This route provides a leisurely opportunity to explore the rolling hill country between Insch and the Gartly Moor to the west, with sweeping views over the Pictish province of The Garioch to Bennachie.

The route is on public roads with a tarred surface, winding through beech avenues, open farmland and forests. For those seeking challenging off-road cycling, the Forest Enterprise Cycle Trails at Gartly Moor Forest can be reached from Insch via the 'Gartly Moor Link' route (waymarked in white).

Starting at Insch station, head north along the B992 (Commercial Road) past the Carriages pub on your left.

After riding 600 metres the post office and Commercial Hotel appear on your right just before you approach the junction with Insch high Street.

Take the left turn at the junction with the High Street onto Market Street.

Continue along Market Street, sheltered avenues of beech lead to the ancient Picardy Stone with its fascinating Pictish symbols.

Two kilometres past the Piccardy Stone the road reaches a T-junction. At this point take the right towards Gartly Moor. Ride for just under a kilometre and take the next right sign posted to Wardhouse.

After a mile of beautiful, winding countryside you come to another small junction just after a small farmstead, take the left towards Wardhouse.

Continue past Mains of Wardhouse and on towards Dunnideer past quiet farms in the valley of The Shevock. Dunnideer hill fort and tower appear as a prominent landmark on your right - if you have time, a brisk walk to the top is highly recommended (Please follow footpath, the entrance of which is located 500 metres south east of Dunnideer village).

Continue eastwards towards worthy refreshments in Insch village centre and then back to the train station.

Insch train station is on the Aberdeen - Inverness rail line. Bike reservations are free (make sure there are enough spaces for your group and that you also have reservations for your journey home).

]]> 2010-09-01 T;15:19:00+00:00 http://www.routes2ride.org.uk/routes2ride/elgin_experience/  A 14 mile loop through Moray’s historic capital city and surroundingcountryside. Highlights include Elgin Cathedral, Elgin Museum,CooperPark and Milton Duff Distillery. The loop is easy to ride with no major hills.  A pleasant loop through Moray’s historic capital city and surrounding countryside.

Starting from the Library in Cooper Park (facing the pond), turn left and cycle along the wide path around the park until you come to the footbridge over the River Lossie.

Cycle over the bridge then turn left along the path and right at the junction.

Turn right at the junction, along Brodie Place, passing Seafield School on the right.

Turn left at the next junction, into Munro Place and cycle till you reach the main road. Dismount here and cross the main road in front of the Bonnie Earl pub using the traffic island.

Take the first left into Covesea Road and cycle for approximately 1 mile.

Turn left at the signpost for Findrassie and cycle through the woods and open country until you come to a crossroads, where you cross straight over.

For approximately 2 miles admire the views over the Moray Firth on the right and Quarrelwood Woodland Park on the left.

Joining the busy trunk road at the junction, turn right and travel for approximately 500 yards before turning left towards Miltonduff and Pluscarden Abbey.

Cycle for approximately 2 miles, through farm and woodland, until you reach a T junction. Take care on this 1/3 mile stretch along A96.

Turn left here and immediately right at the War Memorial, past the Miltonduff Distillery on the left. (7 miles, halfway).

Turn right at the next T junction, signed to Kellas and Dallas.

Turn left towards Birnie and New Elgin.

After approximately 1.5 miles, turn left at the next T junction and travel towards New Elgin, passing the Elgin Golf Club House on your left and the Glassgreen Range on your right.

At the junction with the busy main road, turn right and immediately left, signed Linkwood (Thornhill Road).

Turn left at the junction by the Cottar Hoose, passing the cemetery and the Moray College Linkwood Annexe building on your right (11.8 miles).

Turn right immediately past the Annexe, over the railway bridge and into Ashgrove Road. This road leads to the very busy A96, so take great care.

At the junction, turn right and cycle to the roundabout, where you take the first exit left, then left again at the T junction.

Turn right at the junction, then immediately left down North College Street.

Turn right immediately past the Cathedral and then left between the stone pillars opposite the Cathedral entrance. This takes you back into Cooper Park - cycle straight ahead until you come to the Library.

PLEASE NOTE: Bold text means take care.

This route follows part of the National Cycle Network Route One. The signage for both the routes is very similar - so follow the written directions carefully to avoid a very lengthy detour! ]]> 2010-09-01 T;10:00:00+00:00 http://www.routes2ride.org.uk/routes2ride/tarves_to_tanglandford_loop/ A beautiful flat, road ride around the Aberdeenshire countryside.  This is a nice, flat, road route mainly on B roads and is relatively quiet of traffic. There is a small incline out of Methlick where the road is busier until you turn off for Tarves on the B999.

The route starts in Tarves square and heads out past the cementry on the B999. Continue on the B999 until the left turn towards Haddo. When you reach the crossroads, turn right and go towards Ellon.

Continue until just after you cross a bridge then take the B9005 road to Methlick. Contiue on this road past Ythanbank taking a sharp right followed by a left bend and on into Methlick.

In Methlick take B9170 road up hill towards Oldmeldrum/Tarves. After Old Meldrum turn off onto the B999 to Tarves and follow back to the start.

Travel east along the Deeside Way to Milton of Crathes where the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society has its visitor centre. The society is rebuilding the railway between Milton of Crathes and Banchory and you can take a trip in an old train – see www.deeside-railway.co.uk for the timetable. Refreshments and snacks are also available at the visitor centre when the railway is operating. Milton of Crathes has a tea room, restaurant, shops and and art gallery.

Cross the car park and continue on the Deeside Way south of the main road. After about 100 metres, the Deeside Way joins a major track (just before a cobbled hump-back bridge). Turn left and follow the track round under the road bridge and up to the road leading to Crathes Castle.

Turn right and follow the road up to visit the castle. Crathes Castle has a tea room and a shop. The castle grounds include extensive gardens with a number of pleasant walks.

Follow the road around the back of the castle for the start of the West Trail and Castle Gardens (Caroline’s Garden). At busy periods please wheel bikes within the castle grounds.

Remain on the main tarmac drive past Caroline’s Garden and follow it to the end which is at the West Lodge by the main road (A93).

Follow the shared-use path towards Banchory. Take care when crossing three minor roads into Silverbank.

After a short distance the Caravan Club Site is visible on the opposite side of the road. Take care when crossing the A93.

Visit the Sustrans Shop

The route turns south on the B845 and up through the scenic delights of Glen Nant, before descending to Kilchrenan and spectacular views of Loch Awe. At this point it follows a rollercoaster minor road through Inverliever Forest, along the west side of the loch, before dropping down to the shoreline and joining the B840 at Ford.

From Ford, a short stretch along the A816 leads to Kilmartin with its enigmatic ancient stones. A long flat section follows, over Moine Mhor onto the splendid towpath of the Crinan Canal which continues past Lochgilphead to Ardrishaig. After a short stretch along the A83, the route climbs steeply to cross to the western shores of Knapdale with fine views across to the islands of Islay and Jura. Enjoy the views past Ormsary and on to Kilberry.

A couple of miles south of Kilberry the route turns east and then northeast to the fishing and yachting centre of Tarbet. From here, the A83 is rejoined for a few miles on the eastern shores of Loch Tarbet, passing the ferry terminal to Islay at Kennacraig. From Kennacraig, a steady climb on the B8001 leads to a great viewpoint of Arran and a descent to Claonaig. The road to Carradale has many tough climbs and sweeping descents but offers magnificent views of Kilbrannan Sound.

From Carradale, the route continues its undulating journey along the eastern side of the Kintyre Peninsula with many fine views across the Sound towards Arran and Ailsa Craig. Cresting the final hill, Campbeltown comes into view, set in a sweeping arc around Campbeltown Loch and with a good variety of refreshment stops to celebrate the end of a great journey.

Visit the Sustrans Shop

From Banff scenic coastal roads and cliff top paths take you through some quaint fishing towns to Cullen where the route crosses over a magnificent disused railway viaduct towards Buckie. Crossing the mouth of the River Spey at Garmouth, the cycle route leads along small country roads to Elgin where Coopers Park and Elgin Cathedral make a good place for a picnic stop. From busy Elgin streets, quiet rural lanes lead to Findhorn Bay.

Skirting round the market town of Forres, Route 1 courses through Morayshire countryside with excellent views of Culbin Forest on to the holiday town of Nairn. Beyond Nairn the route passes the historic battle site of Culloden before entering the city limits of Inverness where well deserved refreshment is waiting.

Visit the Sustrans Shop

The route then meanders on minor roads to Tain before taking the lightly-trafficked ‘A’ road to the west side of the Dornoch Firth to Ardgay and Invershin. There are steep steps on both sides of the footbridge over the Kyle of Sutherland at Invershin – if you are unable to negotiate steps, take an alternative route via Bonar Bridge. Carrying on northwards, the route passes through wooded glens and you may see salmon leaping upstream at Shin Falls. At the head of Loch Shin is Lairg, a good place to stock up on food as the road north is one of the most remote in Scotland. It’s 21 miles to Altnaharra and a further 17 to Tongue – in between are miles of open moorland with glimpses of Scottish wildlife – deer and even the odd eagle.

The ‘flow country’ of Caithness and Sutherland is famous for its peat bog land and rich heritage: the route passes countless prehistoric cairns and archaeological remains. From Altnaharra, the route passes Loch Loyal before reaching the Kyle of Tongue and the Atlantic Ocean. The northern coast is spectacular with impressive hills and huge rollers breaking into sandy shores. The route passes numerous fishing communities, the most notable of which is Thurso. A sign of more modern industry is the now deactivated Dounray nuclear power station on the coast about 8 miles west of Thurso. The famous globes will disappear when the site is dismantled. The landscape at this point flattens out into the wide open vistas and awesome sea cliffs of Caithness with fine views across to Orkney. Enjoy the views before reaching your destination at John o’ Groats.

Visit the Sustrans Shop

Continue to follow the River Leven, which powered a host of leading industrial textile mills from the 18th Century. Once you see moored boats you’re near the journey’s end at Balloch.  This route can be easily shortened as it runs close to several train stations.

Visit the Sustrans Shop

Pass the mesmerising Falls of Leny and continue, through an oakwood, to reach Loch Lubnaig, which has a strong Highland character.  The cycle route uses a quiet access road for some of the way.  Take a picnic – you’re sure to find an idyllic spot for lunch.  After four flat miles you’ll encounter some hills and one very steep zig-zag section but the final stretch into Strathyre is a breeze.

Visit the Sustrans Shop

Visit the Sustrans Shop