Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

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KamelTrek
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Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

I'm planning a ride first week of September from Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage and back. I'd like to do a loop there and back.

Would it be best to head up on the Cairngorms loop route and come south down loch Ericht, or go south of Loch Ericht and loop up the lake and back down the Cairngorms loop route.

I've ridden past the bothy twice. It looked stunning but didn't get a chance to stay over night. So I'm going back to soak in the scenery.
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whitestone
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by whitestone »

Colin (Scotroutes) suggested a route to Cath and myself that started from Dalwhinnie. This was between Xmas and New Year a few years ago. So a variation on that.

Blair Atholl - follow the CL route to Dalnacardoch, carry on by the A9 to Dalnaspidal, turn left and go past Loch Garry and drop down to Loch Rannoch. Turn right and along the road to Bridge of Gaur, follow the HT550 route to Ben Alder Cottage.

Follow the HT550 route round Ben Alder to Loch Pattack then head to Loch Ericht and roll out to Dalwhinnie. Short option here is just to roll back along the cycleway by the A9 but it's not very interesting. Better would be to work out a way to get to Ruthven Barracks, there's one of General Wade's roads heading that way, then a bit of road to Tromie Bridge which is on the Cairngorm Loop route. Now head back past Gaick Lodge reversing the CL route.

Colin and/or htrider might have better suggestions.
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fatbikephil
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by fatbikephil »

That's as good a route as any. From Dalwhinnie go south on the road a bit turn left to pick up the track up to Loch Cuaich via a tunnel under the A9. This takes you to Phones lodge (the last bit is shown on the map as a path but its a good track all the way) and then follow wades road north east which is a nice route - you have to cross the A9 at the north end and go along the verge for 50yds to pick up a track to the road (which crosses back under the A9).

Easier way from Blair Atholl is to go across the river (footbridge) then follow the old road south east to Killiekrankie, go up the B 8079 for a bit then turn of right on the riverside path and along to the footbridge just upstream of Garry Bridge (which has a bungy jump platform under it) and up onto the B8019. This is a nice enough road to ride on but you can divert into Tummel forest as far as the wee road from Tummel Bridge to Glen Erochty - get into the forest by turning right on a C road and then the track off the end of it at Balnald and past Edintian farm into the woods then you can trace a fire road route above loch Tummel. Follow the road from here to the turn off to Ben Alder cottage. You can also use the single track shown on the map from Balnasteuratach (!) to Tummel forest by Loch Bhac. Its a bit boggy and best done downhill but OK. Get onto it via the same footbridge but go up to the A9 and cross it to pick a track up that goes north west on the south side of the A9.

Or just go up the cycleway and turn right into Glen Erochty and into Loch Rannoch that way.
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KamelTrek
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

Thank you both. Lots of options. I'll look at the track that komoot set for me and will adjust based on your recos. Much appreciated :)

I've ridden past Ben Alder twice during HT550 but only stopped for a photo. I intend to stay overnight this time and I cannot wait.
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by ScotRoutes »

Bothies are currently closed due to Covid. They should only be used in an emergency. Ignoring this could see them permanently closed. I'm not sure that rule will have been relaxed by September so keep an eye on the restrictions.
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by Jurassic »

I've ridden the route attributed to Scotroutes (the circuit starting and finishing in Dalwhinnie). I did it in June a couple of years ago and the weather was very dry so the hike a bike across the watershed above Loch Garry the track in to Ben Alder cottage were more rideable than usual. I did it over three days as I wanted to stay at Duinish bothy as well and it was three very short riding days but that didn't matter as the scenery and weather was so good. I actually didn't sleep in Ben Alder cottage on that occasion as it was quite busy (I just cooked and socialised in the bothy to escape the midgies but bivvied outside.
Blog account here [http://jurassic-chris.blogspot.com/2018 ... alder.html]
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

Cool. So I added the diversion south past loch Harry to Loch Ranoch. I trust this is not a boggy mess between the two lakes.

I also added the track north from Dalwhinnie to Ruthven cottage and come back down using the CL track backwards. Great shout!

Is it reasonable to ride from Ben Alder Cottage to Dalwhinnie along lake Ericht? Or should I follow the HT route from the bothy?
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by Jurassic »

I've not tried it but I believe there's a dodgy rock slab traverse hike a bike section on the path along Loch Ericht.
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by ScotRoutes »

Image

That's the extent of any boggieness beyond Loch Garry and it's not constant. It's quite rideable bar a few small dips.

You'll experience more if the soft stuff south of Ben Alder cottage.

The direct route from the cottage has been on my "list" for a while but apparently has a really dodgy section and, I believe, a lift over a deer fence. As it happens I love the descent from the Bealach Dubh anyway.
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by ScotRoutes »

Image

That route makes for a pleasant diversion around Tromie Bridge. There's only a few metres of pushing involved.
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

Thank you. I added the diversion around Tromie Bridge.
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

So river path to Killiecrankie, then through the forest above Loch Tummel to towards tummel Bridge sounds good.

Now going back up to Loch Errochty is OK, but then to Loch Rannoch seems like I have to either go back up and down again on Loch Garry to Loch Rannoch, or just back down to Loch Rannoch. I'm not seeing how Loch Errochty can be part of the loop.

I'm likely going to just ride next to Loch Tummel and then to Loch Rannoch all the way to the turn to Ben Alder Cottage. or just ride to Loch Garry from Blair Atholl and turn down to Loch Rannoch.

I think I have two good options here, and will judge based on how much distance we feel like covering. Getting lost and just feeling our way around is part of the magic anyway : )
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

This is my final draft. I may tinker with the first 20 miles to avoid riding on roads all day, but it's going to be grand no matter what, even if it rains.

Thank you all for the valuable input and thoughtful suggestions. I hope the restrictions are lifted by September.

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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by fatbikephil »

I'd give the direct route from Ben Alder cottage a miss - its doable but pretty dodgy for about 200 metres (45 degree loch slabs) and the bealach cumhan / dubh route is far, far better

Image
This is actually one of the easier bits.....
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KamelTrek
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

That's a juicy hike a bike that I'd rather skip.

I did add the HT550 route from Ben Alder cottage to Loch Pattack and then I cut back to Loch Erricht. Should I avoid Loch Erricht completely?
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by fatbikephil »

KamelTrek wrote: Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:56 am That's a juicy hike a bike that I'd rather skip.

I did add the HT550 route from Ben Alder cottage to Loch Pattack and then I cut back to Loch Erricht. Should I avoid Loch Erricht completely?
Nah, the double track up from Loch Ericht lodge to Dalwhinnie is motorway standard. You could carry on down to Ardvericke by the river Pattack (i.e the HT route) but this means doing a section of the A86 to Newtonmore
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

I want to thank everyone for your input. I rode three days from August 31st to September 2nd. Sept 1 & 2 were two of the nicest days I can remember in Scotland. Sunny all day!! We ran out of sunscreen, which is not a problem you hear often up there : )

First day was Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage. Really enjoyed the light rolling ride next to Loch Rannoch. And the hike a bike before Ben Alder Cottage was DRY!!!!! The two of us shared the bothy with one other very pleasant Scottish Chap who goes to the bothy regularly and brought with him a ton of wood and a few conspiracy theories. We had a raging fire all night and learned so much about the great reset! I also had a good swim in the lake! brrrrr!

The second day was glorious! Sunshine all the way! The single track coming down form the peak of the hike from the bothy was premium single track. We left the HT550 route to cut back to Loch Ericht and took the lake side lane up and stayed the night in Kingussie.

Third day was even more sunny. We connected with the Cairngorms loop back down to Blair Atholl. We stopped by Loch an Duin, third loch down, had a two hour lunch break by the lake and swam in the loch. Later we swam in a large rock pool in the river south of the loch. I was in there for 10 minutes and my body was numb but comfortable. The sun dried us in no time after. That was my happy moment, the moment I found my zen.

We finished with a beer at the Pub next to the Blair Atholl station, sitting outside, watching the sun go down and fighting away the bugs. I took the train back that night.

I am so grateful that I was able to make this incredible ride. I couldn't have done it without your valuable input. I love Scotland!!!
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by fatbikephil »

:-bd
Although people who come up from that London to Scotland and get three days of sunshine on a randomly picked week should be banned from the forum (see to it Stu) and hunted down by a righteous citizenry as I live here and I never seem to be able to pick a good week for my tips :((
Sounds a great trip but we need to see pics!
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by Cheeky Monkey »

:-bd
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whitestone
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by whitestone »

fatbikephil wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:52 pm :-bd
Although people who come up from that London to Scotland and get three days of sunshine on a randomly picked week should be banned from the forum (see to it Stu) and hunted down by a righteous citizenry
You are going to hate us. We’ve had a week of fine weather until last night 😊
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KamelTrek
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Re: Blair Atholl to Ben Alder Cottage

Post by KamelTrek »

I should have played the lotto instead :))
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