Cycling in Ballater
2 cycling routes from Ballater, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom, 32 to 86 km, 117 km mapped in all, with up to 986 m of climbing in a day. Hilly riding (12 m of climbing per km on average), mostly gravel routes, 69% paved, 32% of the riding on main roads without a cycle lane. Best months to ride: Jun to Aug.
At a glance
- Routes
- 2
- Lengths
- 32–86 km
- Biggest day
- 986 m
- Terrain
- Hilly
- Surface
- 69% paved
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Difficulty
- Easy to Hard
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Longest gap
- 62 km
- GPX
- Every route
Know before you go
Added up from the recorded routes and OpenStreetMap; nothing estimated.
- Surface
- 69% paved · 31% gravel or unpaved — 37 km of gravel or unpaved road across the routes.
- Roads
- 32% of the riding on main roads without a cycle lane · 9 km on cycle paths or lanes.
- High point
- 912 m on Ballater to Montrose.
- Climbs
- 1 ascent of 500 m or more.
- Bail-outs
- A railway station or ferry within reach on 1 route.
- No services
- 62 km on Ballater to Montrose.
Cycling guide to Ballater
Ballater in Aberdeenshire serves as a starting point for two main cycling routes. The Ballater to Gairnshiel Circular covers 31.7 km, passing through Bridge of Gairn, Crathie, and Easter Balmoral, among others. It offers a mix of paved and unpaved surfaces with 374 m of elevation gain and a notable climb reaching 475 m. Another extensive option is the Ballater to Montrose route, spanning 85.7 km through places like Tullich, Dinnet, Edzell, and Montrose, featuring 986 m of climbing and a high point of 912 m. This longer route includes a substantial climb averaging 10.2% gradient and sections on cycle paths.
These routes provide differing terrain and surface conditions, with no railway stations near the Gairnshiel loop but one near the Montrose route end. Cyclists can choose a loop ride or a challenging point-to-point journey with significant elevation changes and a lengthy stretch without services. The mix of paved and gravel roads adds variety to the cycling experience starting from Ballater.
More on terrain
Terrain
The terrain around Ballater includes moderate to steep climbs with the biggest climb on the Montrose route reaching 592 m gain over 5.8 km at an average of 10.2% gradient and a maximum of 26%. The Gairnshiel loop has a smaller climb of 126 m over 2.6 km at 4.8% average gradient. Elevations range from approximately 0 to 912 m.