For
this off-road ride of mixed views you'll need OS Map 36 and Trailmaps - Strathspey Map 5
A great ride for any day that isn't
too cold, windy or wet, although we have biked it in icy conditions.
This forms part of a longer ride (rides 16 & 17) shown on
later pages. This though is the cut-down version.
This is a great bit of off-roading in the quiet forest and awesome
off-roading on high level trails. As the Trailmaps put it:
"This is a classic cycle ride......... It is a long and strenuous
ride into remote country and should only be attempted if fit and well-equipped"
However, this is for the full Trailmaps Red Route,
so this isn't quite as long, but it does have its tough moments.
Starting from the car park, turn right and carry on up the road,
with the river on your left, passing the church on your right. The road curves to the right and drops down to the Dell
Of Abernethy holiday cottages.
Running parallel to this site is an off-road trail that takes you into the Abernethy Forest. Eventually you'll go up a slight rise and meet the forest logging road. Turn left here and carry on until you come to the Forest
Lodge area by the entrance to the Ryvoan Pass. Turn right through the gate and then left for the Ryvoan Pass.
Now, this is a there
and back ride from Forest Lodge with several return options from Forest Lodge to Nethy (see previous rides for return options
via Lyngarrie, Lurg or Cuchanlupe etc).
This ride climbs and climbs and twists and turns and is simply fantastic. The views
are ever changing from seeing the river, to seeing the Cairngorms, the mountains further north east and east towards Cromdale and
Glenlivet/Tomintoul. And the lighting never seems to be the same on any day. Listen out for woodpeckers in the woods and
grouse in the open moors - be careful not to scare them though - one nearly flew beak first into Neil's crash helmet once!
There's
not a lot to say to describe this ride except keep going and when you get to the bothy, stop, have a coffee or a picnic and come back.
It's just awesome and one of our favourite rides.
Once, we arrived at the bothy to find the reindeer herd grazing around it, so you
may find yourself making some new friends.
The trailmaps suggest, on the red route, to continue down to Glenmore - why not
save it - we have plans for you to take in the remainder of the red route on another ride - see the routes menu page.
