Cairngorms - Big Mountain MTB Tour

To secure your place on the Cairngorm Big Mountain Magic MTB Tour A 30% per person, booking deposit is required. Deposits are non refundable and the full balance is due 8 weeks before your arrival in Scotland.

Under the current Covid situation we are happy to offer date swaps free of charge and bookings will be refunded in full or again moved to an alternative date if the situation requires. The situation is ever changing and we are being as flexible as possible, if you have any concerns please get in touch

Please see our Covid-19 information here and standard booking T/C's - https://www.mtbbeds.com/coronavirus-mountain-bike-holiday-advice

If you snore, prefer your own privacy or simply want to spread out and would like your own room there is a single occupancy option for your own room. This depends on availability and is limited to a certain number of rooms per property per week. 

If this is of interest then please contact us for prices, your deposit will then be calculated at 30% of your total holiday cost.

The Cairngorm mountain range contains more ground above 1000m than any other massif in Britain. It’s highest peak, Ben Macdui, at 1,309m, is not just the UK’s second highest mountain but it’s also by far the highest you can sensibly ride and an ascent and descent, it's is an absolute must-do. But there’s more to this amazing area than just high mountains. The soaring granite peaks are skirted on all sides by ancient caledonian pine forests, and these conceal a real mixture of awesome trails. The scenery is nothing short of breathtaking and the riding’s even better. Please note that this is totally dependent upon the weather and trail conditions and could alter considerably.

A typical day It’s quite likely that no 2 days on this trip will be the same. But we can try… We’ll have breakfast together at a time agreed the previous evening, and then load the bikes onto the trailer and hop on the bus. Most days, it would be good if we were ready to ride at this stage so there’s no major faffing when we’re dropped off (where parking might be awkward for a bus and trailer). But this won’t always be possible so we can discuss it in the briefing or on the day. Remember to bring a small post-ride bag to leave in the bus with dry clothes and shoes to put on after the ride. In the evenings, it will be ideal if we can meet for a pre-dinner drink and have a chat about the plans for the next day. Armed with the latest weather forecast and a few maps we’ll come up with something that will suit everybody.

Day 1: Rothiemurchus/Inshriac/Lairig Ghru

Distance: Various options

Ascent: Various options

We’ll have a reasonably easy outing on day 1, starting directly from the railway station, or our hotel, and cruising through town into the lovely Rothiemurchus Forest. We’ll enjoy some great, easy-flowing singletrack to start with as well as some incredible scenery. We can then up the ante a little and head west towards Inshriac Forest for some more technical singletrack, and then back east again to round it all off with the bottom section of the amazing Lairig Ghru path - one of the best short trails we’ve ever ridden.

First night in Aviemore. Dinner in La Taverna Italian restaurant

Day 2: Glen Tilt 

Distance: 55km 

Ascent: 1,000m

The classic Glen Tilt circuit is about 55km with 1,000m of ascent. It sounds huge, but it’s actually nothing like as tough as it sounds. The big attraction of this route is the scenery and the remoteness of it all. A lot of the miles are on good estate tracks that almost fly by, although there are a few really good fun techie sections too :) And after an afternoon swim under the Falls of Tarf (is anyone really brave enough?), the last 20km are gently downhill. There’s a bit of a bonus too - we can use the minibus to drop us at the trail head cutting out around 200m of tarmac climbing! 

Second night in Aviemore. Dinner in the Winking Owl pub, Aviemore 

Day 3: Ben Macdui 

Distance: Around 30km 

Ascent: 1000m-1200m 

A few choices of route here but the favourite would be to get dropped off at the ski station on Cairngorm which, at 630m, saves a lot of climbing, and then make the short, very steep pull up onto the plateau, where we cross the 1000m contour line for the first time. We then skirt around the edges of the amazing granite corries before enjoying flowing singletrack down into a high col, 200m short of the summit. It’s a mixed push/ride from here. The descent follows incredibly sandy singletrack for over 10km, dropping close on 1000m in a single hit. We finish a long way from where we started so we then need to hop on the minibus for the drive back to Aviemore. 

Third night in Aviemore. Dinner in the Cairngorm Hotel. 

Day 4: Sgor Gaoith and Glen Feshie 

Distance: 20km 

Ascent: 900m 

This is a shorter day that really consists of a one-up, one-down assault on one of the finest viewpoints anywhere in the UK. It’s steep in places, and most will push at least some of it. But once up, there’s some easy fun riding along the ridgetop to the summit. And a chance to eat lunch at 1118, while gazing out over the rest of the massif. The descent is a corker; sinuous singletrack weaves a sweet line through the heather, crosses a succession of streams and then drops back into Glen Feshie, with barely a water bar in sight - one of the best. It may be possible to squeeze a few more miles in, depending on legs and travel arrangements, but we usually leave time for a celebratory pint before heading our separate ways.

Included in the price is all your travel whilst on the trip with us in Scotland and including collection and drop off from Aviemore train station. If you are planning to self drive there is parking at the accommodation and as we will be based here for the duration of the trip you car will be safe and secure with out need to be moved. 

If you are flying into the UK and travelling to us by public transport there are great rain link from Aviemore to Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

Edinburgh - Aviemore

First jump on the bus or tram in to the city for £5 then your train will depart from Edinburgh Waverley Station

• 12 trains per day
• £17.50 each way
• Average travel time 3h20m
• Fastest travel time 2h45m
• First train 06:48
• Last train 23:19
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/train-times/edinburgh-waverley-to-aviemore

Glasgow - Aviemore

Slightly more tricky, but jump on the bus for £7 and head to the city centre and Glasgow High Street Station

• 12 trains per day - none direct
• £23.10 each way
• Average travel time 3h24m
• Fastest travel time 2h44m
• First train 06:50
• Last train 23:11
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/train-times/high-street-glasgow-to-aviemore

By Rail

Virgin Trains East Coast - www.virgintrainseastcoast.com

ScotRail: www.scotrail.co.uk

Caledonian Sleeper - www.sleeper.scot - A very popular service with a late evening departure from London and and early morning arrival into Aviemore. Depart London 21:15 Arrive Aviemore 07:40 ready for coffee and bikes! £170 ish

• Advised bike - 140mm - 170mm Enduro bike *
• Fitness - 3*
• Skills and Technical ability - 3*
• Riding Style - All Natural / Spirit of Adventure

The riding standard and fitness level required to ride the Cairngorm Magic trip is of an high intermediate/advanced standard. This is not only for your enjoyment and personal safety, but it is also for the group as a whole. The riding can be very technical, long and exposed.

Please read our ability assessor and ask any questions before making your booking.

Follow our Ability Assessor to see if this holiday is for you

There’s no getting around it, 7 mountain bikers will be pretty conspicuous and we’ll have some impact on the landscape and other trail users. As a company, we’re 100% committed to minimising our impact in every way we can. We operate a strict ‘pack it out’ policy for all litter (including banana skins and orange peel), and we try to leave as little trace of our passing as possible. While we’ll enjoy some epic descents and trails, please ride in control and at a speed that reflects your line of sight and abilities. We’ll certainly meet walkers and we want any interactions to be as positive as possible. It’s important to give mountain bikers a good name.

It is essential and a required part of your booking process that you have holiday insurance in place for your trip that covers against medical and personal accident and all the activities including mountain biking you will take part in. 

We have worked with Yellow Jersey Cycle insurance for the past 3 years now and feel they offer the perfect Travel and Bike insurance package. All MTB Beds clients also receive a 10% discount on their Mountain Bike and Travel policies. Your discount code will be in your booking confirmation. 

Yellow Jersey

Kit List - The weather can be very varied in Scotland so we need to be prepared. We’ll have a briefing every evening to give you an up to date weather forecast and plan the next day. We can share some of the kit to keep packs as light as possible, although on very remote days we need to cover all eventualities.

• Hydration pack big enough to carry everything in the list below – suggested size 15L to 20L • 
• Water and snacks – gels, energy bars, flapjacks, jelly babies 
• Lunch (we supply it but you need to carry it!) 
• Dry bag to keep everything dry inside your pack 
• Mini pump for your valve type 
• 2 inner tubes plus spare ones in the minibus (even if you use tubeless) – Scotland is very rocky! 
• Tube patches (preferably self-adhesive) 
• Tubeless repair kit (if you use tubeless) 
• Tyre boot or patch 
• Tyre levers 
• 2 spare spokes that fit your wheels 
• Multi-tool 
• 1 set of spare brake pads 
• Rear gear hanger for your bike - essential 
• Cable ties
• Duct tape (we suggest wrapping 1m around your pump) 
• Power link for your chain type and speed 
• Mobile phone - in a waterproof case or plastic bag 
• Small personal first aid kit
• Insect repellent (we recommend Smidge) 
• Sun screen 
• Any medication you need Recommended clothing 

Recommended Clothing

• Helmet – not full face 
• Knee and elbow pads 
• Cycling shorts and/or waterproof shorts (or trousers)
• Wicking base layers or cycling jerseys 
• Mid layer (fleece or soft shell) 
• Windproof jacket 
• Waterproof jacket 
• Insulated jacket or warm emergency layer 
• Woolly hat or buff 
• Riding glasses 
• Gloves (worth having a spare pair if it’s wet) 
• Waterproof socks 
• Cycling shoes (you must be able to walk in them!) For the minibus 
• Small ‘hand luggage’ bag for post-ride clothes 
• Plastic bags for wet and dirty kit 
• Chamois cream if you use it

Your guides will carry

• Pliers
• Chain splitter
• Emergency spokes
• Spoke key
• Adjustable spanner
• Cassette tool and chain wrench
• Shock pump
• Puncture and tubeless repair kits
• Small bottle of chain lube
• Spare chain links/joining pins
• Assorted nuts and bolts
• Emergency shelter
• Emergency blanket
• Warm insulated jacket
• First aid kit
• Maps
• Compass
• GPS
• Mobile phones
• VHF radio

Absolutely brilliant experience. The accommodation (Ravenscraig guest house) and food was spot on for both quality and the location. Bike security and facilities for wash and repair was excellent. Our guide, Mike Wilkes couldn't have done a better job of informing and including all the riders in our group. The routes ticked all the boxes and the trails and views will be memories to last a lifetime. Bought the ticket, had a great ride.

Gary T.

What an amazing few days riding!!!
This had everything from big mountain ascents, descents, and ridgelines to local hidden trails.
Secret bothys and river crossings all added to the experience.
The accommodation was fantastic and had everything you needed from bike storage, charging and cleaning facilities!! The rooms and particularly the breakfasts were amazing and left you fuelled up for the big rides ahead.
The guides were very knowledgeable, funny and helpful with particular sections of trails.
My eyes and neck also got a very good workout as the scenery is just unreal.
Highly recommended and would certainly be doing this again.

Mark S.

Brilliant holiday in the Cairngorms well planned, quality rides, guides and accommodation. If you've not done the Cairngorms with these guys your missing out. Premier League standard!!!

Greg R.