Cycling the Cairngorms

Be inspired….

If you would like to cycle gentle family trails, set out on gravel biking journeys or experience adrenaline stoked trail centres in a stunning natural environment then the Cairngorms is THE place to come….

You don’t have to be a round the world cyclists to enjoy some of these stunning trails!


Watch ‘Home Is Where The Trails Take You’

Home Is Where The Trails Take You’, a new film from filmmaker Markus Stitz, documents a gravel bikepacking journey through the Cairngorms to meet the people that call the National Park home.

Featuring Sally Devlin and Calum MacGregor from Aviemore Bikes, Toni Vastano from the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery, David Keegan from Bothy Bikes, Annie Armstrong from Wild Braemar, Richard Watts from Cyclehighlands, the film captures the strong connection between local people and businesses in the Cairngorms National Park, the activity of cycling and the surrounding natural environment.


Cairngorms National Park Routes

The Cairngorms National Park is the largest in the UK and provides a stunning backdrop for cycling. Our routes travel through special areas for nature including ancient forests that are home to some of the most endangered species in the UK. The routes have been specifically designed to enable you to enjoy this special place, its nature and its hospitality, whilst taking care to protect everything that makes it so special. We enjoy world-class access rights in Scotland, you can check out these rights and your responsibilities when enjoying them HERE

Road, Gravel or Trail we have miles of cycling routes for all abilities taking in mesmerising views, surrounded by Nature in the UK’s largest National Park.

From short circular routes you can do on a hire bike from one of our amazing local bike shops to a gravel circumnavigation of the whole National Park on a route created by round the world record holder Markus Stitz.

Of course our legendary Cairngorms welcome awaits in our communities with cycle friendly accommodation an abundance of places to stop to refuel on coffee, cake, food. You can even take in a distillery or two and cosy up by a roaring fire in a local pub.

The Cairngorms is a haven for wildlife and home to a quarter of Britain’s threatened species…so as you cycle around the Park you might be lucky enough to see some special birds and animals. These species include ospreys, the Scottish wildcat, golden eagle, red squirrel, snow bunting, lapwing, crested tit and dotterel. Travel quietly and you will be rewarded by nature.

Here you can plan your journey, download routes for FREE with voice navigation in the RideWithGPS app or print off PDF maps and cuesheets. Look at our whole route library or check out our carefully curated collections of circular rides in and around our communities.

Garmin Navigation – Hire Available

Do you need that extra reasurance when exploring the outdoors, well you can now hire a Garmin device with routes pre-loaded giving you turn-by-turn guidance with your bike hire, so you can explore more of our trails with confidence.

We look forward to sharing and caring for this special place with you.


All Cairngorms Routes


Aviemore Routes

Cairngorms bike routes
Family Adventures on the Speyside Way between Boat of Garten and Aviemore


Ballater Routes


Blair Atholl Routes


Grantown on Spey Routes


Kingussie Routes

Cycling past Ruthven Barracks


Laggan Wolftrax Routes

Fun for all ages at Laggan Wolftrax


Stagecoach Aviemore Adventurer Bus Route Ride

Stagecoach bus image

Click on the map below for cycle routes with turn by turn directions from the bus stops.


Tomintoul & Glenlivet Routes


Inspired by the film and an experienced bikepacker?

Camping Pods at Blair Castle Caravan Park

This route was mapped by Markus Stitz and follows old military and drovers roads through the UK’s largest area of high ground, regarded as climatically, geomorphologically and biologically the most extensive ‘arctic’ area in the UK.

While the Cairngorms are home to four of the five highest mountains in Scotland, there are no extreme climbs and descents on the route, which is suitable to ride on gravel and mountain bikes. Several businesses along the route offer bike hire and bike-friendly accommodation. The Cairngorms National Park Loop starts and finishes in Aviemore, with frequent Scotrail train connections to stations in the north and south, as well as with the Caledonian Sleeper to and from London.

Following the Speyside Way the route passes Kincraig and Kingussie, before crossing on the Gaick Pass over to Dalnaspidal, and following a section of Sustrans National Cycle Route 7 to Blair Atholl. From there the route passes the three Munros of Beinn a’ Ghlò to Daldhu, before continuing on the Cateran Trail to Spittal of Glenshee and over Scotland’s highest road, the Cairnwell Pass, to Braemar. The journey continues through Ballochbuie Forest, one of the largest continuous areas of Caledonian forest in Scotland, past Balmoral Castle to Ballater and on to the highest village in the Scottish Highlands, Tomintoul, and the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world. The last section of the route follows the SnowRoads scenic route to Grantown-on-Spey and the Speyside Way through Nethy Bridge and Boat of Garten back to Aviemore. 



How to get here

You can travel to the Cairngorms by train with your bike. There are stations at Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Carrbridge. Booking in advance is essential.


Other Cycling Adventures to be had in the Cairngorms

#VisitCairngorms to join locals and visitors on their own journey of discovery!

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