THE CAIRNGORMS. I had a quiet word with Johny Coles in the winter of 95/96 regarding whether he was interested in taking the mountain bikes to Scotland and riding the famous "Lairig Ghru" Rough-Stuff crossing in the spring or early summer of 1996. John was very keen and a date Thursday to Sunday 27-30th June was agreed upon. Maps were purchased or borrowed and details of route decided. Thursday 27th June 7-30am I picked up John in Stretford(nr Manchester) It had been decided to motor up the motorway to Junction 40,on the M6.Left on the A592 and 5 miles to Pooley Bridge. this being approx 100 miles from Altrincham. The car was left here for 2/3 hrs while a mountain bike route on part of "High Street" a very famous LakeDistrict rough-stuff was done. We cycled back by the side of Lake Ullswater on a glorious day and had a late lunch at Pooley Bridge. Back to the car and up the motorway to Scotland and to are destination for the night Pitlochry Youth Hostel" this is approx 300 miles from Altrincham. Pitlochry is an excellant hostel with meals provided if booked before arriving.DAY ONE IN SCOTLAND. After an good night although both of us had top bunks,After an excellant Scottish breakfast.We were ready for the " Cairngorms" The weather was tipical Scottish misty and drizzely. The car was left in Pitlochry train station car park and a ticket was purchased for 4 days(no room to park at S.Y.H.A.) The planned mountain bike ride today was the Gaick Pass. Dalnacardoch to Tromie Bridge.and on to Loch Morlich S.Y.H.A. From Pitlochry we road up the B8079 via the pass of Killiecrankie, Bridge of Tilt.and then the old road to Dalnacardoch Lodge,The start of the Pass. The Rough-Stuff Fellowship notes on the Pass state not advisable in heavy rain. A Rough-Stuff member at the S.Y.H. the previous evening had transversed this route that day and advised us of its difficulty and the deep fords. (I beleive this was Norman Hodghton from Somerset)) After a Quick 11s. and discusion, it had now stopped drizzling,we progressed over the locked gate.into a wood and up a rideable estate road to a locked and deserted Stronphodruig Lodge,approx 7.miles. This had not been to difficult on mountain bikes,John was only carrying a rucksac and I had only a saddle bag. Up past the lodge and the first walk with the bikes. The rough-stuff notes state after the lodge keep east of the river at a ford, and look for a small cairn marking the start of the narrow and undulating path along the west side of Loch an Duin, This was accomplished with not to difficulty even though we had been told that the pathhad erroded in places. we progressed through a not to deep ford at the end of the loch and found us back on a rideable rough-stuff road which had been bulldozed upto the north end of the loch from Gail lodge. We arrived at another ford over the Allt Gharbh Ghaig This was more challenging than those before,but still John managed to cross on boulders without getting his feet wet. (I had not the quiet same success)Sometimes it pays to wear boots. After another quick bite to eat.(jam butties)for me, the track became graded,gravelled and finally tarmaced for the final miles down the Gaick Pass to Tromie Lodge.over another large gate,we had been told about a hidden key but were unable to find it. Along quite country lanes for the final miles to Loch Morlich Y.H.A. where another excellant meal was waiting for us,after an excellant but hard day
DAY TWO IN SCOTLAND After another good night and a Scottish breakfast.The day of the LAIRIG-GHRU had arrived. This is the most famous of all Scottish Rough-Stuff passes,and probably the hardist. it states in the rough-stuff notes allow 12hours or more for the route and (it is quicker to walk) we left the S.Y.H. about 9.30am and entered the rideable estate road to Rothiemurchus Lodge just north of Loch Morlich. This was low gear work for about two miles to the lodge when we turned right onto anboulder strewn path that joined the path from Aviemore just south of theCairngorm club footbridge. We where now on the "Lairig Ghru". It was now the question of pushing.lifting and sometimes carrying the bikes in to the heart of the Cairngorms. after many hours of walking we approached the infamous boulderfields which lasted on and off for a mile or so.they are unbeleavable.both myself and Johnhad difficulty with carrying the mountain bikes .and keeping ones feet.over the boulders. The long descent past the mountain rescue hut "Garbh Corie Bothy" was a welcome relief although all was unrideable. From the bothy we turned left down Glenn Derry and down to Derry Lodge where arideable estate road was to carry us to the Linn off Dee and to the Scottish Youth Hostel at Braemar. What a day and one to remember.but not one to repeat again with a mountain bike. As the Y.H.A. warden said a "good walk with a bike."DAY THREE IN SCOTLAND Braemar is a good S.Y.H. but does not supply any meals.therfore after the gruelling on the Lairig.A substantial meal was bought at a nearby restaurant.for dinner. For breakfast it was a " Do it yourself." The planned ride today was the "GLEN TILT"a ride on road from Braemar to the Linn of Dee, Off road through Glen Tilt to Blair Atholl.and the final miles on road back to the car at Pitlochry. (This ride was to give me happy memories of 1957 when the Altrincham & Sale C.T.C. under the leadership of Ray Metcalfe.organised a 2 week tour to Scotland riding all the way up to Braemar from Altrincham.and we returned through "Glen Tilt". there were 6 of us on that tour.)This my first major ruffstuff. Leaving Braemar at approx 10.00am we road to the Linn of Dee in good time. A good track followed through the forest and up to White Bridge.where we turned leftheading for the next land mark Bynack Lodge.we had to ford the Geldie burn just before the Lodge.again John succeeded with out getting wet (there was a bridge here in 1957 but is now completely wrecked)SEE BELOW On to the Lodge for a quick snack and photos.(I have a photo taken on my last visit in 1957 showing the lodge in reasonable condition,It had a roof and upstairs and was used as a bothy those days) SEE BELOW Now it is a complete ruin but still brought back happy memories. after the Lodge the path became narrow and eroded in places, We at last reached the watershed and decended through the gorge ,(John riding most of this)heading for the Bedford memorial bridge below the Falls Of Tarf. A good rideable forestry road leads down past forest lodge and down to theOld bridge of Tilt and down to Blair Atholl.on the B8079. It was only approx 10 miles down the B8079 to the car at Pitlochry.and a welcome feast in the local fish & Chip shop. Leaving Pitlochry at 4.20pm.Sunday evening we where back in Stretford at 10.00pm approx. On recollection of the Three days in Scotland,Myself and John Coles both of us would do theGaick Pass And Glenn Tilt again .but the Lairig Ghru is a once and once only for both of us.But one not to have missed.
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BYNACK LODGE (GLEN TILT)1957................................................BYNACK LODGE (GLEN TILT)1996.H5>
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