AN EXPLOSION in popularity of gravel biking in Scotland has inspired a new book that showcases 15 of the best gravel bike rides in the Cairngorms National Park, Perthshire and the Angus Glens.
For the uninitiated, gravel bikes are a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike and are considered to be one of the best ways to explore the beauty of Scotland.
Suitable both for novice cyclists and the more experienced, gravel bikes are sturdier than road bikes and can be used on and off road but are not as cumbersome as mountain bikes. They’ll keep their grip on gravel, rough tracks and slippy roads and have plenty of gears to take some of the effort out of cycling uphill.
Bikepacking gear can be loaded on for those who want to go deep into the wilds and, as they can be used off road far away from traffic, they are perfect for exploring parts of Scotland that would only otherwise be accessible by a long and arduous hike.
Technical mountain bike skills are not necessary for gravel biking, although the new guide has been written by Markus Stitz whose claim to fame is cycling 34,000 kilometres unsupported around the world on a single-speed mountain bike. The founder of Bikepacking Scotland, he has worked in many corners of Scotland, designing bikepacking and gravel routes.
Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire is his second solo book on gravel riding and was prompted by the rise in popularity of gravel cycling.
“That encouraged me to write a book with routes which are more accessible and appeal to a much wider variety of people than my previous books,” he said.
Stitz added that although further progress was still needed, he had also seen improvements in infrastructure and services across Scotland.
The 15 routes included in the book have been inspired by his own riding in the area over the years.
“I hope this guidebook will be a great inspiration for people to explore not only the natural beauty of the Cairngorm mountains, Perthshire and the mighty River Tay, but also connect riders to the people that call this corner of Scotland, with its rich history, home,” he said.
“Whether it may be foraging, enjoying a good coffee, visiting a museum or simply taking a break at a beautiful spot, for me there is so much more to a good cycling adventure than just the distance covered or the metres climbed.”
Stitz said he did not want to claim they were the best rides in the area but were some of his favourites and had been carefully selected to provide a wide mix of terrain to suit all abilities, while also highlighting places not ordinarily found in a guidebook.
As well as a route description there are maps and information about points of interest and historical information.
Each route also gives the ascent, highest point, percentage of off-road, Ordnance Survey grid reference and GPS coordinates, terrain information, nearest bike-friendly public transport hubs, their distance from the start/finish and car parks.
Where applicable, recommendations are given for where to eat and stay overnight, as well as bike shops and bike hire options.
The routes are divided into different sections based on difficulty.
The first is Uath Lochans a distance of 26.9km/16.7 miles, which takes in Ruthven Barracks, built as a bulwark against the Jacobites on a prominent mound.
If cycled in late summer to early autumn, the route then takes cyclists through the dense purple of the Scottish heather in bloom, along the Speyside Way and into a forest where Caledonian pines have prevailed over hundreds of years.
Stitz said that if he had to choose, the route taking in Cambus O’May and the Deeside Way (22.8km/14.2 miles) would be his favourite early morning ride before breakfast in autumn.
“With the sun rising as you cycle east out of Ballater, this loop never ventures high or climbs steeply but still gives you a great sense of why Royal Deeside has become one of the best cycling destinations in Scotland,” he said.
“You can discover the classic Deeside scenery of pine, heather and blaeberry on the smooth surface of the trail that follows the former track bed of the railway line that connected Aberdeen with Ballater to Dinnet.
“Break up the ride with a nice scenic section on the South Deeside Road, before a stretch on gravel tracks and grassy singletracks takes you back into the village of Ballater, which, for its small size, has a great selection of nice eateries and two well-stocked local bike shops.”
The only city loop in this book is Scone Palace and the Tay (26.3km/16.3 miles) which gives a tour of the lower-lying landscapes of Perthshire and the chance to explore Scone Palace and Moot Hill, once the crowning place for Scottish kings.
“A replica of the famous crowning stone can be found there but if you want to see the real thing, you can combine the adventure with a visit to the newly refurbished Perth Museum, now home to the original Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny),” said Stitz.
“This ride offers a surprising number of different surfaces, from wide gravel tracks that meander between fields to a nice flowy section on gravel trails through a woodland, and a slightly more technical trail at the banks of the River Tay.”
Stitz said the ride was suitable for all seasons and easily accessible from other places in Scotland by public transport, giving a nice introduction to gravel cycling in Perthshire. Another route included in the book is Blair Atholl and Glen Tilt (26.7km/16.6 miles).
Said Stitz: “Glen Tilt is not only famous for its natural beauty, but it also paved the way for the favourable access rights we enjoy while exploring Scotland.”
In 1847, the predecessor to ScotWays, the Association for the Protection of Public Rights of Roadway in and around Edinburgh, fought a lengthy court case which established the right of way through Glen Tilt.
The case came about after the 6th Duke of Atholl had attempted to throw John Hutton Balfour, Professor of Botany at Edinburgh University, and a group of students off “his” land. The association who took up the case and won.
“Besides the historical significance, you can expect smooth gravel trails with some shorter, more technical sections through ancient pine forests and savour the views on to the beautiful Falls of Bruar and Blair Castle,” said Stitz.
All these routes and more are described in detail in Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire published by Vertebrate Publishing.
