Venue: Aboyne

Photos for Glen Taner from Aboyne

Videos for Glen Taner from Aboyne

Comments and ratings for Glen Taner from Aboyne

spacehopper gave this trail 3 stars about 1 year ago

fatsandy gave this trail 3 stars about 2 years ago

spanishfly gave this trail 5 stars about 5 years ago

Glen Taner from Aboyne

Glen Taner from Aboyne

Words by Steve Neep

Me, Blinks & Fly rode Glentanar (wet & hard) this morning (12.11.11). The weather was a bit mixed overhead, but no rain. Saying that, the night before it must have been proper rain. A nice warm up ride along the road, then we hit our 1st big climb of the day. Nice & steady just to break us in for the rest of the day..........but with the rain it had made the trails slightly soft, which will make it Glentanar (harder)!! We pushed on & hit the 1st water crossing. Fly rode through it while me & Blinks floundered. Today we were going to get a mix of riding up/down/through mud/streams/rocks/water......basica
lly everything. We climbed again out into the open towards the river stream crossing. There is a cracking descent down towards it which me & Fly were wheel to wheel on. We both hit the stream crossing Fly went centre, I went left both got wet feet!! A short time later Blinks came steaming down & sailed right through it. (How often does that happen?) A short break with a snack, then headed up the climb that leads to the removed Old Bothy. Nice climb, but testing as the wind had picked up, which didn't help leading up towards the descent.
At the bottom we took a well-deserved break with a mix of fruit loaf, pasties & JB's............usual supplier was changed & Blinks distributed. I got fekin oranges & lemon ones!!! Fly normally gives me Red & black ones. Fully Fuelled up we beasted down the fast descent watching out for stray walkers with their dogs on retractable leads. Safely down we took on another climb towards our next gathering point. This is where the big part of the ride begins. It's a loooong wet slog to the bottom of the main climb, and it's in no way easy. Especially with the amount of climbing we had conquered already. Another stream crossing just right at the end gave our feet an extra soaking. OK, so there was no putting it off we had to climb/push up it. Me & Blinks played second fiddle to Fly. He had an agenda.................NO DABS................and he managed it. A truly fantastic effort considering the conditions. Well done DAWG!! Respect. No stopping at the top, we continued on to seek some shelter. We rode up the next rock strewn climb. It leveled off and continued to wet and still tough going.
We continued to the top after a really arduous descent which was soaking & rocks at every wheel turn, but we kept the pace up and the enjoyment. Again we rode over the top to stay out of the strong wind & started down the really rocky downhill. Before we set off Fly had a wee rear tyre prob, but it never came to anything. We all got down to the river crossing without any problems................the problem was getting across it without drowning. We search for the deepest part and decided to cross. Not only did the feet get wet, but it was nearly waist level!!!! COLD!!! We kind of dried off, lubed our chains & set off to that last c@nt of climb. We made it, though and were treated to a fast ride back into the Glentanar Estate. On our final drop in to the estate we were really motoring, but still keeping an eye out for walkers. On the final turn I hit a sharp corner of a drainage ditch & punctured. Arrrrrgghh!!! Eventually fixed with Collective help & air we headed back along the river & headed for home. Still at bit of ride to get home, but we kept up a good pace on & off road. Warm clothes on & Black Sheep bound, it was a great end to a fantastic days riding.

Photos for Intermediate Fungle

Videos for Intermediate Fungle

Comments and ratings for Intermediate Fungle

Yes, should be East, description has been changed neilneep commented about 4 years ago

Surely meant East where says West! shlupka commented about 4 years ago

scottie448 gave this trail 4 stars about 4 years ago

Not a fan of the Firmounth road climb with its boggy bits and steep, loose bits. Otherise a great route though, and a good way to do the Fungle without the time committment of the entire Mt Keen loop. cat89 gave this trail 4 stars about 5 years ago

Intermediate Fungle

There are several ways to do the Fungle, this is one of the longer routes, altough there is a longer still route.

Starting at the car park in Aboyne, head towards the river and cross the bridge and turn right. At Tag 1 turn left off the road before the bridge and head up Glen Tanar. Take the fireroad at Tag 2 and start the first of many climbs. At the top of the hill at Tag 3 take the fireroad to the right. This takes you out onto the open hillside with good views along Deeside. The trails heads down with a water splash at the bottom before climbing again to Tag 4. Take a left here and after half a mile the trail heads down - this is fast and loose and there are a few ledges to get air off if you are inclined.

At the bottom of the hill take a sharp left at Tag 5 and cross the stream before climbing again to Tag 6. Take the left fork and start to climb up the Firmounth. The trail isn't too steep to begin with but soon gets worse. Take a breather as you clear the trees as the trail gets steeper and looser. There are great views at the top of the hill and a decision needs to be made at Tag7. There is the option to take a short cut by heading east down the hill and joining up with the fireroad you see on the hillside opposite, the trail does get boggy though.

The trail shown here heads south across the plateau before climbing again to Tag 8. The longer route keeps on heading south before joining up with the Fungle road closer to Tarfside. This trail however, heads west, the trail is not especially clear but is close to a fence. A fireroad starts at the top of the hill and there is a fast but loose descent down to Birseside. Pick up the Fungle again at Tag 9 and start heading north on the fireroad that climbs up the hill (last climb of the day, yahoo!).

You will pass a hunting lodge before crossing a stream and at Tag 10 the fun begins. A narrow path to the left is the start of the Fungle singletrack. It is not steep but is quite rocky and can be wet but is a real blast if you keep your speed up. A stream crossing is a challenge to avoid getting wet before the trail brings you back out onto a fireroad. Finally there is one last, fast descent back to Aboyne and the car park

Photos for Fungle-Short Loop

Videos for Fungle-Short Loop

Comments and ratings for Fungle-Short Loop

Managed to miss a turn and ended up going most of the way up Cairnfeg but it added in a couple of extra fun sections so no harm done. Decent climb & fun descents. fatsandy gave this trail 4 stars about 2 years ago

short and sweet but plenty of obstacles which makes it even better good natural trail! yeah snares!!! a bit naughty but at least it wasnt snakes which I first thought you had mentioned! haha upanddooner1 gave this trail 3 stars about 5 years ago

Fungle-Short Loop

This is a good short circuit which takes in the famous Fungle Descent, starting and finishing in Aboyne.

Good short introduction to mountain biking as this short route has it all singletrack climb, some good rewarding views and a classic singletrack descent.

Would be a good route for a summer evening ride.

Starting at the main car park at the centre of Aboyne just of the A93- follow the road south west that goes past the village green and as you go past the Boat Inn you will come to a Junction.
Turn right and head over the Bridge which crosses the River Dee and turn left at the junction. Follow this road for about 200meters or so, then take the road on the right.

Ride along this quiet road for almost 2miles until you see a Forestry track on the right which has a F.C. sign saying Balfour at point 1.

Climb up the forestry track for a bit until you take a sharp left and look out for and old track heading to the right (point 2). This climbs up through the forest and is more like a singletrack climb. Eventually you will emerge out of the plantation at a gate.

Follow the Landrover track straight ahead which passes through some trees, then look out for a vague path heading left (point 3) If you start climbing steeply up Cairnferg you have gone too far!

Follow this path which becomes more prominent, but beware of the gorse and keep an eye out for snares on this path which we say 3 or 4 along the way.

This is a good bit of singletrack which countours round the side of Cairnferg and eventually in gets vague (point4) at this point you will notice a landrover track about 5 meters or so below you, so drop down and continue on the track until it joins the Fungle track.

Follow the track as it descends for almost 1 and a half km.
Look out for the sign and the path for the Fungle singletrack(point5)

Enjoy the descent!!!

Photos for Glen Tanar & Fungle Road

Videos for Glen Tanar & Fungle Road

Comments and ratings for Glen Tanar & Fungle Road

Glen Tanar & Fungle Road

This route climbs up the fungle road as ar as the Guard. It then turns right and continues climbing. You then drop down to ford a small river before descneding a fast track to the main Glen Tanar track. Follow this and then the South Deeside Road (B976) back to the start.

Photos for Kinker loop

Videos for Kinker loop

Comments and ratings for Kinker loop

Kinker loop

Mostly paths lots of Deeside Way.