Ride 26: Mountain Bikes and Bothy Nights

Ride Information

START: Pitlochry station, Station Road PH16 5AN, 56.702539, -3.735359

FINISH: Blair Atholl station, PH18 5SL 56.765464, -3.849634

DISTANCE: 31.8 miles/51.1km

ASCENT: 4196ft/1279m

OFF-ROAD: 85%

TERRAIN: Fire roads, forest trails, faint peat tracks and stony singletrack. There are long exposed climbs with brief respite in Baluain Wood and along the valley of the River Garry.

NAVIGATION: North of Blair Atholl is difficult. The trail beyond the bothy on day two is demanding, and difficult to follow. Cross the stream as close to the bothy as possible; climb north-west out of the Allt Scheicheachan valley and you should soon pick up the trail. Cross the Bruar River at Bruar Lodge. The later road sections are along NCN Route 7 so are well signposted, but OS Landrangers 43 and 52 could be useful companions.

 

Eat & Drink

Bothy Bar, Blair Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl, Perthshire PH18 5SG, 01796 481205, www.athollarmshotel.co.uk
Mackenzie’s Coffee House, 115 Atholl Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AG, 01796 470555, www.mackenziesofpitlochry.co.uk

Sleep

The Struan Inn, Calvine, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH18 5UB, 01796 483714, www.thestruan-inn.co.uk
Allt Scheicheachan bothy, 56.839702, -3.910970

Provisions

Atholl Grocery Stores, The Square, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH18 5TQ, 01796 481209
Escape Route, 3 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5BX, 01796 473859, www.escape-route.co.uk