Cairngorm outer loop

[Catrike16]

Hi, Does anyone have a komoot or GPX file for the Cairngorm outer loop?
I'm totally unfamiliar with the place and I'm not sure how to put the loop together.
I want to avoid the inner loop.Any help, very much appreciated
cheers

[Rapideye]

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1710130079? ... 096ZLGbiAy

Above should take you to it. It's what I used a couple of weeks ago. Did start drafting a write-up the other but have just been busy. A great route. Some small off-road sections out of Blair Atholl, Aviemore and Braemar are not worth it, IMO, but apart from those, it's got amazing views all over it. Some pretty remote sections and some quite tough sections (especially the part I went wrong ). Quite a few YouTube videos to give a flavour.

[Rapideye]

I started at Blair Atholl instead of Aviemore and can send that too, if you want.

[Wotsits]

The Inner Loop from Feshie Bridge through the forest to Glenmore is one of the best sections!
After Ryvoan bothy drop down & cross the river then join the outer loop before Tomintoul..

[fatbikephil]

I've got a gpx of the 'classic' outer loop tour, which goes from Glen Tromie through the Baden and Inshriach and takes in Loch an Eilean. Drop me a pm

https://philsbikepacking.blogspot.com/2 ... y-bam.html

[Rapideye]

Maybe I should've checked on here prior to leaving. I just assumed the the Komoot version was THE version. I'd be interested in that version for next time. phil - is your loop the same as that on the Cairngorms loop.net?

In the route I cycled, an off-road section from Loch Morlich to An Lochan Uaine was a complete ball-ache! Pissed me right off. It wasn't long but was a hiking trail with a lot of pushing and lifting, in between hikers on a Saturday morning. They were looking at me as if I was mad...and tbh, I felt like it. If I'd realised before, I'd have skipped it.

[fatbikephil]

Maybe I should've checked on here prior to leaving. I just assumed the the Komoot version was THE version. I'd be interested in that version for next time. phil - is your loop the same as that on the Cairngorms loop.net?

In the route I cycled, an off-road section from Loch Morlich to An Lochan Uaine was a complete ball-ache! Pissed me right off. It wasn't long but was a hiking trail with a lot of pushing and lifting, in between hikers on a Saturday morning. They were looking at me as if I was mad...and tbh, I felt like it. If I'd realised before, I'd have skipped it.

Yes that's the one - originally plotted in the '90's I believe! The Speyside way section between Insh and Aviemore only appeared a few years ago so the classic route doesn't do this.

Re the bit between Loch Morlich and Lochan Uiane - I hadn't picked up the komoot version used that path - a very odd choice for whoever set that route as your experiences echo mine from about 15 years ago! Classic route follows the easy trail up from Glen More Lodge - can be busy with peds all going to swim in the Green Loch (If only they knew about the leaches ). but an easy pedal.

[whitestone]

Maybe I should've checked on here prior to leaving. I just assumed the the Komoot version was THE version. I'd be interested in that version for next time. phil - is your loop the same as that on the Cairngorms loop.net?

In the route I cycled, an off-road section from Loch Morlich to An Lochan Uaine was a complete ball-ache! Pissed me right off. It wasn't long but was a hiking trail with a lot of pushing and lifting, in between hikers on a Saturday morning. They were looking at me as if I was mad...and tbh, I felt like it. If I'd realised before, I'd have skipped it.

We've *walked* that section in the opposite direction and it almost makes the inner loop seem sane

I keep getting the feeling with Komoot that many of the routes are created by someone who doesn't know the area, who then put in something silly (because they don't know otherwise) and then never correct the route to help others. It doesn't help that Komoot's default settings do daft things on their own - I plugged a BB200 route into it and it completely changed the route, redirecting from bridleways to footpaths and a host of other errors. That's despite the underlying OSM data having the correct BW and footpath info.

Rant over, I'd second Jase's comment about the section through the woods from Feshie Bridge to Glenmore being much better - the bit between Insh and Feshie Bridge is nice as well. There's a nice off-road section out of Braemar that's actually on the Deeside Way that's a worthwhile alternative, it's to the south of the road up the glen. Not sure what that loop is just after Blair Atholl - the "official" Cairngorm Loop just sticks on the road at that point (it's the old A9)

[Rapideye]

Yeah, the Komoot route does a short off-road after Blair Atholl where you past an old bungalow, maybe into a hiking trail but just seems to go nowhere, gives nothing apart from wet feet and then brings you back onto the road again. Another one occurs before the Loch Insch area. Takes you off-road on to a walking trail right next to the road but is so overgrown that I just came back off it again. Another section was just as you come out of Blair Atholl and cycling on the road about a mile out. The route takes you down a walking trail for about 100m and then turns back to join the road but you have to push your bike up the trail which was no mean feat. All of these I'd give a miss. It's like the route tries to take you off-road at every opportunity, even those which don't add anything to the route. Of course, maybe I was guilty of just following the route on the bike computer too closely. The trouble was sometimes you were well into it before realising.

Catrike - if you do intend on using the Komoot route, I can pinpoint where to avoid these detours.

[Catrike16]

I started at Blair Atholl instead of Aviemore and can send that too, if you want.

Please do

[Catrike16]

Thanks everyone,
yes the issue I have is I would like to enjoy it and not wish I hadn't bothered, I guess it's missing out the horrible bits, I have seen tips about not going a certain way but go this way, however , if you don't know the place at all its a bit of a mystery.
Komoot has it's problems as I found out on my first ever trip when I followed a trail only to find myself lost with my Garmin just throwing it's arms in the air, the track had apparently not been in use for years since it was subject to forestry work, a lengthy backtrack ensued.
I am recovering from knee surgery so could do without hike a bike, prolonged anyway.
cheers all

[Catrike16]

Yeah, the Komoot route does a short off-road after Blair Atholl where you past an old bungalow, maybe into a hiking trail but just seems to go nowhere, gives nothing apart from wet feet and then brings you back onto the road again. Another one occurs before the Loch Insch area. Takes you off-road on to a walking trail right next to the road but is so overgrown that I just came back off it again. Another section was just as you come out of Blair Atholl and cycling on the road about a mile out. The route takes you down a walking trail for about 100m and then turns back to join the road but you have to push your bike up the trail which was no mean feat. All of these I'd give a miss. It's like the route tries to take you off-road at every opportunity, even those which don't add anything to the route. Of course, maybe I was guilty of just following the route on the bike computer too closely. The trouble was sometimes you were well into it before realising.

Catrike - if you do intend on using the Komoot route, I can pinpoint where to avoid these detours.

Please that would be helpful

[fatbikephil]

Yeah, the Komoot route does a short off-road after Blair Atholl where you past an old bungalow, maybe into a hiking trail but just seems to go nowhere, gives nothing apart from wet feet and then brings you back onto the road again. Another one occurs before the Loch Insch area. Takes you off-road on to a walking trail right next to the road but is so overgrown that I just came back off it again. Another section was just as you come out of Blair Atholl and cycling on the road about a mile out. The route takes you down a walking trail for about 100m and then turns back to join the road but you have to push your bike up the trail which was no mean feat. All of these I'd give a miss. It's like the route tries to take you off-road at every opportunity, even those which don't add anything to the route. Of course, maybe I was guilty of just following the route on the bike computer too closely. The trouble was sometimes you were well into it before realising.

Catrike - if you do intend on using the Komoot route, I can pinpoint where to avoid these detours.

Please that would be helpful

https://www.cairngormsloop.net/tourofthecairngorms-map
Use this one...

[Rapideye]

Makes sense. I'd have gone for this if I'd been a bit sharper before. You can always detour to Aviemore for supplies if needed. I'd give Cobb's Cafe a miss for bacon roll though. Both that and their coffee was a poor show after my first night.

[Wotsits]

House of Bruar (The Harrods of the Highlands!) used to do a good bacon butty & coffee, it's worth a look-in when passing if you've not been before..

The Pine Martin also used to do a good breckie, although not sure how things are there after the change of owner?

If i was riding from Blair Athol i'd detour to Ruigh Aiteachain (Glen Feshie) Bothy for the first night, then inner loop to Ryvoan, or Braemar if your legs allow, stay at either The Red House or detour to Bob Scotts, then return to Blair Athol
https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/both ... iteachain/

[Mart]

The Pine Martin also used to do a good breckie, although not sure how things are there after the change of owner?

Hope the new owner isn’t as grumpy as previous miserable bar stool.

[fatbikephil]

The Pine Martin is still a good 'un and the outside seating very welcome!
Whilst we are on the subject of C/L re-supply, the firestation cafe in Tomintoul is my go to. Braemar is a bit more tricky - there is a wee cafe, but the chippy come biker hangout is a bit rubbish - I tend to default to the Co-op.

[rudedog]

Had fish and chips in Gordon’s tearoom/restaurant in Braemar which was decent. The bothy did a good breakfast too

Was disappointed with the breakfast roll at the Firestation in Tomintoul - not cheap for microwaved elastic bands bacon and they charged extra for sauce. This was a few years ago so might have improved.

[fatbikephil]

Was defo real fried bacon from the Firestation cafe I've had in the last few years

[rudedog]

Sounds like a good excuse to plan another trip