Deeside Trail ouch!

[postierich]

Managed to fit in a Scotland Trip and the weather looked good so with a poke from Wotsits we headed up with another pal!
2pm start from Ballater popped into Glas Alt Shiel for a ride around Loch Muich . Up and around Lochnagar to Gelder Shiel Bothy for a cosy evening with the RAF . Clear skies for a beautiful view! Chilly start in the morning!
https://bikepacking.com/routes/deeside-trail/

480885540_10163170422221474_262805819818715139_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
480748892_10163170422666474_8043766015555114625_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
481090254_10163170488666474_4439545221656594402_n(1) by Richard Munro, on Flickr
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481695329_10163170422961474_3208982616335020834_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
Chilly night under the stars after a full on dunking in a river up to my waist we cut our losses before hypothermia set in outside a hunting lodge! Whilst erecting one’s tent pole split on the tent meaning a faff with gaffer tape and zip ties to the rescue. Minus 5 during the night meant a nice frosty start before we got to Braemar for breakfast.
481073220_10163170488486474_3600896986227700941_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
480932208_10163174815011474_5662805321397166812_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
481281051_10163171066056474_534223919647146734_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
480920724_10163174814371474_628066252192206045_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
480783242_10163174815191474_6121385394161625513_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
480960434_10163174814986474_5945426333724080514_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
481155796_10163174815121474_2021949165372253316_n by Richard Munro, on Flickr
The Deeside Trail is not to be underestimated!!

[Bearlegged]

Ooh, looks cracking that! Chilly though, brrr...

[Wotsits]

It's a good route, definitely not gravel bike friendly tho! There's some lovely sections of forest singletrack, trail centers, natural technical descents, good bothies & places to re-fuel
Although cold at night, the weather was kind to us.. Some of the climbs are pushes & i wouldn't want to ride it late in the summer season..

There's differences between the published bikepacking.com & Deeside trail website routes..

[fatbikephil]

Pretty lucky with weather and (lack of) snow conditions there, it is indeed a fab route.