The Loch Morlich-Ryvoan Pass-An Sluggan and Nethy Bridge-Ryvoan Pass-Coylumbridge routes are the big loop rides in the area, both around 20 - 25 miles with a mixture of road and off-road. These are tough in places but special. You'll need OS Map 36 and we recommend Trailmap 6 which has 3 routes - these rides are a variation of all 3 put together.

Start from the carpark on the left past the Reindeer House just after Loch Morlich - it is a small parking area by the river. There are lovely views of the cairngorms and Glenmore Forest.

Set off on the trail using the OS Map and Trailmap (pink route) and you have a sharp left turn and uphill in the woods to shortly bike around Glenmore Lodge. Point your bikes towards the Ryvoan Bothy but take time on this climb to look back at the views - they're simply magnificent. The next thing that you come to is the Green Lochan on your right. Nice place for a coffee.

The next section contains a tough bit of scree/rocks on the path for a short way and it is a tough pull - don't be embarassed about pushing for 100 yards or so.

Finally you will come to the Ryvoan Bothy on your left and you now bike along the Ryvoan Pass - a high level pass with magnificent views and great biking. You've probably climbed about 1000 ft to reach this point.

Continue along the Ryvoan Pass over open moorland and through sections of forest until eventually dropping down to Forest Lodge in the Abernethy Forest (some great downhills to get to here).

At Forest Lodge turn left on the logging trails passing a house named "Cuchanlupe" and eventually coming to a road junction.

Turn left here and follow the road south of Tore Hill, past the left hand turn for Tulloch Moor until you come to another left turn for Loch Garten. Take this turning. Enjoy the ride around Loch Garten and visit the Osprey Centre. From here there is a single track trail running parallel to the road or you can continue by road until you pass a chalet park on your right and come to another road junction. Turn left onto the main road.

You now need to look out for the trail on your left to take you up An Sluggan. This is not signposted but 2 miles after Street of Kincardine is a longish path, usually with bins at the end of the drive and a sign for Kincardine Cottage and Milton Cottage. You'll find it with the maps!

An Sluggan is a pull. We've done it in summer and we were hot to say the least! Double click on the photo bottom right to see the height you gain from the road.

having negotiated the climb you now have an off-road trail all the way back to Loch Morlich, passing the Badaguish Outdoor Centre. You can continue on this trail almost to the Visitors centre at Glenmore so that you avoid much of the busy road. From here carry on along the road and back to your starting point.

Variations
You can vary your ride in a few laces but ride 17 on the next page covers some of these variations. For instance at Forest Lodge you could take the Abernethy Forest Trail to Nethy Bridge and then take the road to the An Sluggan turn.

Another variation would be to take the Tulloch Moor turning after Tore Hill instead of the Loch Garten one, shortening the ride by a few miles.

Authors: Neil and Janice Buxton.

References
This cycling route guide was republished by kind permission of Neil and Janice Buxton. You can see more of their cycle routes (including photos) for Scotland on their website.

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