Venue: Linn of Dee

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Upper Glen Tilt

Considering you are well inside the Caingorms National Park this is a surprisingly gentle ride, with the biggest problems being a number of river crossings. This description is for an out and back, but it can be does as a 1 way trip to Blair Athol.

Follow the road out of the car park and turn left, there are some trails by the river but don't leave it too late to get up onto the fireroad. Follow the fireroad and cross the river at White Bridge, Tag 1. At Tag 2 and you have the first of several river crossings, also at Tags 3 and 4. Depending on the water level will determine whether you get wet feet. The path varies in quality and once you pass the ruins of Bynack Lodge it becomes singletrack and slowly climbs. As you pass the watershed for the Tilt the valley becomes narrow. At Tag 5, another path comes in from the East, alternatively you can keep going South to the Falls of Tarf and the rest of the Tilt. We turned round and retraced our steps - it is much more fun going back with the elevation working for you. Most of the trail is rideable but there are the odd stream crossing or boulder that requires getting off.

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Glen Derry and back

Wee route out Glen Derry crossing at the top bridge to descend back to Dery Lodge, nice fast route with plenty of features to keep you on your toes, you can make it a simple 9 mile jaunt by heading back to the car from Derry lodge or add on the bit over Clais Fhearnaig detailed here, this is a short sharp climb followed by a single track traverse through the Clais on some rocky ground, good technical riding on undulating ground, pop out into Glen Quoich then follow the river to the Punch Bowl, cross here and return to Linn of Dee car park on the road, this extension is worth it for the technical work on the Clais trail.

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Ben Macdui Hike

A bit of a hike option up the second highest mountain in the UK. Following the estate road up the Lui water to Derry lodge then crossing the Derry burn to turn west along Glen Luibeg towards the Lairig Ghru. The route then turns North straight up Carn a Mhaim. This is when you get off and begin the hike, an hour tops should see you at he top of this small Munro. Stop at the top and capture the view before heading North off the ridge line towards the Macdui boulder field. The descent is technical and exposed with steep drops on wither side. Once at eh bottom prepare for more climbing with your bike on your back.

The boulder field up Macdui is a ball ache but worth it, once you're out the top you can ride a good bit to the summit. Enjoy the view again before turning to the East and getting ready for one of the longest descents in the UK. About 12km of descent loosing 900 meters plus in the process. The first sections up top are easy and wide before the trials starts to steepen in areas and become very technical, more challenging than most black routes you'd find in trail centers it demands a decent skill level to ride at pace though bear in mind where you are, it can take mountain rescue a good while to get up here. Stop off at Loch Etchacan for a rest before heading down Glen Derry past the Hutchison Memorial hut. This is a relentless descent and it just keeps coming with lots of technical rocks to negotiate and try to avoid pinch flats.

Past the Memorial Hut the trail evens out a bit more but still with a downwards grade, good trail conditions in most places with some wash outs and muddy bits on old double
track. Keep following the trail back to Derry lodge before returning to Linn of Dee along the Estate road with a smile on your face from the huge descent you've just negotiated.

A good route for competent and fit riders who don't mind a bit of hiking. There are other options to get up Macdui which i will add once i ride them. Not a route to be attempted alone due to the isolation and exposure risk being so high up.

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Ben Macdui

A slightly easier (but still hard) route to Ben Macdui. This takes a more direct route through Glen Luibeg.

Follow the signs from Linn of Dee to Glen Lui and head to Derry Lodge (Tag1). Cross the Derry Burn via the bridge and head left along the bank of the Luibeg Burn, this can be wet but quickly improves to a gravel path again. At Tag 2 head up to the right into Glen Luibeg. This is mostly rideable until you hit Tag 3. The path is fairly obvious and starts as a push but you will soon be carrying the bike. There is a very brief respite at Tag 4 before shouldering the bike again and continuing up. There is no obvious path here but just keep on heading upwards. Once on the plateau it is possible to ride most of the way to the top apart from the last 100m which is a boulder field. Marvel at the views and get ready for the awesome descent.

The descent is rarely super steep but there are a few places where you might want to walk if only because an injury here would be pretty serious. Once past the Hutchison Memorial Hut the trail becomes easier and more gradual. The bridge at Tag 6 is damaged (Aug 2017) but it would be a shame to miss the singletrack on the west side of the Derry Burn.