Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 2 · Cairngorms Loop (part)← Stage 1
Braemar to Nethy Bridge
A hilly 58 km gravel route from Braemar, Aberdeenshire to Nethy Bridge through Tomintoul, with 800 m of climbing. The first 36 km has no café, shop or water. Mostly unpaved: 70% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 30% as paved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 57.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 800 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 48 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 36 km
- Best months
- Jul to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Braemar → Nethy Bridge
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 800 m
- 58 km
Route description
- Braemar
- Tomintoul
- Nethy Bridge
Starting in Braemar at 298 m, the route climbs steadily from km 5.1 with an initial 4.3 km ascent gaining 170 m at an average gradient of 4%, reaching 498 m. A tougher 3.7 km climb follows from km 10.1 gaining 242 m at 6.5% average, up to the highest point on the route at 722 m. From here, a descent of 3.8 km drops 244 m between km 13.9 and 17.7. Past Tomintoul at 37 km, the ride continues with smaller climbs: 3.1 km at 3.1%, then 2.2 km at 5.1%, and finishes after a 2 km ascent averaging 3.6%.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 722 m, 13.8 km in.
Highlights
- Climb to 722 m high point at 13.8 km
- Pass through Tomintoul at 37 km
- Longest descent of 3.8 km starting at 13.9 km
- Peaks near route include Culardoch and Creag a' Chait
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 5.1 km | 4.3 km · 170 m · 4 % · max 8.2 % | 498 m |
| Unnamed climb | 10.1 km | 3.7 km · 242 m · 6.5 % · max 11 % | 722 m |
| Unnamed climb | 39.4 km | 3.1 km · 95 m · 3.1 % · max 6.2 % | 396 m |
| Unnamed climb | 43.8 km | 2.2 km · 113 m · 5.1 % · max 9.3 % | 464 m |
| Unnamed climb | 50.8 km | 2 km · 74 m · 3.6 % · max 6.7 % | 416 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 7.2 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 68% track · 13% main road · 11% path · 7% minor road · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 7.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 5.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A93 (4 km), A939 (3 km)
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 70% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 30% as paved.
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 30% descending · 45% flat
- Steep sections
- 6.4 km over 5% · 2.3 km over 8% · 0.7 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 20.4% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 3.8 km from 13.9 km, dropping 244 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 36 km, from the start. Along the route: 12 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station, 3 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 0 kmBraemar Pharmacy & Newsagents · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 0.1 kmThe Bothy Coffee Shop · café · 40 m off route
- 0.1 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 0.1 kmBraemar Mountain Sports · bike shop · on the route
- 0.5 kmBaraemar Filling Station · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 5.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 36.9 kmThe Highland Market · café · on the route
- 36.9 kmRepair stand · 40 m off route
- 37 kmVillage Store and Post Office · convenience store · 60 m off route
- 37 kmToilets · 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Braemar War Memorial (monument)
- 6.8 km — Invercauld House (castle)
- 20.3 km — Crannog (archaeological site)
- 35.2 km — The Queen Victoria viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 38.8 km — The Still (viewpoint)
Start and access
At the start
- Water
- Top Up Tap (20 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Braemar Mountain Sports (100 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Bothy Coffee Shop (110 m), The Old Bakery (80 m), Farquharsons Bar and Kitchen (60 m)
- Shops
- The Co-operative Food (60 m)
Know before you go
- 36.4 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 0.5 to 36.9 km
- 7.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 5.4 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 70% gravel or unpaved surface
