Day 30 - Pitlochry to Aviemore
Quick facts:
Weather: Cloudy H15 L 8. Humidity 100% at 6 am POP 23% Winds SSE 8 kph
Depart: Hostelling Scotland Pitlochry
Destination: The Park Guesthouse 131 Grampian Road, Aviemore, PH22 1RL
Planned distance: 60.56 miles 96.9 km
Planned ascent: 608 m 1,994 ft
Planned descent: n/a
Route: photo of Ride with GPS file
Good morning / Good day
We had a hearty continental all you can eat breakfast and left our « Hostelling Scotland » spot perched above Pitlochry.
Dining area at the hostel:
We are heading towards the trough between the Grampian Mountains which we will keep on our right (east) and the Monadhilath Mountains on our left (west).
View of Pitlarchy as we pedalled to the grocery store for our lunch provisons.
Our next stop was at a well named bike store « The Escape Route » where Kevin leant us a pump to fill our tires. This service at the many shops we visited, was much appreciated. Thank you Kevin.
We aren’t getting out of town very fast today because our next stop was the hardware store. The staff at The Hardware Centre leant us scredrivers and rachet tools and pliers so Ralph could repair his pannier rack. The spot welds on both sides had snapped so jubilee clips were installed on both sides of his pannier rack and, as a prophylactic step, one was put on the right side of my rack.
When we headed out of town we were quickly into the countryside and nature rewarded us again with roadside flowers, and Scotland threw in a castle or two!
Rear gate to Blair Castle.
It has been in the Athol family for seven centuries! Another regret that I didn’t take the time to do the tour. Blair Atholl
We did take the time however for a coffee stop at The House of Bruar where a large shopping complex, restaurant, whiskey store, garden centre and ice cream parlour have created its own tourist destination just around the corner from the castle grounds.
Off we went again into the mountains. The warnings were clear! As usual though, Scotland was very kind and gentle with us with her weather. As noted on the sign we are continuing on parts of NCN 7 which has accompanied us off and on since Cornwall.
Beautiful, quiet roads:
Tumbling mountain streams:
High mountain plateaus:
Lovely paved paths:
Our destination - Aviemore - 43 miles « In sun, rain or snow »
An old homestead in Calvine:
The train track, bicycle path and highway A9 close to Dalwhinnie. Apparently the Scottish government paid for this paved bike path to get cyclists off the highway through the pass. Thank you Scotland.
We didn’t meet many other cyclists though. Two to be exact.
One was Roger on his Bombtrack bike doing ½’ of Lejog. The other was a young German cyclist who caught up with our little group chatting. Both were solo riders heading south.
Roger demonstrated to Ralph the simplicity of his front handlebar mounted Orleib bag. Quite practical for the roadbike set up he has.
The Kendall Cycling Club jersey he is a member of is a very large and active group. Ralph hopes some of them will take advantage of the routes he has posted.
This was the closest we came to Loch Ericht , way in the distance down the valley.
The Pass of Drumochter & summit was a nice sign to read, although in honesty, Scotland makes the gradient on its roads, and subsequently the bike path, most acceptable.
The Pass of Drumochter is 462 m / 1,515 feet. It is the highest point in the National Cycle Network in Scotland.
The last major historical ruins we saw today were the Ruthven Barracks. This strategic site has been used for many purposes over thiusands of years. The barracks were a relatively recent occupant of the hill, dating to early 1700’s. It could hold 120 men and their officers. The men slept 10 to a room and two to a bed.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/ruthven-barracks/history/
You can’t have a day in Scotland without a picture of cattle and sheep! I think this was taken somewhere in or near Cairngorms National Park . Rough beautiful moors. These cattle are from tough stock.
Our day ended as we rolled into the lovely Park Guesthouse in Aviemore.
https://www.theparkaviemore.co.uk/.
Thus ended another beautiful day in the Scottish Highlands.
Safe travels.
Lorraine