Cairngorms Loop (part)
This section of the Cairngorms Loop runs from Bridge of Tilt to Nethy Bridge over 2 stages: 171 km and 1,673 m of climbing in the UK. Every stage has a map, elevation profile, road facts and a GPX file.
Route at a glance
- Distance
- 171 km
- Climbing
- 1,673 m
- Stages
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Average stage
- 85 km
- Longest stage
- 113.2 km
- Most climbing
- 873 m
- Riding time
- ~14 h
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- GPX
- Every stage + whole tour
- Start
- Bridge of Tilt
- Finish
- Nethy Bridge
Full route map
Itinerary: 2 stages
Average 85 km and 837 m a stage. Longest day: stage 1 (113.2 km). Most climbing: stage 1 (873 m). Shortest: stage 2 (57.5 km).
| Stage | Route | Country | Distance | Climbing | Surface | Difficulty | Time | GPX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridge of Tilt to Braemar | UK | 113.2 km | 873 m | Mostly unpaved | Hard | 9 h 26 min | GPX |
| 2 | Braemar to Nethy Bridge | UK | 57.5 km | 800 m | Mostly unpaved | Moderate | 4 h 48 min | GPX |
How difficult is this tour?
171 km and 1,673 m of climbing over 2 stages: 85 km and 837 m a stage on average.
The longest day is stage 1, Bridge of Tilt to Braemar (113.2 km); the most climbing is on stage 1, Bridge of Tilt to Braemar (873 m); the shortest is stage 2, Braemar to Nethy Bridge (57.5 km).
At 85 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 70–110 km.
Riders can go faster or slower than the documented itinerary: the same 171 km is 3 riding days at 60 km a day, 3 riding days at 80 km a day and 2 riding days at 100 km a day.
Surface and traffic
Mostly unpaved: 64% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 36% as paved.
0 km (0%) is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane; 11 km (6%) is on main roads without one, and 33 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more.
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 67 km, on stage 1.
Signed routes this tour follows
- Cairngorms Loop (part) - stages 1, 2
Best time to ride
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, Jun to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.
Logistics
- 1 of 2 stage finishes have a hotel, guesthouse or campsite mapped within a short ride of the finish.
- The longest stretch without a café, shop or water on any stage is 67 km, on stage 1.
What it was actually like to ride
About this tour
The Cairngorms Loop (part) is a two-stage cycling route of 171 km total distance, combining rolling and moderately mountainous terrain in the Scottish Highlands. It begins at Bridge of Tilt and finishes at Nethy Bridge, passing through Braemar on the way.
Stage 1 runs from Bridge of Tilt to Braemar over 113.2 km with 873 m of elevation gain. The route climbs several short hills, including one at 15.4 km that rises 119 m over 2.9 km at an average gradient of 4.1% (max 7.1%), and others at 24.6 km, 51.1 km, 77.9 km, and 81.6 km with smaller gains. The highest point on this stage reaches 563 m. Along the way, it passes through multiple small places including Old Bridge of Tilt, Old Blair, Calvine, and Inverey. There are nine water or food stops distributed through this stage.
Stage 2 covers 57.5 km from Braemar to Nethy Bridge, climbing 800 m in total. It features steeper climbs early on, including a 4.3 km ascent starting at 5.1 km which climbs 170 m at 4.0% average gradient (max 8.2%), and a longer 3.7 km climb starting at 10.1 km gaining 242 m at an average of 6.5%, max 11%. The highest elevation reached on the stage is 722 m. The route also climbs moderately around 39.4 km and 43.8 km. Ten water or food stops are available on this stage. It passes through Tomintoul before finishing at Nethy Bridge.
No temperature data or specific seasonal information is provided. The route remains fully within Great Britain and includes no cross-border transitions. The road surface or traffic conditions are not specified. The longest day is stage 1 at 113.2 km; stage 2 is shorter at 57.5 km. The climb is distributed fairly evenly between the two stages, with stage 2 featuring steeper sections.
Photos from the road
Stage 1 · Bridge of Tilt to Braemar 
Stage 2 · Braemar to Nethy Bridge
Questions riders ask
How far is Bridge of Tilt to Nethy Bridge by bike?
171 km along this route, in 2 stages averaging 85 km.
How long does it take to cycle from Bridge of Tilt to Nethy Bridge?
Moving time is estimated at about 14 hours. At 60 km a day it is 3 days, 80 km a day it is 3 days and 100 km a day it is 2 days.
How much climbing is involved?
1,673 m in total. The most climbing in a day is 873 m on stage 1, Bridge of Tilt to Braemar.
How difficult is the route?
At 85 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 70–110 km. The longest day is 113.2 km.
Is it suitable for a road bike?
36% of the route is mapped as paved and 64% as gravel or unpaved (1% has no surface data). Based on that: gravel or mountain bike.
Is there a GPX file?
Yes. Every stage has its own GPX download, and the whole tour is available as one GPX file with a track per stage.
What is the best time of year?
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, Jun to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.