Next tour, Rannoch Station and the Cairngorm Loop.

[Throttled]

Setting off tomorrow. I like dead ends so having done Lock Katrine this time it is Rannoch Station on day 1. Then an overnight in Dollar and day 2 will be Cairgorm Loop. Then home again. 486 miles and just under 12 hours according to Google Maps.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Ers ... ,4&t=m&z=8

The weather is windy and showers.

[iiisecondcreep]

Wrap up warm (very warm) and have fun!

[Throttled]

Hi Gayle. A predicted 10 degrees and 20 mph winds around the Moors, so not so bad. My new mobile has a good camera, so I will post some pictures and road reports.

[TC]

That looks like a fantastic trip.

Rannoch Station is the only public station in the uk without a public road. (I think its a bit of a track)

Takes loads of pictures and do a little write up. So us from south of the boarder can pick out when we are going to invade next year.

Have a great time and enjoy it.

[Throttled]

First 200 or so miles today. Most of it in the rain. The Dukes Pass was very wet

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6144183155_bbd08602c3_b.jpg

and I did not see any other bikers during the whole trip. The road to Rannoch Station is superb. Almost all is wide single track or narrow two way with a new grippy surface. The rest is fine as well. I was looking forward to lunch at the hotel next to the station to find it is closed during the day. Rannoch village has the nearest cafe.

Only the last 5 miles are on the moor, the rest is quite sheltered and in forestry, but the whole way is spectacular.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6144184211_87a069b261_b.jpg

It is a highly recommended, twisty and turny route, especially for city and motorway types who need a new challenge.

[Throttled]

The Cairngorm Loop. Up the hated A9 with is 60mph parts and 70 mph dual carriagways with house driveways, bus stops, tractors and pedestrians sharing the road.

Turned off at Newtonmore and took a back road via Feshebridge to Aviemore. That is a brillaint road, lots of bends, bumps but it is wide, quiet and the surface is immaculate. Then up to Grantown-on-Spey and on to Tomintoul. Cairgorm in Scottish means 'f**k all there'

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6147288717_8d558ddd61_b.jpg

apart from lots of wind. It is horrible feeling yourself being moved about the road by the wind and over the Lecht was awful. Lunch at Cockbridge

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6147289915_182880b5ab_b.jpg

After that the single track road to Braemar found three seasons in a few minutes, as is the way round here.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6192/6147843998_cf915f20ee_b.jpg

After Braemar went over Glenshee. It had some signs I have not seen before

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6147295531_ea19200329_b.jpg

which I think must mean, bikers enjoy!. But it is the only part of the ride where there are pots holes, bad surfaces and sheep on the road, so beware.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Throttled

[TC]

Thats a great write up and good photos Throttled.

We are doing the run throught the cairngorms and up to Rannoch in April.

Can't wait

[Throttled]

Thanks TC. Just refuel before you turn off for Rannoch Station as there are no petrol stations for the round trip which is about 60 miles. Rather than head straight back again I would go via the south of the loch and past Shehallion and then turn down to Aberfeldy (which has your next petrol station) Then back to the dull A9.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=B84 ... 2&t=m&z=10

It will take about the same time as retracing your steps and you get to see more.

[TC]

Thanks for the local info Throttled

I was going to fuel up at Pitlochry as we come down through the cairngorms before we head to rannoch. I didn't know about the road to the south of the loch so that has now been amended with the new petrol station.

This is one of the great things about a forum.

[Throttled]

If you top up at Newtonmore you do not have to double back from Pitlochry. It is about 95 miles Newtonmore to Rannoch Station and then back via south of Loch Rannoch to Aberfeldy.