Aviemore - Boat of Garten
Begin your ride just north of the railway station in Aviemore - take the subway under the railway line and turn left onto National Route 7. Follow a quiet road for a bit and then wind your way through a residential estate, before joining a shared-use path for walkers and cyclists, which takes you all the way to the village of Boat of Garten.
This journey offers excellent wildlife spotting opportunities as you cross heather covered moorland, surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges and dense forests. You may also see and hear the occasional passing steam train on the Strathspey Railway. The village of Boat of Garten is known as the ‘Osprey Village’, as, after the species had been driven to near extinction, a pair of Ospreys reappeared at Loch Garten in the 1950s.
When you come into the village, keep cycling to the north side and you will see a sign for the RSPB reserve at Milton Loch, where you can get up close and learn more about these majestic birds of prey which migrate here to breed every year. Since you start and finish at either end of the Strathspey Steam Railway, you can return with your bike by steam train if your legs are too tired. Alternatively, you can make it a circular route by returning on the on-road section of National Route 7 on the B970 (9miles).
Natural attractions:
- Cairngorms National Park
- Various Lochs including Loch Pityoulish, Milton Loch and Loch Garten Reserve, which has viewing points, nature trails, guided tours and a café. Wildlife includes osprey, red squirrels and tree pipits.
Visitor attractions:
- Aviemore Centre
- Rothiemurchus Visitor Centre
- The Strathspey Steam Railway (summer only)
- Loch Garten Osprey Centre
Route submitted by: Sustrans
Tags
Route map
Comments
Key route details
- Region/Area:
Highlands and Islands
- Distance:
6 miles
- Time needed:
½ hour to 1 hour
- Classification:
Easy
- Traffic:
Mainly traffic-free with short on-road sections
- Surface:
Gravel
- NCN Route:
National Route 7
- Start:
Aviemore, north of the railway station
- Finish:
Boat of Garten
- Cycle hire:
Bothy Bikes in Aviemore, tel: 01479 810111
- Access:
Train Station at Aviemore
- Maps and guides
-
Lochs and Glens North NN7C £6.99
- Weather:
-
Wed
max: 3°C min: -6°C
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Thu
max: 2°C min: -4°C
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Fri
max: 2°C min: -3°C
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Sat
max: 2°C min: -4°C
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