Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire showcases 15 of the best gravel bike rides across the Cairngorms National Park and south into Perthshire and the Angus Glens. From 14 to 77 kilometres in length and covering a variety of terrain, there is something for every gravel cyclist.
Explore the fast-rolling gravel of disused railway lines on the Deeside Way and Dava Way, cross the Highland mountain pass of the iconic Burma Road, and discover remote glens such as Little Glen Shee where youre unlikely to meet another soul.
Researched, ridden and written by Bikepacking Scotlands Markus Stitz, the routes feature clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey maps; easy-to-follow directions; details of distance, timings and difficulty gradings; stunning action photography; refreshment stops and local knowledge; and a detailed appendix. Also included is a link to downloadable GPX files.
Introduction
Acknowledgements
How to use this book
Rights of way & legalities
The bike
General safety
In the event of an accident
Beasties
Be responsible
Beyond the bike
Planning your ride
Maps & symbols
SECTION 1 EASY ROUTES
01 Uath Lochans
02 Cambus oMay & the Deeside Way
03 Kindrogan Forest
04 Scone Palace & The Tay
SECTION 2 STRAIGHTFORWARD ROUTES
05 Wolfs Lair & the Dava Way
06 The Burma Road
07 Ryvoan Bothy
08 Blair Atholl & Glen Tilt
09 Black Wood of Rannoch
10 Aberfeldy Draft & Flow
11 Blairgowrie Forests
SECTION 3 CHALLENGING ROUTES
12 Grand Tour o Ballater
13 Glen Prosen & the Southern Cairngorms
14 Dunkeld Moorlands & Big Tree Country
15 Little Glen Shee
Appendix
Markus Stitz is a German-born route designer, film-maker, photographer and writer, based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. He caught the adventure bug while living in New Zealand and has explored Scotland extensively since he moved here in 2009. Before cycling 34,000 kilometres unsupported around the world on a single-speed mountain bike, he mapped his first bikepacking route, the Capital Trail. On his return he founded Bikepacking Scotland (bikepackingscotland.com) and has worked in many corners of Scotland, designing bikepacking and gravel routes. He is also a co-director of the Cateran Ecomuseum and the director and founder of Dirt Dash events. Markus is an ultra-endurance racer, with three successful finishes of the Highland Trail 550 (Scotland), along with single finishes of the Silk Road Mountain Race (Kyrgyzstan), Atlas Mountain Race (Morocco) and Mother North (Norway). Markuss writing has appeared in a wide variety of magazines and online publications in English and German. He is the author of Great British Gravel Rides and Bikepacking Scotland, and he also co-edited Big Rides: Great Britain & Ireland. Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire is his third solo book. markusstitz.com
