Author Topic: Cairngorms Mini Tour  (Read 10236 times)

Templogin

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Cairngorms Mini Tour
« on: June 28, 2014, 03:42:42 PM »
I have finally bitten the bullet and paid the best part of £300 for the return ferry for me and my Thorn eXp from Shetland to Aberdeen.  For those who live on the mainland, be thankful that you don’t have this expense before a wheel is turned one revolution on that mainland.

I have decided that the Cairngorms is the place to be as every time I have toured Scotland I seem to have gone around the rim so to speak or have got marooned in the central belt.  This time I will be going into the middle of the Highlands.

The route will take me from the ferry terminal in Aberdeen out on the Deeside Way cycle path, through Banchory, Aboyne and Ballater, where I will turn right and climb up to Tomintoul.  There will be a quick detour to Glenlivet, back towards Tomintoul, the following the side roads where possible to Dalwhinnie via Speybridge, Boat of Garten, Aviemore and Kingussie.

Once at Dalwhinnie, the plan is to ride back to Ballater via Blair Atholl, Kirkmichael and Braemar.  From Ballater I will be retracing the route back to Aberdeen for the ferry.

I have allowed 10 days, which averages out at 26 miles per day or thereabouts, giving me plenty of time to either wander off the route or just skive.  The trip will be done alone so that I can stop and go at will, but more importantly do the speed that I want to do.

Accommodation will be a DD 3x3m tarp, which is big enough to be put up to resemble a tent shape.  I planned to buy a tent, but it seems a bit of a waste as I am going mid to late August, so the weather is unlikely to be horrendous, compared to Shetland.  I will take a water filter with me as I am fussy about my water after poisoning myself once by using a water bladder that had not been cleaned properly.  I also worry about who is doing what upstream.  I will stop at hostels when I really must, avoiding them where possible as my snoring will keep everyone else awake.

The scenery I imagine will be tremendous.  I shall look out on it as I do my cooking.  At this stage I am unsure whether to take my mKettle or a gas cooker.  Chances are that I will be eating cold food in the evening, buying a hot pie and cake if possible at lunchtime.  I fall over quickly in the morning if I don’t eat so I will rely on fruit for breakfast and perhaps some Tesco granola squares.

If anyone has any advice for  me that would help along the way then please chip in, whether it be where to go, I’m not a drinker so distilleries are only interesting the first time, or what to carry, then I would be more than happy to listen.

macspud

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2014, 06:15:46 PM »
£300 wow!
Surely that must be 1st class with all the VIP extras thrown in? It would be cheaper just to fly I'd of thought.

Donerol

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2014, 06:20:05 PM »
It sounds a great trip - I have done a lot of that route myself and the scenery is gorgeous. Just make sure you have some midgie protection as a lot of the areas are forested, and if it isn't windy you could be eaten alive. Mosquito coils are great.

rualexander

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2014, 06:34:52 PM »
I have finally bitten the bullet and paid the best part of £300 for the return ferry for me and my Thorn eXp from Shetland to Aberdeen.  For those who live on the mainland, be thankful that you don’t have this expense before a wheel is turned one revolution on that mainland.


Why complain about that price when you don't have to pay that much?
Looks to me that it costs £40.50 each way, plus any accommodation price, the cheapest of which is £3.50 each way for a reclining seat.
If you are happy camping with a tarp, surely you'd be ok rolling out your mat and sleeping bag on the ferry.

allywatt

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2014, 08:03:46 PM »
Good route.  You can camp behind the hall in Glenlivet in a lovely sheltered spot, with use of toilet, tap and shower.  Lots of potential for wild camps in the area you describe.  You're a hardy man going with just a tarp!  I would never consider going without a tent in Scotland even in August.  Tomintoul has had winds of 64 mph and temps of -3deg C during that month.  All the best.

Donerol

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2014, 10:35:11 PM »
Tomintoul has had winds of 64 mph and temps of -3deg C during that month. 

Yebbut OP is from Shetland so that is probably just a light breeze to him.  :D

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2014, 01:35:22 PM »
£300 wow!
Surely that must be 1st class with all the VIP extras thrown in? It would be cheaper just to fly I'd of thought.

Twin berth outer cabin, free bike transport and me.  Plane would be £200+.  The trouble would be if they would accept the bike in the hold.  We still fly by propellor up here!
« Last Edit: June 30, 2014, 01:42:24 PM by Templogin »

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2014, 01:36:19 PM »
It sounds a great trip - I have done a lot of that route myself and the scenery is gorgeous. Just make sure you have some midgie protection as a lot of the areas are forested, and if it isn't windy you could be eaten alive. Mosquito coils are great.

I shall stock up on Skin so Soft and mosquito coils.

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2014, 01:39:02 PM »
Why complain about that price when you don't have to pay that much?
Looks to me that it costs £40.50 each way, plus any accommodation price, the cheapest of which is £3.50 each way for a reclining seat.
If you are happy camping with a tarp, surely you'd be ok rolling out your mat and sleeping bag on the ferry.

Quite right.  I could do it cheaper, but with the bar open until 2am, those that insist on staying up all night chatting, crisp bag rustlers, door slammers and zombie walkers, I think the best place is in a cabin.  They are also cooler than the rest of the barge!

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2014, 01:40:37 PM »
Good route.  You can camp behind the hall in Glenlivet in a lovely sheltered spot, with use of toilet, tap and shower.  Lots of potential for wild camps in the area you describe.  You're a hardy man going with just a tarp!  I would never consider going without a tent in Scotland even in August.  Tomintoul has had winds of 64 mph and temps of -3deg C during that month.  All the best.

Thanks a lot for heads up on Glenlivet.  You have me worried now with your weather "forecast"!

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2014, 01:43:34 PM »
Yebbut OP is from Shetland so that is probably just a light breeze to him.  :D

No, we just stay indoors when it gets up that high, crying behind the sofa!

Matt2matt2002

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2014, 11:52:56 AM »
Snap. But I am going the other way.
I leave on Friday for my 4 corners of Scotland and 5 Munro tour.
Aberdeen to Lerwick one way ticket and crash on the floor.
Got a good spot last April down at the front of the seating area; next to 2 plug sockets for phone charging.

Shetland newspapers recently full of high jinx of oil workers on ferry. So it could be a fun night!

Up to Unst to hit the furthest North point then back to mainland Scotland 'via  Orkney.

I'll keep folk up to date via a topic for the tour.

Good luck for your own tour.
When do you start?
(The 64mph winds reffered to was a joke.
It was 75mph)

 Matt
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2014, 01:43:09 PM »
Best of luck with the tour Matt.

Yes, the oileys have been getting a bit lairy up here of late, enhanced by fighting water of course.

You are missing some rare biking weather up here, so I hope that it holds up for you, but three days of sun and almost no wind is nothing short of miraculous.  Dress for snow!

75mph?  I shall be wishing you headwinds all the way if you carry on with that sort of talk!

macspud

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2014, 10:19:44 PM »
Twin berth outer cabin, free bike transport and me.  Plane would be £200+.  The trouble would be if they would accept the bike in the hold.  We still fly by propellor up here!

From a quick search I'm getting £133+ for return flight. They don't allow you to book bicycles, they're on a standby basis so that pretty much scuppers that, right enough. Those S&S couplers look like they'd be good value if you plan on many tours off the Isles.
I can see your reasoning going for the twin berth outer cabin, I think I'd go with a Sleeping Pod myself though.
As for using a tarp, I'd want some sort of fly sheet to escape the dreaded midge. at the very least take something to keep them out of your ears, the noise could send me demented when they're Bbbbbuuuuiiiiizzzzzzzzzing next to my eardrum, apart from the bites that can really ruin a nights sleep (compared to the mosquitoes that Dan is having to put up with they are nothing).

Anyway, I hope you have a great tour and look forward to the write-up.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2014, 03:53:01 PM by macspud »

Templogin

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Re: Cairngorms Mini Tour
« Reply #14 on: July 02, 2014, 12:14:29 PM »
I shall get you to book my flights in future.  I can never seem to get them at that price.  Best I have managed was £198.  The worst was a shade over £300.

I drink so much bitter lemon that the midges tend to leave me alone - it's the quinine.  I will carry some ear plugs just in case - thanks a lot.