Fair haired lad pass

Having done most of the Trail of the seven lochs last year in sections, I still had to do the bit from the pass back north. I did the pass before from Inverfarigaig and the corkscrew. So I went up on Saturday and parked the car at the Scaniport road end and set off up the T7L from Cullaird to the Essich road. Then along the very quiet tarmac roads to the start of the trail. This time I had a camera and got some pics. It is easy to find the start as it's waymarked nd the climb up is not hard. The trail seems very little used though it was used for the Man v horse recently. Evidence of that along the trail. I saw only vague signs of the passage of bikes, not recent at all. But when you get up there you wonder why not, views are amazing. The descent is absolutely superb! This is the best of highland mountain biking. Tricky for the first 200 yards then lovely flowing hard pack through open woodland on grassy dry track. Eventually you come out on to Forest road and contour back through Erchite Farm on to tarmac again. I did about 25 miles and climbed to 1000 feet at the top of the pass.

Wed 28th May, 6:30, Tomatin

Meet at Community Hall / Sports pitch.

Cateran trail loop

I found out about the Cateran trail whilst hillwalking in the Angus Glens. So as the bad weather was in the North I headed south today to Pitlochry and then over to Strathardle. The plan was to explore a section of the Cateran trail from Enochdu towards Spittal of Glenshee.  I parked at Kindrogan Field centre having negotiated an very potholed access road. I set of in warm sunshine and located the start. It was a long steady climb past Farm land and then into a forest. Eventually you come out in open moorland. I stopped at the upper lunch hut for a bite to eat and then set off on a now grassy track towards the highest point of the loop at around 1900 feet. The views were wonderful at the top. Thereafter it was a lovely grassy descent eventually becoming farm track again. Here are some pics I took along the way. On the way up, carved finger post, the lunch hut, the track up and the lovely grassy descent.

Overcome with guilt at not turning up in Kingussie due to what turned out to be no more than a light shower, I resolved to go for a long ride today. The Forecast was OK so I went west and headed on up to Loch Ossian and Corrour station. There is work going behind the Lodge on a new hydro scheme and there was construction traffic moving everywhere. They are putting power cables in beside the road on the East side of Loch Ossian as well so that's chewed up. I was hoping to get a tea at the cafe at the Station but it was closed and is now a fancy restaurant only open in the evenings. Not much use for the hill walking scene.

Wednesday 21st May, Glenmore Lodge, 6:30

Next ride Kingussie Wednesday 14 May meet at station carpark for a 6:30 ish start.

Wed 7 May Carrbridge meet in the village carpark for a 6:30 ish start