Glen Doll-Broad Cairn-Loch Muick circuit

Time - 3-4 hours

Terrain - difficult, some carrying of bike uphill, very steep rocky descents, very slippery in wet

Route description

A very remote mountain biking route in the highlands

Start at the Glen Doll car park. go back along the road for a hundred yards and after crossing the bridge take a left heading NNE towards Broad Cairn. Follow the wide track upwards and NE as it becomes increasingly rocky and difficult. after a while you will reach a wooden bridge at the end of the glen and start heading up the hill following the only path up.....

Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

.....As the path becomes bike able again it gradually widens and you can see Broad Cairn on your left (if its not misty). You come to a junction,Here, turn right away from Broad Cairn and follow the wide track east, away from Broad Cairn. This undulates for a couple of miles, before descending rapidly to loch Muick. As your nostrils start to breathe in fresh air  - rather than the smell of burning disk brake -  you can decide to turn left and go around the loch (as marked on the map) or take a short cut and turn right.

Either way you end up at the far end (NNE) of loch Muick. From here an obvious Landover track heads SSW back out of the valley. Stay on this track for what will seem like all time. Its a long arduous climb. There are a couple of splits in the trail, but generally keep to your right

The trail, once you cross the brow of the hill, becomes very steep as it starts to descend - it becomes a slippery grassy path and as a bit of added spice has  lots of rocks to throw you over the handlebars. The first time I descended this I went over the handlebars at least twice

Keep following the path which eventually brings you out on the outbound trail. turn left (unless you feel like doing it all again) and head back to the car.

I believe the Hotel at Glen Clova do a good pint!