The Cairngorms attract visitors throughout the year and for good reason. It’s a glorious part of Scotland that has some of the most stunning landscapes in the region. The area offers so much to do from hiking along great trails to skiing down beautiful slopes. Mountain biking is also superb in the Cairngorms. It’s one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities that people of all ages enjoy.
Finding places to stay on a cycling trip in the Cairngorms is easy. Moreover, there are lots of cycle-friendly cafés and eateries in the area too. Serving up Highland specialists to thirsty and hungry cyclists when they take a break from a downhill challenge or easier MTB trail.
There is something for everyone in the Cairngorms National Park and below you’ll discover just a few of them all of which are well worth exploring.
Table of Contents
Glenfeshie
The start point is in the Auchlean car park this trail is not for the faint of heart. It’s 16km (9.5 miles) long with a total ascent of 330m (1083ft). The ride takes anything from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours to complete. There’s a point where you need to ford the river due to a bridge having been washed away back in 2009. However, there’s the option to cycle back the way you came if you prefer.
You can extend your ride along the valley, but you need to be both fit and confident that you know where you are going. This takes you up to Mullach Clach a Blair. Glenfeshie is known to be a classic mountain bike trail through the Cairngorms that tests your skills and stamina.
The great thing about cycling in the Cairngorms is the wonderful welcome you receive along with a great choice of:
- cycle-friendly cafés
- Restaurants
- Bed and Breakfast
- Hotels
- Short-let cottages
It makes planning your cycling trip in the Cairngorms a lot easier when you know everything you need is available in this gorgeous Highland region.
You can mountain bike in the Cairngorms every season!
Loch Morlich and Loch an Eilean
A great MBT trail for advanced riders. It takes around 3.30 hours to complete the 32km (19.9) distance. You start at Aviemore on this popular mountain bike trail that takes you around the Rothiemurchus Estate. Some places are muddy and there are tree roots to watch out for. The more experienced rider can extend the trail to cycle up to the Lairig Ghru.
It’s a brilliant trail to explore during the autumn and is known to be:
- One of the nicest MTB in the Cairngorms for the more experienced riders
- Not best suited for families with younger children or less experienced riders
Heartbreak Ridge
This is a black track trail that boasts incredible views of the region. It’s a superb downhill trail with steep descents then a blue climb. It’s a favourite with mountain bikers for many reasons which includes having to stay focussed and because of the superb views over the Cairngorms.
The distance is 4km (2.45) with a 5m (16.4 ft) climb and a descent of -352m (-1159 ft) which takes around 30 minutes to complete. The trail is ranked as being one of the best cycling adventures in the Cairngorms and one that is worth exploring.
Loch an Eilean
Loch an Eilean is a great family trail that does get busy in peak season. You can do the trail in a loop or as part of a track that connects to other singletrack MTB trails that take you further along to Inshriach and Dalnavert. The trail starts in Inshriach/Coylumbridge or you could opt to start the ride in Boat of Garten which is a great place to start on a cycle ride on this trail.
It takes around thirty minutes to complete the trail depending on how far you want to go if you have younger kids, and distance-wise it’s 5.4km (3.4) long.
Loch Muick Loop
This trail is great if you want to get to discover a local loch in Ballater. Not for the faint of heart, this is an adrenaline rush track that runs along with the lock over crag, through the forest and over heather offering superb views when cycling in the Cairngorms.
It’s a long track with challenging climbs and descents. The distance is 26.6km (16.53 miles) but this is one mountain bike trail that’s for the more experienced rider and not the less experienced cyclist.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Distance: 26.6km
- Climb: 966m
- Descent: -965m
- Summit: 729m
To give you an idea of what mountain biking at the Loch Muick loop’s like, here’s a video for your reference.
We have dedicated a post to trips around Ballater.
Dava Way
There are some magnificent mountain biking Cairngorms trails in Grantown that take you through the Anagach Woods. There’s also a section where you can warm-up for what’s ahead. It’s a great family choice because it’s relatively short, just 482m (1581 ft) long with gentle climbs and descents.
You can take as long as you want to complete the trail because there are lots of things to see along the way.
The Royal Green Mile
This track takes you through woodlands offering brilliant views of the Cairngorms National Park as you descend the trail and on your return. It’s a single track that tests your mettle in some places which can be a little boggy at times.
It takes around 30 minutes to complete the distance of 4,114m (13497) and there’s a 17m (55.8) to contend with along with a -272m (-892.4) descent. It’s one of the MTB and cycling trails in Cairngorms National Park that attracts lots of visitors in the high tourist season.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Distance: 4,114m
- Climb: 17m
- Descent: -272m
- Duration: 30 min.
Here’s a video on The Green Mile to help you gauge if it’s the route for you. Start watching from 0:42-1:00.
South Loch Ness Trail
The South Loch Ness Trail was opened in 2011 and it stretches for around 45 km (28 miles) running between Loch Tarff and Torbreck. It takes around 3 hours to cycle the trail but the views on this bike ride in the Cairngorms takes some beating.
It’s a good choice for families who enjoy the great outdoors in one of the most spectacular regions in the Cairngorms.
Badenoch Way
This mountain bike trail is a great choice for families. It’s rated green singletrack that takes you downhill although many riders choose to do it in reverse.
It takes 8 minutes to complete the 1km (0.62 ft) and there’s a 48m (157.5 ft) climb to negotiate. It’s a great MTB to choose when you want to test your stamina and skills.
Glenlivet Circuit
Glenlivet Circuit has something for every cyclist which includes:
- A blue trail for the less experienced and younger rider
- A red trail for the more experienced rider who likes a challenge
- An orange trail with 1km (0.62 miles) of jumps and berms to negotiate to make it one of the best ‘free-ride mountain biking Cairngorms trails in Scotland
The Glenlivet Circuit gets busy during the high tourist season as it’s a popular cycling destination for all skills and types of riders. It’s a great off-road track that provides lots of choices when it comes to skills and challenges.
Burma Road
This is a brilliant loop that has everything a mountain biker would want. There are long climbs to flowy singletracks all offering superb views over the Cairngorms National Park. The trail is for the more experienced rider who owns a sound mountain bike because the descents along the track are demanding. Thus a good set of brakes is needed and you need to be ultra-fit to negotiate this MTB.
It can take anything from 2 to 5 hours to cycle the 45 km (27.96 miles ) and the 800m (2624.7 ft) climb. It’s not one for the less experienced or younger rider but a great choice if you want to test your stamina and skills.
Ryvoan Pass
This is a long circular MTB that offers some spectacular views of the Cairngorms. The trail boasts an impressive 380m (1246.7 ft) climb and goes through the scented Caledonian pine woods.
The more experienced biker can go the whole hog; however, less experienced mountain bikers might have to get off their bikes and walk in some areas along this cycling trail. The trail starts at Nethybridge where there’s a hotel, tea room and café located in the Glenmore shop.
It’s a popular mountain bike trail that can be done throughout the year depending on the snowfall. The trail is 21miles long and is moderately difficult to negotiate to make it a cycling track in the Cairngorms that is best suited for more experienced riders and older children.
Reindeer Centre to Inshriach
Lastly,
This is a great MTB that can be done in either direction. Older more experienced riders can turn it into a circuit. It’s a route that suits families with younger, less experienced riders because it can be done just one way. The bonus is that you get to feed the reindeer while admiring the wonderful views of the Cairngorms in all its natural beauty. It’s a fantastic cycling trail that’s well worth exploring when visiting this gorgeous national park.
With such a great choice of mountain bike trails to suit all levels of experience, it’s no wonder that riders flock to this beautiful region of Scotland. From natural trails that run through forests to adrenaline rush downhill tracks that test your mettle, there is something for everyone no matter how skilled they are.
Cycling trails and mountain biking Cairngorms trails offer you a great experience in some of the most untouched, natural northern regions where wildlife and nature abound.
