Venue: Kingussie

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Tour of Inshriach 1

Start at the Memorial Gardens in Kingussie. Take the B970 towards Insh passing Ruthven Barracks. At tag1 Tromie Bridge turn right onto a dirt road. After app.200yds. turn sharp left uphill to Drumguish. Turn right at the tarmac road and follow this road/track through 2 gates into the forest. Follow the forest road uphill and when the gradient flattens out look out for a track crossing the road at tag2. Turn left onto this twin track which soon becomes singletrack and can be boggy in a couple of places after rain. At tag3 a sharp right turn takes you uphill. Follow this track which can be be quite tough going but is rideable all the way if you have the legs. It eventually arrives at a little used forest road (tag4). Turn left downhill and just before the road surface changes look out for the start of singletrack on the left (tag5). This is easy to miss so look carefully. Follow this downhill, technical at first, fast and flowing lower down (this section of ST is known locally as The Tunnel). Cross the forest road and follow the ST to the end (tag6). Through the gate turn right. This is part of the Badenoch Way. Look out for a sharp right turn at tag7. Follow this ST up to the forest road and turn left. After a short distance turn right (tag8) on another FR. Go uphill for a few hundred yards and turn left onto ST (tag9) signed Badenoch Way. Follow this to the end and turn right (tag10). Follow this solid track around and uphill to Farrletter Crag with great views. The first viewpoint at a large boulder overlooks Loch Insh. Further round a second viewpoint overlooks Uath Lochans. Take care on this section as you are close to the cliff edge. This area is also popular with walkers. After admiring the views carry on and turn left at the junction (tag11). Go downhill for a short distance and take the first track on the right (tag12). Follow this track to the end but take it easy as this section is used by walkers and there are a few blind bends. At the end (tag13) turn right on the FR. Follow this (pass the first FR on the left) and take the second FR on the left (tag14). Follow this all the way to the top of Creag Dhubh (445m.) You will recognise the upper part of this road as you came down it earlier (tags4 to 5). At the summit (tag15) follow the ST taking the right hand fork. When you reach the fence turn right (this ST is known locally as The Rollercoaster). Follow this track crossing the ST that you came up earlier . Just when you think it's petering out it takes a sharp left downhill. At the bottom turn right and continue over the FR arriving eventually at Inveruglas (tag16). Turn left here onto The Badenoch Way. This takes you back to Drumguish where you rejoin your outward route back to Kingussie.

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Inshriach Circular

This route is mainly on forest roads and tracks with just a short section of easy singletrack.
Start at the memorial gardens in Kingussie. Take the road towards Insh passing Ruthven Barracks. At Tromie Bridge (1) turn right onto a dirt road. After 200 yds. turn sharp left (2) uphill to Drumguish. At the junction carry straight on. The road becomes a track after a few hundred yards. This is a section of The Badenoch Way. Follow this for a while passing the small hamlet of Inveruglas and a few gates. Expect some mud on this section after rain. When the track reaches the minor road B970 turn right (3) past the forest gate. After 100 yds. turn left (4) on another forest road (Badenoch Way). Go up this road for a few hundred yards and look out for a small track on the left (5). Follow this singletrack to the end. When the track splits take either fork to the T junction (6). Turn left and at the next junction (7) turn right. When the path forks take the right hand track (8) and follow this down to join another forest road. Keep on this road to Uath Lochans. This is a good spot for a rest. At the Lochans turn right (9). Follow the track uphill and take the second path on the left (10). Follow this to the end and turn right on the forest road (11). After a few hundred yards turn left on another forest road (12). At the end of this road turn right at the T junction (13). Follow this track for a while as it eventually climbs back into the forest. Stay on this track when it exits the forest through a high gate and continue to Drumguish. Turn left here (14) and return to Kingussie by outward route.

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Loch Gynack circular 1

This route follows tarmac, landrover track and cycle path. Start at the Memorial Gardens. Head up the road opposite (next to the Duke of Gordon Hotel) towards the Golf Course. After passing St. Vincents Hospital and before you get to the Golf Course car park cross the bridge on the right (1) and turn left on the tarmac road. Follow this past the golf course to the end (2). Cross the bridge and turn right after the large building. Go up the track, pass through the gate and turn left (3). Follow this track passing Loch Gynack and a fenced area which has recently been cleared of trees. Eventually you will reach a gate on the left (4). Turn left through this gate and carry straight on at the next gate. After passing some sheep pens you will reach the ruined settlement of Ballachroan. Follow the track right and then left down to the main road (5). Cross the road with care and turn left on the cycle path back to Kingussie.

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South Inshriach Tour

This route includes a nice singletrack climb and two singletrack descents. Start at the memorial Gardens in Kingussie. Take the road towards Insh passing Ruthven Barracks. At Tromie Bridge turn right on a dirt road (1). After 200 yds. turn sharp left (2) uphill to Drumguish. Turn right at the junction and follow this road/track through two gates into the forest. Stay on this forest road as it climbs uphill. When the gradient flattens out look out for a track crossing the road (3). Turn left on this twintrack which soon becomes singletrack. Muddy in a couple of places. Look out for a sharp turn on the right (4) and follow this uphill. This singletrack climb is rideable all the way. It eventually ends at a forest track (5). Turn right here and arrive quite soon at the summit of Creag Dhubh (6). From the summit follow the singletrack taking the right fork. At the fence corner take the left hand track and follow this downhill. Just after you enter the trees the track splits. Turn right going steeply downhill. This section is known locally as The Green Dream. At the end of this track turn left on the forest road (7). Follow this and take the next turning on the left on another forest road (8). Carry on to the end of this road and turn left (9). A little further on where the road splits take the left road (10). This track climbs back up to Creag Dhubh. A few hundred yards before the summit on the right you will see the end of the singletrack climb that you came up earlier. Turn onto this and follow it back down . At the bottom turn right and continue on. Look out for a very narrow track through heather on your left (11). Take this and follow it downhill to the forest road.(12). Turn left and continue to the forest crossroads. Turn right here and follow your outward route back to Drumguish and Kingussie.

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Loch an Eilean via Badeno

This route is not technically difficult but at 35 miles 28 of which are off road you need to be reasonably fit. It follows the Badenoch Way between Kingussie and Aviemore and returns via Loch an Eilean, Feshiebridge and Inshriach Forest.
Start at the gardens in Kingussie and take the road towards Insh passing Ruthven Barracks. At Tromie Bridge turn right and after 200 yds. take a sharp left uphill to Drumguish. At the crossroads carry straight on. The road soon becomes a track (Badenoch Way) and eventually reaches the road( B970) passing the hamlet of Inveruglas on the way.
At the road turn right on to a Forest Road and after 100 yds. turn left. Go uphill for a few hundred yds. and look out for a Singletrack path on the left. Take this and follow it to the end. Turn left and follow this track when it bends to the right. A little further on the Badenoch Way goes left. You can choose to take this down to the road and follow the road round to Kincraig OR carry on and follow the track down to join a forest road. Follow this for a few hundred yds. and look out for Singletrack on the left (easy to miss). Take this track through the trees and pass Torbreck House up to the road at a ruined cottage. Cross the road on to some singletrack which leads on to Forest Road. Follow this road for a while passing the first way post onthe right and at the second waypost turn right on to a path which leads down to the road. Cross the road to the car park and keep left towards the disabled access. Go past the turning to Mill Cottage and follow this track for a while eventually coming to some farm buildings on your left. Go straight on through a gate and then left up to the road. Turn right and follow the road past Loch Insh and over the bridge to Kincraig. The Village stores here are well stocked with food and drink. Turn right here and this takes you back on to the Badenoch Way. This has been upgraded to a hardcore surface and you follow it all the way to Aviemore. (Note: at the time of writing, May 2015, a few short sections are not quite finished and you may need to lift your bike over a few fences). As you near Aviemore follow the track to the end. It goes under the railway and leads back up to the road. Cross the road onto the cycle path and continue to Aviemore. At the roundabout turn right towards Cairngorm. After 1/2 mile at Inverduie turn right towards Feshiebridge and after 100 yds. turn left. You will see a gate leading into the forest. Go through the gate and follow the main track (the right hand one) and follow to the end passing the picturesque Lochan Mor. At the road turn left to Loch an Eilean. Go through the car park to the shores of the loch. Pause here to appreciate it's beauty and take photos. You can go either way around the loch but I recommend going right as this gives an excellent view of the island with it's ruined castle. Carry on until you reach a wooden footbridge. Just after the bridge turn right on to singletrack and follow this past Loch Gamhna. This section of trail is quite rough in places. Shortly after crossing a stream you will see Drakes Bothy on your left. After the bothy the path is smoother. Follow it to the end and turn left on the forest road. Carry on passing turnings on both sides until you come to a turning on the left signposted for Feshiebridge. Turn left here and follow to the end. EITHER turn right and follow forest road to the car park OR carry on to some singletrack. Follow this and take a right turn after a few hundred yds. and follow to car park. Leave the car park, cross the road and carry on down to Feshiebridge. Over the bridge turn left and follow the track with the river on your left passing through a couple of gates. After the second gate take the left path down towards the river. Follow this track which soon goes alongside the river Feshie eventually reaching a few houses. Follow the Right of Way signs up to the road. At the road go left and carry on for about 1 mile then take the right fork on to a forest road. Stay on this track which after a while emerges onto open moorland before climbing back up into the forest. The gradient soon flattens out and then descends eventually arriving at a high forest gate. Go through the gate and follow the track back to Drumguish. Turn left here rejoining your outward route back to Kingussie.

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Tom Baraidh Woods Kinguss

The woods are situated next to the golf course on the north side of Kingussie.
Start from Ardvonie car park (behind the Duke of Gordon Hotel). Leave the car park and turn left. Follow the road up hill. Just after St. Vincents Hospital turn right across the footbridge over the Gynack Burn. Turn left on the tarmac road and follow this with the woods on the right and the river on the left. Turn right at the entrance to the woods. Paths go to right and left and the road carries on to a water treatment reservoir at the top of the hill. Choose any way and explore the network of paths in the woods.

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Inshriach Singletrack 2

Start at the gardens in Kingussie. Take the road towards Insh passing Ruthven Barracks. At Tromie Bridge turn right on the estate road and after 200 yds. turn sharp left uphill to Drumguish. At the top (crossroads) turn right and follow this road/track through a gate towards the forest. Pass through another high gate into the trees and follow this forest road as it climbs uphill past the first crossroads. When the gradient flattens out look out for a track crossing the road (1). Turn left onto this doubletrack which soon becomes singletrack and can be boggy in places. Look out for a sharp turn on the right (2) and follow this as it climbs gently up hill. This singletrack climb is ridable all the way and eventually emerges on an old forest road (3). Turn right and follow for a short distance to the top of Creag Dhubh where there is an old Trig. point (4). Follow the singletrack from the top and take the left hand fork. A little further on take another left turn. This trail is known locally as the Ridge Line and is the longest section of singletrack in Inshriach. The trail soon emerges from the trees and winds it's way across a clear felled area towards a lone standing dead tree. This part of the trail has only recently been opened up and is still being improved. It is all perfectly ridable though. From the dead tree the trail descends towards the tree line and enters the forest again. It then twists and turns it's way through the trees for some distance on narrow trails and eventually emerges onto a more established track (5). Turn right here and after just 20 yds. turn left onto more singletrack. This short section is known locally as Starwars. It emerges on a forest road. Turn right here and after about 50 yds. turn left (6). Follow this bearing left onto singletrack through the trees. After it rejoins the doubletrack carry on for approx. 300 yds. and watch carefully for singletrack on the left (7). Take this and follow it to the end at a forest road. Turn right and after 100 yds. turn left onto a footpath (8). At the end of this path turn left on a wider track. Go uphill round a couple of bends and turn right (9) uphill on a narrow path. This takes you over Farrletter Crag with great views over Uath Lochans and Glen Feshie and further on at a large boulder views over Strathspey. From the boulder carry on and go downhill passing a turning on the left. About 20 yds. past this turning look carefully for some singletrack on the left (10)...easily missed as the start is not obvious. Follow this track which soon becomes quite distinct and easy to follow through the trees. It ends on the path that you came up earlier (between 8 and 9). Turn right on this path and at the end turn right again on the forest road. Follow this road passing the first turning on the left and after a while the road splits (11). Take the left hand road and climb gradually until the road surface changes just after a turning point. A short distance beyond this as the track becomes steeper look out for singletrack on the right (12). Follow this as it descends through the trees..rooty and twisting at first, fast and flowing lower down. This trail is known locally as The Tunnel. When you reach the forest road go straight across onto more singletrack. At the end of this track (13) go through the gate and turn left.This is the Badenoch Way. Follow it back to Drumguish where you rejoin the outward route back to Kingussie.

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Feshie and Farrletter

A mix of forest road and easy/moderate singletrack. Start at the Uath Lochans car park on the west side of Glen Feshie. Turn left out of the car park and just after the bend turn right onto a forest road. Follow for about 800 yds. and look out for a singletrack path on the right going through the trees (easy to miss). Turn on to this track and continue past a couple of houses onto a vehicle track. At the ruined cottage cross the road with care onto more singletrack. When this joins a forest road carry straight on. After about 1000 yds. look out for a waymark post on the right. Turn very sharp right onto narrow singletrack. Follow this down to a rough vehicle track. Turn right through the gate and take the left fork downhill. Continue along this track fording a small stream and emerging next to the River Feshie. Follow the track next to the river. Go through a gate and carry on. Follow the Scottish Rights of Way sign past the end of a well maintained lawn up to an access road. Turn right up the access road and then left on the tarmac road. After about 150 yds. turn right onto a forest road. Follow this for nearly a mile (passing a beautiful lochan on the right). Take the next forest road on the left and follow this all the way to the end (approx.1 mile). Turn right onto the estate track and follow this past the trees onto open moorland and then uphill back into the forest. When the gradient flattens out look out for twintrack crossing the road. Turn right onto this track which soon becomes singletrack and follow it for about a mile as far as the next forest road. Turn right and follow this road almost to the end. About 100 yds. before the end of the road turn right uphill on another forest road. After about 150 yds. look out for singletrack on the left (signpost Badenoch Way). Turn left onto this and follow it to the end taking the right hand fork when the path splits. At the end turn right on a good path and follow this turning to the left and then uphill to Farrletter Crag. Carry on to a couple of good viewpoints on a good path. At the end of the path turn left and go steeply downhill back to the car park. Please be aware that the paths around Farrletter Crag and Uath Lochans are popular with walkers and accasionally horse riders.

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Tunnel and Ridgeline

After the initial forest road climb most of this route is on singletrack. Start at the Uath Lochans car park on the west side of Glen Feshie. Turn left out of the car park and follow the forest road (lochans on the left). Go past the first waymarked post on the left and just after the trail starts to climb uphill take the next trail on the left (waymark post) and follow it to the end. Turn right on the forest road and continue on this passing the first turning on the left. Carry on and when the road splits take the left road which starts to climb gently uphill. Just after a turning area the road steepens and becomes more overgrown. After about 50 yards look out for a singletrack trail going downhill to the right and take this. This trail is known locally as The Tunnel. The upper section twists and turns through the trees and the lower section is fast and flowing. When you reach the forest road turn left. After approx. 500 yards you will see a cairn and singletrack to left and right. Turn left onto this track and continue as it climbs gently through the trees. Eventually the track splits next to a concrete water trough. Take the left fork and follow this all the way uphill at a fairly gentle gradient until it joins the forest road. Turn right and follow for a few hundred yards to the top of Creag Dhubh. The singletrack ahead is muddy at first but soon improves. After a few yards take the left fork. Follow this for about 100 yards and the take the track going off to the left through the trees. The track soon emerges onto an open clearfelled area. The trail winds it's way across this area (with great views) towards a solitary dead tree. This route is known locally as the Ridgeline. After the tree the trail heads down back into the forest twisting it's way through the trees for some distance. At the end you briefly join a more substantial track. Turn right and almost immediately turn left onto another narrow singletrack. This one is relatively short and is known locally as Starwars. Off camber tree roots are a feature of this section. At the forest road turn right and after about 30 yards turn left onto a narrow grassy track. Follow this taking a left fork through the trees. When it emerges onto twintrack follow for about 200 yards and watch carefully for singletrack on the left. Follow this to the end and turn right on the forest road. After about 100 yards turn left at the waymark post and reverse your outward route back to the car park.

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Wade Road

Start at Ardvonie Car Park (behind Duke of Gordon Hotel). Turn right out of car park and take the B970 towards Insh. At the left hand bend just before Ruthven Barracks take the very minor road on the right. Follow this under the A9 to the end where a gate gives access to the A9. Go through the gate and turn right on the grass verge for 100 yards. Cross the A9 with care (very busy road) and go through the gate opposite (signposted Wade Road to Etteridge). Turn right and almost immediately bear left on this track. Follow the track (ignoring all right and left turns) all the way to Phones Lodge. At the lodge turn right on the tarmac road and follow this down to the A9. Either cross the A9 (with care) or use a sheep underpass in the field just down to the right. Turn right onto the cycle path and follow this onto the road through Newtonmore. Go through the village and join the cycle path back to Kingussie. Alternatively (and preferable) turn around at Phones Lodge and reverse your route back to Kingussie.

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Carn an Fhreiceadain

Although this route is mostly on landrover tracks it is very steep and loose in places. Good brakes are essential. Start at the Ardvonie Car Park behind the Duke of Gordon Hotel. Turn left out of the car park and follow the road uphill. Just before the end of the road turn right over the footbridge and then left on the tarmac road. Follow this to the end with the river on your left passing the golf course. At the end of the tarmac road just before the bridge turn right onto landrover track. Stay on this track all the way to the top of the hill. The climb is not too hard at first but just after the locked gamekeepers bothy there is a very steep section where you will need to push. This soon passes and the gradient eases as you reach the first summit cairn of Beinn Bhreac at 843 metres. Here the track turns west to Carn an Fhreiceadain (pronounced Carn Raykachin) at 878 metres. The track carries on and soon goes steeply downhill on a loose surface...take care. After crossing the bridge over the river the track becomes much better and gives a nice fast descent down to a forest gate. Turn right just before the gate and continue past Loch Gynack and a fenced forest plantation area on your left. After a while you will see a gate on your left. Go through this and continue to another gate. Pass through it and turn left. When this track splits take the right hand track. This track follows a ridge and eventually descends to Pitmain Farm. At the end turn right and go down to the main road. Cross the road with care and turn left on the cycle track. Follow this back to Kingussie.

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Inshriachs best three

This route icludes a nice singletrack climb and 3 of the best descents in Inshriach. I've started the route in Drumguish. If you're biking from Kingussie add 3 miles each way and about 30 minutes. If you're taking a vehicle there is a small (unofficial) parking area about 100 yards up the Drumguish road on the left. Please make sure you don't block the driveway.
From the parking area carry straight on through Drumguish on to a rough track and pass through a couple of gates into the forest. Carry straight on climbing gradually uphill on the forest road. After 1.9 miles (1) turn left on twintrack which soon becomes singletrack. After 700 yards take a sharp right turn uphill (2) next to a concrete water trough. Follow this nice singletrack climb to the end. At the forest road/track turn right and follow it round to the top of Creag Dhubh (trig point pillar) (3).
RIDGELINE/STARWARS
From the top carry on to a muddy path and take the left fork. The trail soon improves. After about 100 yards take the left hand trail. This soon emerges from the trees and winds its way across a clear felled area with good panoramic views. The trail arrives at a large solitary dead tree. From here follow the trail right and then left downhill and back into the forest. It now winds its way through the trees for some distance eventually emerging onto a more substantial trail. Go right and almost immediately left (4) onto another singletrack (Starwars). This is a fairly short section and features off camber tree routes. At the forest road turn left and at the end turn left again. At the next junction (5) take the left hand road and follow this uphill for 0.6 mile. Look out for a change in the road surface (becomes more overgrown). About 30 yards after the road surface changes keep an eye out for singletrack on the right (6)...easy to miss.
THE TUNNEL
Follow this track downhill...a few muddy and technical sections at first but fast and flowing lower down. At the forest road (7) turn left and after 600 yards look out for singletrack to right and left (8). Take the left one. Follow this for 1300 yards eventually arriving at the singletrack climb (9) that you did earlier. Follow this as before to the top of Creag Dhubh (10).
THE GREEN DREAM
From here carry on and this time take the right hand fork. After 200 yards the trail splits again (11). Take the left fork and follow it downhill with clear felled area to your left. Lots of roots and bumps to start with. Just after you enter the forest take the sharp right turn downhill. From here it is steep and fast all the way to the end. At the forest road turn right and follow this all the way eventually rejoining your outward route (1) back to Drumguish.