AVIEMORE, CAIRNGORMS

DISTANCE 32.1KM (20 MILES) CLIMBING 500M (1,640FT) TIME 1HR 30MINS TO 2HRS

Route summary: A lovely ride out into remote hills, with stream crossings and great views, to provide a great adventure and escape. Nothing very technical, but you can add some of that by exploring the forests, which have some brilliant singletrack

Start/finish: Aviemore station (postcode PH22 1PD, grid ref NH 896/123)

1 Turn left out of the station, on the B9152, then left on the cycle path opposite the Happy Haggis chippy. Head under the railway line and go right on the road, past the pub, and left on the cycle route, over a bridge. Follow the cycle path to Inverdruie and keep ahead to Coylumbridge, turning right at the campsite.

2 Follow this track, signed to Braemar, along the Lairig Ghru trail, but keep right (leaving the Lairig trail) at signs to Glen Einich. Pass through some gates to a track crossing and keep straight ahead, past another gate. Carry on through the forest to a fork by a ford and keep left.

3 Follow alongside the river, with some interesting water crossings along the way (it may be best to just walk through the ford). Some more climbing brings great views of the loch and a good descent to the shore. After a rest/ dip and a look around, turn and head back the way you came. It’s mostly downhill now (and likely wind-assisted).

4 Back at the track crossing, turn left to Loch an Eilein on a track you haven’t been along yet. Bear to the right-hand side of this. Just past the end of the loch, by a car park, go right. Follow this tarmac until a white house, then go right, just before the bridge.

5 Follow this track into the woods, past a loch on your right, then bear left and follow the trail, keeping left. Go through a gate to the road and left then right at the junction, back to Inverdruie. Head left on the cycle path to retrace your steps back to the station to finish.