Kingussie

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.

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.

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.

A 35 mile route, mostly off road, following the Badenoch Way between Kingussie and Aviemore and returning via Loch an Eilean, Feshiebridge and Inshriach Forest.