My partner and I are currently bikepacking in Scotland. We did the Badger Divide (we rode Glasgow to Inverness) and loved it! The scenery was stunning and although the route was challenging at times, it was so worth it. Our favorite part was riding through the Corrour Estate and spending the night in the beautiful hostel at Loch Ossian.
We're currently heading back south on a combination of the Pictish Trail and the Cairngorms (outer) Loop (see route plan in attachments). The Cairngorms Loop has been beautiful so far, the Pictish Trail (from Inverness to Tomintoul) was a bit disappointing though (I know, we only did a short bit.)
This is our first time in Scotland and we want to soak up as much of the beautiful scenery as we can! For the remainder of our trip, we're considering changing our plans to ensure we won't end with an anti-climax. We think the rest of the Pictish Trail route might lack the idyllic landscapes we've experienced and loved so far. This is just an assumption though. Therefore we could use some advice.
Has anyone experience with the southern part of the Pictish Trail, from Ballater to Edinburgh? How is the scenery?
Does anyone have other suggestions for other great routes? If possible, a route we can get to by train.
We're riding gravelbikes with 40 mm tires. We don't mind the occasional hike-a-bike, but our setup is not the lightest, so it does take us some time to get up the steep and rough sections.
All advice is welcome.
Thanks in advance! 🙏
by joren1234
4 Comments
You’re inevitably going to encounter less dramatic scenery as you ride out of the mountains and back into Fife and the Central Belt, but looking at the Pictish Trail route from Ballater to Edinburgh I would say there’s lots of good riding there (I haven’t ridden it as the Pictish Trail, but know a lot of the roads from other rides).
I would think about the route as an opportunity to see a bit more of the variety of scenery that is available in Scotland, and an interesting journey from the remoteness of the Highlands to the more populated flatlands.
I wouldn’t be prescriptive however, and I don’t know exactly what you would judge as “idyllic” scenery. The Badger Divide is a great route (rode this myself a few weeks ago) but there is even more spectacular scenery further north and up the north west coast, if that’s the sort of thing you like.
How are the midges?
What bikes are you guys using? Curious as I’d like to do this.
And….are the midges bad while you ride? Or just when you stop for a while (set up camp, etc)?
Having done a similar loop twice, imho the Badger is supreme. The Cairngorms outer loop is aight. Only cross the Fords of Avon if you enjoy hike-a-bikes, I know I don’t.
Whatever you end up doing, make sure to include Lomond Hills Regional Park and Loch Leven.