Stravaiging Series - Royal Deeside

Scratching the surface of the quieter side of the Cairngorms. Welcome to Deeside!The 'more technical' route is my love song to where I live. It is absolutely mint and would highly recommend. Be aware: forecast is to be VERY cold. Bring lots of layers and lights. The only resupply is 1/3 of the way into the route. Whilst the wooded sections should be fine, there might be icy patches. Take it easy.All routes have plenty of bail out and shortening options because the river Dee has the Deeside way to the north and south Deeside road to the south. At nearly any point it is possible to exit the route and head back to Ballater**Long route (more technical)** If you’ve got a 6+ hour ride in you then this is a top drawer bang for your buck day out. It took me 5.5 hours riding time and tired me out. What to expect: 50% singletrack and just a few km of tarmac. Plenty of loamy lungbusting climbs amongst birch and pine. Some class descents. And a bunch of lovely linking singletrack in between. Cautionary notes:
1) you should feel comfortable riding red natural trails, or else happy to walk sections. 2) Keep an eye on your gps. The route peels off when you might be least expecting it.3) it is likely the first descent (in Cambus O May, down ET) will have ice covering the slabby summit. I would recommend walking off the top and into the woods if this is the case.4) Persevere with it! I promise everything has been thoughtfully put there for a reason. If you’re wondering why you’re climbing again, rest assured there’s a brilliant descent waiting for you. **Short and Long (less technical)**What to expect: lots of lovely double track - let’s say 80% straightforward off road riding in beautiful locations and very little road. There are a few more technical or lumpy sections. 1. A gentle descent that’s lightly rooty and rocky but mainly lovely and loamy (KM 6), an annoying lumpy slow kilometer (km 12). For long route riders, if you’re done by 46km you can a) stick on the south Deeside road or b) cross the Cambus O May bridge at 49km and rejoin the Deeside way. This avoids a final 5km of singletrack in the woods (which I cannot attest to as I’ve not done it!). Long Route riders can also avoid 12 hilly kilometres out of Aboyne by taking the back road from Aboyne to glen tanar (which is what the short route does). And then rejoining the long route for the fabulous route up Glen Tanar and over Etnach.