWIW Sept was easily the midgiest month this year

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 7:35 pm

Yeah I was on lewis last sept and I got eaten alive by the bleeders! !

Justchris · Post by **Justchris** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 9:25 am

Justchris wrote:
htrider wrote:According to the website its April 29th 2017 and then September 17th 2019...
What website? 17th September is a strange date.

Thanks
Chris

Sorry. In my head that's midweek...

Cairngorms midge will be fine in September. It makes sense to me do it mid September. Gives people all summer to train. And no chance of snow or snow melt.

whitestone · Post by **whitestone** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 9:32 am

So what's happening to the 2018 group start?

Scratch that: 17th Sept 2019 is a Monday, 17th Sept 2018 is a Saturday so just looks like a typo.

Justchris · Post by **Justchris** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 10:33 am

whitestone wrote:So what's happening to the 2018 group start?

Scratch that: 17th Sept 2019 is a Monday, 17th Sept 2018 is a Saturday so just looks like a typo.

Makes sense sort of. I think there is a bank holiday mid September. Think steve means that weekend. Could be wrong.

whitestone · Post by **whitestone** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 2:09 pm

Hmm, there's now two dates for 2017:

Saturday, April 29th, 2017 – 10:00

Saturday September 16th, 2017 - 10:00

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 2:45 pm

Anyone know the process for entry on this?

Assume an email to Steve on the 1st of December for the April version?

ianfitz · Post by **ianfitz** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 4:25 pm

Chew wrote:Anyone know the process for entry on this?

Assume an email to Steve on the 1st of December for the April version?

That'll do it.

fatbikephil · Post by **fatbikephil** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 10:19 pm

ScotRoutes wrote: Removing the "sting in the tail" to Fealar Lodge certainly cuts a massive amount of effort and the track near Ruigh Aiteachain is fine so there's no need to avoid it.

I would be good to ditch this bit on the basis that its pretty rubbish and the roll out of Glen tilt would be a fine way to finish. Instead you could add in Glen Gairn and Glen An t Slugain which would make the mileage up and add in a truly fab nadge fest of a trail followed by an ace descent... Oh well I suppose its not meant to be easy.

Cairngorms Loop

Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop

Re: Cairngorms Loop