Was munro-bagging on the eastern Drumochter munros this afternoon (Carn na Cairn & A'Bhuidheanach Bheag) and totally regretted leaving the mountain bike at home. There is a well defined land rover almost all the way to the summit of both peaks. Unusually for a munro it would have probably been better by mountain bike.

So thought it might be interesting to make a list of munros that are worth-while doing by mountain bike. i.e have a ride-able path to near the summit and would make a decent x-country ride.

Apparently some loonie did a full round (including Inn-Pinn) in the early 90s... However which Munros would actually be fun using a Mountain Bike ? There is probably not that many.

List so far...

- Carn na Cairn
- A'Bhuidheanach Bheag
- Mount Keen

From memory I think Mullach Clach a Bhlair also has a ride-able path to near the summit to. Any others ?


^ Mount Keen Nov 2007.

[www.haggistrap.co.uk]



Edited 3 times. Last edit at 19.28hrs Sat 21 Aug 10 by Doug_Bryce.

Glas Tulaichean from Spittal of Glenshee, for starters. It has a land rover track to just below the summit. I cycled down it couple of weeks ago, having made the mistake of exploring the approach from Fealar Lodge (not good, lots of pushing/carrying, but basically expected it as part of the day out).

Although maybe frowned upon, Beinn a'Bhuird would be perfectly doable up An Diollaid, and there is a report on here of it being done. Glen Feshie hills - there's a track up onto the plateau, which I know is popular. The hills on the other side of the road from your Drumochter walk would be possible as well - there is a newish track bulldozed from Balsporran Cottage, all the way to the col to the SW of Geal Charn. I've seen people on top of Mayar with mountain bikes - I am sure the approach from the Glen Prosen side would be easier, and there is a track all the way up Finalty Hill nearby - often see a land rover or 2 up there in stalking season. I am sure there are more...

As to your mention of the "loonie", I was reading recently that he was the first and only person to take a mountain bike to the top of all of the Munros (I assume you are referring to Paul Tattersall). He was the first, but is not the only person to do it, as I know my cousin and his mate did it in the late 80's/early 90's as well. As I recall, they were trying to beat the time of that person. I know they completed the munros at the time, but don't know if they did it faster or not.





[www.scomuir.com]

>Was munro-bagging on the eastern Drumochter munros this afternoon (Carn na Cairn & A'Bhuidheanach Bheag)<

Just talking about PT as we rode across these the other week;-) Have to say they are key contendors for the most uninteresting 3000 ft hills I've been on - with or without a bike.

We had assumed PT was the only one (given that somebody has to be the first) I'm astonished to hear there are more

Keen, Dreish, Mayar, Lochnagar, White Mounth, Carn an t'Saggart Mor, Bannoch, Broad Cairn, Tolmount, Tom Buidhe, Claise, Tuirc, Maol, Cairnwell, Carn Aosda, Gheoidh, Glas Tuileachan, Ben Avon, Bhuird, (*****), Cairngorm, Lochain, Deil's Point-Braeriach, Sgorr Goaith, Mullach Clach a Bhlar, Carn a Chlamain... and many more.
These are all good and can be used as part of longer days out, put together into big tours, etc. Remember, many of the passes and a lot of smaller tops have excellent downhill trails on them too.

^ Good list... (basically most of the eastern munros!) Though some of those would be much easier than others. Probably depends on how willing you are to carry push up rocky or steeper sections.

From memory also I reckon Ben Chonzie would be good on a bike.

Still not sure why anyone would want to do a full round on mountain bike! But fair play to him - I think there is photo in a Fort Bill bike shop with PT on the Inn-Pinn.

[www.haggistrap.co.uk]



Edited 2 times. Last edit at 16.36hrs Tue 24 Aug 10 by Doug_Bryce.

My parents live in Kilry in Glen Isla, so I decided to do a trip up Glas Maol from the Glen Isla side and then down the switchbacks to Glenshee (following as much singletrack, and not using the landrover tracks, as possible), down the valley and then back over to Glen Isla via some cheecky, secret trails! The descent down to Glenshee definitely made up for the climb to the top, which is rideable the whole way.

Not quite a Munro, but Morrone (Morven) near Braemar is a short but brilliant big mountain ride. Up the landrover track to the masts and down the footpath, which offers a few challenges, to Braemar. Can be combined with a few other cracking little loops in the area. Again, it's another that can be ridden the whole way and doesn't involve any hike-a-bike.

Can't believe no-one's mentioned Ben Lomond yet! Brilliant descent on a bike, maybe one of the best in the UK. Quite a lot of it is do-able on the way up too.

got to agree with stevomcd. Did this a couple of months ago but as it was on dh bikes the ascent was 99% pushing

I always wanted to mountain bike Ben MacDui, but looking into it I couldn't find anyone who'd attempted it and so called it off. Unless anyone here wants to tell me it's doable...?

I've never been there and from the pictures and the stories I have heard, it's an awesome place to ride. I just wish I had the resources to go there and have a great time. It's number 25 on my wishlist...

Morris Horton
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This is something that really interests me. But I like the Hiking part also. Chuck the bike on the back, resting on the rucksack and just head on up. Then bike down. I did Laggan down to Pattack, over the pass between Beinn a' Chlachair and Creag Pitridh and Geal Charn. Down to Lochan na h-Earba back along through Adverikie Estate past the house round to Loch Laggan again.

CrispySte
I cycled up Ben MacDui two times(August 2007 and June 2008, as i remember), from Braemar to Linn of Dee to Glen Derry to Loch Etchachan to summit of Ben MacDui and back the same way. It involved some pushing (but not a lot!) and cycling down snowfield (on left hand side of platoe when going down as I remember). It also involved chatting to very very unhappy walkers and explaining them that Land Reform 2003 allows MTB'er can go where walker or horses can go. It also snowed when I was close to summit and it was in the middle of June 2008. It was demanding,as I had to push myself to get the last bus from Braemar to Aberdeen(I am student and don't have a car)) ) but probably the best cycle of my life

Cycled up Lochnagar, but from Braemar side. It was Braemar to Loch Callater up the mountain there to the platoe and them to Lochnagar summit. From there down the paths to loch and back to Ballater and got bus from there. Considered this the best way to do it, as other way I would have to push all the way up, because paths are very steep from Loch Muick. This trip also had some grumpy walker saying that i breake the law.

Cycled Cairn an Tuirc in winter. The snow was concrete hard and wasn't a lot of it. The loch was frozen solid as well. The pic is from there.
Mount Keen, Morrone(Morven) are both very good for cycling as well.



Edited 3 times. Last edit at 17.28hrs Tue 22 Mar 11 by Isidorov.

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Isidorov, you're right to point just out how committing these sort of routes are, even in the height of summer. This is essentially why until lately I've tended not to publicise such routes, figuring that those who are skilled enough, both on their bike and in a high mountain environment, will figure for themselves that the big routes exist and go ride them.
Unfortunately, Singletrack magazine took the rather unwise (in my view) step of running a feature article on MacDhui in February this year, so I guess that we will see more folk on their bikes on the high tops this summer.
Some folk on here will remember the threats that I received in print from a walker & writer in the Angry Corrie a couple of years back, because of a few trip reports published on WH.

Anyway, enough of that nonsense; if you'd like to enjoy your day on Lochnagar more, a better bike approach is from the east, having ridden from Braemar east through the woods then south near and past the Gelder Shiel, to where this track meets the walkers coming from Loch Muick at the pass. Then take the contour trail around the south side of the mountain to the bridge over the Glas Allt. Turn uphill and continue to ride. Apart from three short portages on the built steps of this trail, you'll ride 95-97% of the whole climb. Then descend west via t'Saggart Mor and Loch Callater, a real peach of a trail..

As for Big Mac, the descent that you did is the best one but there is a better way to approach the mountain. I'd suggest thinking bigger and perhaps making it part of a two day trip, starting from the Aviemore side and crossing the plateau.
The most rideable return leg is through the Geldie-Feshie pass. The Lairig an Loiagh route rides much better N-S than from Derry to Ryvoan. The Lairig Ghru is harder work than either and while do-able, isn't a huge lot of fun by comparison with the others.

From 21st June 2008 (Midsummer) [www.winterhighland.info]

This was one of Hustlers mates with an interesting mono-fork MTB, I bumped into him just after I'd skied that patch.