Must-do trails

Best for less experienced riders

The Culsten Burn and The Green Mile descents both involve a ride out to a remote hillside, before following a long, fast and flowing, blue-level descent back down. Neither is too technical, and they offer stunning views as well.

Best technical trails

Mastermind is a superb, twisty, rooty natural trail that drops steeply down the hillside from the radar mast on Creagan Riabhach, just north out of Ballater. To the east is Cnoc Dubh, where, there’s a superb natural, redgraded downhill trail, the Cnoc Dubh Descent, as well as ET and Roller Coaster.

To the south, Heartbreak Ridge heads north-west along the ridgetop from Pannanich Hill and is probably the most talkedabout trail in the area, with superb singletrack and a fabulous rock-slab climax.

best for a Quick blast

In Craig Coillich Woods, to the south of Ballater, just across the bridge over the River Dee, are a variety of short trails. To find them, go over the road and join a small track up the hill. At the T-junction, go right on the forest track. Follow this left and then left again, to a radar mast. The various tracks all start near here.

best Familyfriendly route

Try the Deeside Way,a 70km, shared-use, trafficfree path from Ballater to Aberdeen, which follows the path of the old Deeside Railway and has tearooms and river views along the way. Or ask at the Cycle Highlands bike shop about the Bike Safari Route, which is great for spotting wildlife such as buzzards, red squirrels, osprey and Highland cattle.

Other riding in the area

Cambus o’May – multi-use forest trails, three miles from Ballater.

Loch Kinord – multi-use trail loops, seven miles away.

Aboyne Bike Park – 12 miles from Ballater.

Pitfichie Forest – XC trails and a downhill (race) track, 25 miles away.

Lecht Ski Centre, 18 miles north of Ballater, and Glenshee Ski Centre, 34 miles west, are both planning chairlift uplifts for MTBers.