Cairngorms

April 2007

Day 1: Aviemore, Glenmore Forest, Cairngorm, Avon Refuge Hut
Day 2: Glen Derry, Linn of Dee, Dee Valley, Falls of Tarf, Glen Tilt, Blair Atholl

Easter approaching fast, we asked ourselves what to do on our long weekend. Not having booked anything in advance - organised as we are - Kiki studied the maps for a day and we decided on the Cairngorms since this would be a nice hilly challange. 'Shall we do the easy one or are you up for an adventure?' - 'Adventure!', silly me. We started from Aviemore, the beginning of the route being very pleasant until we found ourselves on a very steep, very uncycleable walking path. We met some friends by chance. They were the only people that didn't shake their heads at us as we pushed our bikes past them, sweating but still smiling. For a while pushing uphill was alright but we got frustrated very quickly as the path got worse, steeper and lined with more and more huge boulders, over which we had to lift our loaded bikes. After what seemed a long long time we had a short, but fun descent through the heather which felt like riding a camel (or at least what i imagine riding a camel would feel like), but apart from that it was a hard-going long day and we were happy we could finally get into our tent near the Refuge Hut between a patch of snow and a river as the sun was setting over the mountains. Next day we had to cross that river, running back and forth on numb icefeet with bits of bike and luggage, it turned out to be only the first of many rivers to cross that day. After a while the path got better and we could finally enjoy the cycling. Pedaling through all the beautiful valleys and along rivers in the sunshine made the whole trip worthwhile, but i still wouldn't want to do the first part on a bike again.



Full of enthusiasm at the beginning of our trip


Meeting friends at random in the middle of nowhere





Call of nature





Sun setting over the mountains while we put our tent up


Good morning kiki, will today be better than yesterday?


Hop hop from rock to rock



Hopefully this is the last river

Dunblane

February 2007

Daytrip from Dunblane via Blackford, Gleneagles, Braco, Glassinghall

Innerleithen

September 2006

Innerleithen black route
Part of the 7stanes:
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfvj

Caroline and me got hopelessly lost several times before meeting Seppy at the top.

Glentress

Glentress Mountain Bike Heaven
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfvj

Mull + Ardnermuchen

14-17 July 2005

Mull, Craigmuir, Southern Loop, Ardnermuchen, Kilchoan,
Loch Shield, Fort William




We were extremely lucky with the weather, met the friendliest people and found the most idyllic camping spots. Scotland rules if the weather is on your side.









Calgary Bay, the deserted white sandy beach from your dreams








We met a fisherman who had caught more mackerels than he could eat, lucky us!

Glen Tilt

2005
We rented bikes in Blair Atholl and did a day's tour from Blair Atholl past Pitlochry, along the A914, up into the mountains to a farm with lots of wild barking scary dogs. The way over to the top of Glen Tilt was a bit sketchy because there was no path and we thought we got lost several times. Then we came down Glen Tilt which was very nice as you can see in the pictures. Back in Blair Atholl we missed the train and went back to the pub where Kiki had the 'Local Seafood Pasta' earlier, the sauce of which consisted of tinned mussels and crabsitcks in cream and was truly horrible. Local Specialities horay!