Two years ago I did a C2C from Dundee to Oban return on the road bike and fancy trying it off road combined with bike packing.

I did think something like Kyle of Lochalsh would be a good starting point for 3 reasons (It is on the west coast!, it means I can go west to east with the prevailing winds, it is fairly accessable by train and bus).

And then finishing at Montrose since it is on the east coast and makes it easy to get back home in Dundee.

The main problem I have is I know very little of the available routes to the west of the Cairngorms or at the end section at Montrose - although I have biked on and off road a fair bit in the middle sections and know there weould be a few options.

The reason for my post is I was hoping all you Bear Boners could recommend rides you have done and really liked that I could use to link some of the suggestions together into a complete route.

It would be great to do as much as possible off road and would want to make it as direct as possible, it is not im my nature to take a day out to loop around a beauty spot.
I would also like to be able to ride as much of it as possible and minimise the hiking so forest path and landrover trail etc would be great!

So, can you recommend a section?

P.S. Hope you all have a happy holiday!

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A route I did a few years ago was:

Stonehaven to Braemar (a lot on the road but we did go via Mount Keen)
Braemar - to Newtonmore via Glen Feshie. I saw amore challenging day via Derry Lodge and Aviemore.
Newtonmore to Fort Augustus via Corrieyairick Pass
Fort Augustus to Cannich up Great Glen to Drumnadrochit. I would suggest using HTR 560 route for this stretch.
Cannich to Dornie via glen Affric.

Should see all this on the map and suit to your taste.

Chew wrote:[Cough]
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Brilliant link as Im in the same boat as Lughnasadh, this is on my to-do list :)

The issue with starting at Kyle is theres a 10k hike-a-bike section (and I mean carry) between Morvich and Camban bothy. After that it would all be rideable if you have the legs.

Glen Feshie is well worth including in your trip and its the most memorable place I've ever visited, so well worth including within any trip.

Theres nothing of real note once you get west of Ballater (except mount Kean), so it may be worth while seeing if there are other routes to east coast rail services back home

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/mcan ... tomontrose

We rode it in June. From Dalwhinnie we rode down the bike path to Blair Atholl and went over Glen Tilt to Braemar then over Mt Keen to Montrose. Its a great ride.

Scotland has other coasts :D

How about heading down the Speyside Way and taking in a few distilleries en route?