Glen Feshie

Went up Glen Feshie today now the river has gone right down. Beyond the wooden bridge there is a lot of damage on the right bank. The new path is damaged and looks like a large section of it will be gone in the next flood. The crossing of the Allt Garbhlach has vanished as well and there's massive damage there. Any one going up should swing left on the old path and use the old crossing, largely intact. Then opposite Carnachuin about two hundred yards of the track have also completely gone. You can pass by climbing up the slope, but it's hike-a-bike. Further up it all seems ok as it all spread out on the flood plain.

Weds 1st June Meet Ralia Car Park south of Newtonmore 6.30pm

Mannoch road follow up.

As I still had a bee in my bonnet over the above I tried the Northern approach today. Rode in from the Dallas road and past the Carn Uish windfarm. Since my last ride up here years ago they've cleared pretty much the whole forest and put up some of the tallest turbines I have ever seen. They weren't noisy either. After the windfarm the track deteriorates markedly being largely water filled ruts. This got much worse on the northern approach track up to the end where the new trees obscure the old road. Pushing through it improves to a grass track. It's only about 500 yards to the southern section but it's all wet hike a bike. Shame as there's a good circular off road route possible down to Craigellachie and back along Speyside way.

Wed 25th May, Grantown (car park opposite petrol station) 6:30pm

The Mannoch road

I have been here before and knew the map showed a path between two ends of the Mannoch road. It's an old right of way north from Speyside to Elgin. I found a description somewhere on the internet and someone had claimed a way through thick trees and wet ground although the path shown is now non existent. I went up from Knockando along the Spey and up through Archiestown. From there it's a nice open forest road with great views of Ben Rinnes. You then turn right up the road. It's a fine track though appears hardly used by vehicles. There were signs of a bike and some boot prints. Unfortunately it comes to and end at a swamp with thick trees ahead. Pity as there a couple of good options if you could get through. On the way back I had a look at a lunch hut off the track a bit. Apparently little used there were signs of recent joinery repairs. There was graffiti though saying the hut was built in 1914 and other scribblings from 1926, 1932, 1935, 1948 and more recent. Half of it is quite usable still. I took a few pics on the way.

Ballater ride

Went across to Ballater today which was nice and sunny. Did a fairly gentle route to Lock Muick and back via the way we came up a few years ago - Glen Girnock.   I came back along a wee section by the river which passes the footbridge at Pohollick but there was  about 100 yards destroyed by the floods. Amazingly this is the only piece of the many biking tracks in the area which was destroyed.

Wed 18th May, Nethybridge Hotel, 6:30

Corrour station

Good ride today up to Corrour station and round Loch Ossian. I took sandwiches then discovered that the cafe at the station is now open all day. It was only serving evening meals for a couple of years but new owners have opened it up again. Quite a few hillwalkers were in there. So anyone heading up there for the ride can use the cafe again. Great scenery all the way, it's one of my favourites.

Wed 11th May, Tomatin Village hall / sports centre, 6:30pm