This is a superb, scenic ride, 95% off road. It's a 17+ mile loop taking you through the Rothiemurchus Estate and high
above the back of Loch Morlich. It's one of our favourite rides and offers a real taste of what the area has got in terms of
biking & scenery.
For this you'll need OS Map 36 and we recommend Trailmaps - Strathspey Map 1.
Park at
Coylumbridge on the main road by the Rothiemurchus campsite. There is a large, wide layby where you can start from.
Follow the
Old Logging Way by the layby back towards Inverdruie.
Now take the road to Loch An Eilein or better still follow the signs for mountain
bikers, just a few yards below the Inverdruie car park. This takes you through a lovely bit of off-road, past Lochan Mor (Lily
Loch) on your left, to the lane leading to the Loch An Eilein Visitors Centre. Turn left when you reach this lane until you
reach Loch An Eilein.
Riding clockwise now, after a while you'll reach the turning on your left for Gleann Einich - take this and continue
through superb scenery to the entrance to Gleann Einich and the little lochan (Lochan Deo).
Continue straight on with the lochan
on your right.
Now you are in wonderful, wild scenery and great off-road terrain.
Cross the Cairngorm Club footbridge over the river
and continue east, passing the entrance to the Lharig Ghru entrance. Again, lovely panoramic views greet you before you swoop
down a great track to Loch Morlich.
As you approach Loch Morlich (on your right), take a right turn and follow this delightful
trail around the back of the Loch (see map). Continue past the far end of the Loch.
Eventually you come to a junction with
a wide, steep climb over your right shoulder, almost turning back on yourself. Take this and climb for quite a while (not difficult)
into spectacular scenery above Loch Morlich with views of the mountains before you.
Continue on the main, twisting track for quite
a while, always heading east(ish). Keep your eyes peeled for the reindeer herd enclosures - you can see them with binoculars
along this section as the Cairngorms come back into view.
Eventually, you'll hear the traffic and a rushing river in the distance.
Another short, but fun downhill section will bring you to the road. Take care here and just down the road on the right-hand
side is a car park entrance. Take this and you'll find picnic benches - a great place to charge your batteries up again.
At this
point you can either continue down to Glenmore by road from the picnic area entrance or take some of the trails in the forest,
which will bring you out on the road again lower down. We prefer this option. There is a single track trail by the 3rd
picnic bench on the left.
From Glenmore, it is an easy ride back to Coylumbridge. Pick up the Old Logging Way - a superb cyclists/walkers
track which will take you all the way back to Coylumbridge and your starting point. Take care though because at one point you
have to cross the main road by the Reindeer Centre and again at the Clay Pigeon shooting range.
Variation:
To shorten this wonderful
4 lochs ride, you can start at Coylumbridge, bike up above the camping site (take the right hand fork when the trail splits) and you
will come to Glen Einich and Lochan Deo. Continue as above once you reach this point. But hey, why bother, the extra miles
are well worth it!
