Gravel Cycling
Cairngorms Big Loop
A two-day gravel epic circling Scotland's highest plateau
Quick facts
- Distance
- 130 km (81 mi)
- Ascent
- 2,600 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Route type
- Loop · Multi-day
- Archetype
- Highland Epic
- Region
- Cairngorms
- Start point
- Aviemore
- Grid ref
- NH 897 120
- Parking
- PH22 1RH
- Midges
- High
- Dogs
- On lead only
Surface breakdown
- Forest track35%
- Estate road30%
- Double-track20%
- Tarmac single-track15%
About this route
The Cairngorms Big Loop is the benchmark multi-day gravel ride in Scotland — a full circumnavigation of the Cairngorm plateau that threads together the ancient Ryvoan Pass, the whisky town of Tomintoul, and the wild floodplains of the upper Spey and Feshie. Day one climbs through Scots pine forest to the impossibly blue lochan at Ryvoan before dropping to Nethy Bridge and grinding south along estate tracks to overnight in Tomintoul, Scotland's highest village at 345m.
Day two crosses back into Strathspey via the Lecht watershed, using a mix of tarmac singletrack and Forestry Commission hardpack to reach Kincraig before the final forest circuit through Inshriach back to Aviemore. The route never crosses 800m, keeping it achievable on a gravel bike, but the cumulative climbing — 2,600m over two days — and the exposure of the Tomintoul plateau in bad weather means this is not a casual ride. The reward is unbroken Highland scenery and a genuine sense of remoteness rarely achievable by bike this close to a main tourist hub.
Highlights
- Ryvoan Pass — one of Scotland's great natural corridors, hemmed by ancient Caledonian pines
- Lochan Uaine, the "Green Lochan" at Ryvoan — vivid copper-algae colour beside the trail
- Tomintoul plateau at dusk — open moorland with big skies all the way to the Ladder Hills
- Upper Feshie valley — native woodland regeneration project, red squirrels likely
- Inshriach forest — osprey habitat, quiet double-track finish into Aviemore
Day-by-day stages
Day 1
Aviemore to Tomintoul via Ryvoan
Aviemore → Tomintoul
75 km
↑ 1500m
Climb through Glenmore Forest to the Ryvoan Pass and Lochan Uaine, descend to Nethy Bridge for lunch, then grind south on estate tracks through Chapeltown to Scotland's highest village.
Overnight: Clockhouse Hotel, Tomintoul; Tomintoul SYHA hostel
Day 2
Tomintoul to Aviemore via Feshiebridge
Tomintoul → Aviemore
55 km
↑ 1100m
Brief A939 crossing to the Lecht watershed, then forest tracks south through Kincraig and the Inshriach Estate to finish on the Badenoch Way path back into Aviemore.
Overnight: N/A — finish in Aviemore
Key waypoints
- 1. Glenmore
- 2. Ryvoan Bothy
- 3. Nethy Bridge
- 4. Tomintoul
- 5. Braemar road junction
- 6. Kincraig
- 7. Inshriach
- 8. Feshiebridge
Cafés & pubs on route
- · Old Bakehouse, Nethy Bridge
- · Clockhouse Restaurant, Tomintoul
- · Druie Café, Aviemore
Named climbs
- Ryvoan Pass (460m)
- Lairig an Laoigh crossing (740m)
- Feshiebridge climb
Notable descents
- Ryvoan descent to Nethy Bridge
- Forest descent to Kincraig
- Inshriach drop
Route notes
Navigation is generally clear via Komoot or OS Maps; the Ryvoan Pass track is a right of way. Day 1 is 75km with 1,500m ascent — aim to leave Aviemore by 08:00. The Tomintoul to Cockbridge section uses the A939 briefly (narrow, fast cars, use the grass verge). Feshiebridge ford can be knee-deep after heavy rain — check levels.
Seasonal conditions
June–September best. July–August brings midges at Ryvoan and Inshriach — start early or use a midge net. October is stunning for colour but Tomintoul plateau above 400m becomes exposed. The Lecht pass road (A939) can snow any month October–May.
Key hazards
- River Feshie ford — impassable in spate (check SEPA gauges)
- Plateau exposure on Tomintoul approach in wind/cloud
- Red deer rut on estate tracks September–October (give stags wide berth)
- Limited phone signal between Ryvoan and Tomintoul (12km)
Water sources on route
- Ryvoan Bothy stream
- River Nethy at Nethy Bridge
- Feshie at Feshiebridge
Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.
OS map sheets
Nearest hill
Cairn Gorm
1244m · cairngorms
View hill
Nearest bothy
Ryvoan Bothy
Walk-in: 3 km · cairngorms
View bothy
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:09
- Sunset
- 21:15
- Civil dawn
- 04:19
- Civil dusk
- 22:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026
Common questions
- Can I do the Cairngorms Big Loop in one day?
- It's possible for very fit riders in long summer daylight — allow 10–12 hours moving time. Most people split at Tomintoul and enjoy the experience more. A one-day attempt needs a 06:00 start from Aviemore.
- Is a gravel bike sufficient or do I need an MTB?
- A gravel bike with 40mm+ tyres handles 90% of the route comfortably. The roughest section is the double-track descent from Ryvoan in wet conditions — 45mm gravel tyres make a significant difference.
- Where can I get water between Ryvoan and Tomintoul?
- Ryvoan Bothy has a reliable stream beside it. After that, the River Nethy at Nethy Bridge (tap at the village hall). Carry at least 1.5 litres from Nethy Bridge as the Tomintoul plateau has no reliable source for 25km.
- Are there bike shops for mechanicals?
- Bothy Bikes in Aviemore is excellent and opens early. There is nothing in Tomintoul — carry two inner tubes, a patch kit, and a chain link. Nearest bike shop on day 2 is Bothy Bikes or Ellis Brigham Aviemore.