hills west of Linn of Dee

Quoted message said:

Mar lodge estate are discouraging the cycle in and there are signs and

maps

Quoted message said:

to that effect on the noticeboard at Linn of Dee.

Just out of interest, what reason are they giving for this?

Dave

In article <[email hidden]>, Dave
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Just out of interest, what reason are they giving for this?

According to the notices, it is to foster the ethos and tradition of the
long walk in.

Fair enough, but if there is no stated or apparent intention to "green"
such tracks, and they are still used by estate vehicles then, IMO, they
are fair game for bikes.

When the track quality is too poor for vehicles, ditch the bike.
--

Russ Clare

"Adam Lea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been looking at an OS map of the area between the A9 and the A93 and
the huge area of roadless wilderness has inspired me to think about going
up
there to explore it. I was wondering, does anyone have any knowledge/
experience of this area. I was thinking of staying in Braemar and possibly
hiring a mountain bike. Is it posssible to cycle as far as Geldie lodge?
Can
anyone comment on the views from An Sgarsoch / Carn Ealar?

Geldie lodge is (was?) reachable by Mountain Bike, beyond that, the track is
still OK and you might manage more depending upon your steed and riding
style. It's not unknown for the adventurous to cycle through from Linn of
Dee to Glen Feshie.

The views are excellent. The wide gap over the Geldie Burn allows one to
appreciate the Cairngorms without them be too close to take them in or too
distant too appreciate.

I know that some of the tracks in the area are being "restored" to footpath
(from landrover track). Some local knowledge (e.g. bike hire shop) might be
advantatgeous. However, don't be discouraged by the signs indicating that
bikes are not wanted. Go where you want!

druidh

"Chris Street" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Adam Lea said:

I've been looking at an OS map of the area between the A9 and the A93

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the huge area of roadless wilderness has inspired me to think about

going up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

there to explore it. I was wondering, does anyone have any knowledge/
experience of this area. I was thinking of staying in Braemar and

possibly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hiring a mountain bike. Is it posssible to cycle as far as Geldie lodge?

Can

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

anyone comment on the views from An Sgarsoch / Carn Ealar?

Mar lodge estate are discouraging the cycle in and there are signs and

maps

Quoted message said:

to that effect on the noticeboard at Linn of Dee.

It's a beautiful part of the world but very unforgiving. If you want to
wildcamp take the planet out my email address to get in touch and I'll

send

Quoted message said:

you some camping grid refs for the Linn of Dee area.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Adam

Hmmm. It's a very long day doing An Sgarsoch and Carn Ealar without a bike.
It's around a 40km round trip I think.

When you say unforgiving I assume you mean that it is easy to get lost if
the mist comes down. The only parts of the area I've seen are from +arn a
Gheoidh, and it does look very featureless. I do have a GPS and a compass,
so I don't think getting lost would be too much of a problem. Exposure may
be more of a worry.

Adam

Quoted message said:

Mar lodge estate are discouraging the cycle in and there are signs and maps
to that effect on the noticeboard at Linn of Dee.

No one took any notice, and they have given up.

Reason was due to a person who financed the purchase of the estate,
and objected to bikes.

If you go in that way - beware river crossings.

The hill country is largely blanket bog, but reasonably easy going

Richard Webb

[email hidden] (RJ Webb) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Mar lodge estate are discouraging the cycle in and there are signs and
maps to that effect on the noticeboard at Linn of Dee.

No one took any notice, and they have given up.

Reason was due to a person who financed the purchase of the estate,
and objected to bikes.

I thought it was NTS property.

Quoted message said:

If you go in that way - beware river crossings.

The hill country is largely blanket bog, but reasonably easy going

Yes, very pleasant.

--
Adrian

Quoted message said:

I thought it was NTS property.

Does not matter.. Ignore them like you would a private landowner that
makes such a ridiculous request....

The NTS were merely passing on the wishes of an old lady who had given
them a few million quid.

Richard Webb

[email hidden] (RJ Webb) wrote in news:41c08b01.6724281
@usenet.plus.net:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I thought it was NTS property.

Does not matter.. Ignore them like you would a private landowner that
makes such a ridiculous request....

The NTS were merely passing on the wishes of an old lady who had given
them a few million quid.

Richard Webb

I could see how that would sway their judgement!

--
Adrian

"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I thought it was NTS property.

Does not matter.. Ignore them like you would a private landowner that
makes such a ridiculous request....

The NTS were merely passing on the wishes of an old lady who had given
them a few million quid.

Richard Webb

Maybe they are worried about track erosion.

Other than that I can't think of any other reason they would discourage
cycling. Without a bike it's a gruelling 40km round trip to bag the two
munros in the centre of that wilderness.

Adam

Quoted message said:

Maybe they are worried about track erosion.

I expect they are... Similarly the council are worried about road
erosion by bikes going up to Linn of Dee from Braemar...

We are talking roads here...

I think they have relented , on the death of their benefactor.

As I said, nobody took any notice anyway. Ditto Glen Dessary.

Richard Webb

In article <[email hidden]>, Chris Street
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

AKAIF they still allow bikes up as far as they take vehicles - after that
they want you to stop.

AFAICR, the notices were at the roadside. Later, perhaps the demand was
relaxed as you describe, or may be my memory is at fault - I've not been
down that way for a few years.

--

Russ Clare

"Chris Street" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Russ Clare said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Dave
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Just out of interest, what reason are they giving for this?

According to the notices, it is to foster the ethos and tradition of the
long walk in.

If you want to do Carn Ealar and An Sgarsoch isn't that a little too far to
walk in one day?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fair enough, but if there is no stated or apparent intention to "green"
such tracks, and they are still used by estate vehicles then, IMO, they
are fair game for bikes.

AKAIF they still allow bikes up as far as they take vehicles - after that
they want you to stop.

How far up is that?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When the track quality is too poor for vehicles, ditch the bike.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

According to the notices, it is to foster the ethos and tradition of the
long walk in.

Ahhh Bless.. Shame about the tradition of rough stuff cycling.

If they want to foster tradition, get Derry back up and running and
stick a keeper back in Luibeg.

Still, IIRC this is now a won battle.

Richard Webb

druidh said:

Geldie lodge is (was?) reachable by Mountain Bike

Not just mountain bike, I've been there on my Dawes tourer.

--
York Alpine Club - http://www.yorkalpineclub.org.uk
Recent Photos - http://climbing.me.uk
Old Photos - http://www.simon-caldwell.co.uk
My Brother's Photos - http://www.caldwellcreations.co.uk