Cairngorms: Tomintoul to Aboyne

Day 34
Distance- 64km (1651)
Weather- overcast, cloudy and then rain
Highlights- fantstic route Tom
Lowlights- 1 hr push through muddy single track
Accommodation- Aboyne campsite

Tired and a bit sore we emerge slowly from bed. This is Tom's day, he has a path planned through the Cairngorm back country along minor roads and single track that promises to be both scenic and more enjoyable then doing the 'Lecht road'. Bridgette learnt all about ‘the Lecht’ over breakfast while chatting to couple of Scots. She was explaining where we were going and they said in a very thick Scottish accents 'not thaa lecht'. ‘the what?’ said Bridgette. ‘the lecht?’ mmm what’s the Lecht. The Lecht turns out to be a ski resort and there is an amazingly steep and windy road that goes through it to Aberdeen. Very steep is apparently an under estimation and if you check this U-tube vieo clip you will know what I mean. Well anyway we were going another way.

So we headed off in the mist soon turning o the tarmac on to gravel. We followed a hunting road up a valley in the Cairngorms. The scenery was spectacular and there was not a soul in sight. The road was well graded and was followed by telegraph poles. I thought we are heading towards something substantial even though it felt like we were in the middle of no where. After a few kilometers we come across a hunting estate which sits over looking the river. This land was their land but due to the opening up of the Scottish highlands to the public we had right of way through, wow!

We continue through some ostentatious route iron gates and into flocks of highland sheep. The road continues dotted with abandoned dilapidated stone hunting cottages. On either side are steep grass covered hills. There are tall fences protecting the slopes probaably from deer as well as sheep. Patch of grass are burnt off which we are informed is done to promote growth to attract the grouse for hunting. This whole area shuts down in August for hunting. Peter spots a moving dark patch high on one hill and with Sarah’s new binoculars we are able to see a heard of deer.

All good things have to come to an end eventually and so did the road. The single track started which unfortunately had transformed into a bog with the recent rain. There was a lot of pushing and pulling as we dragged the trailers through a small track to the next section of road. The area had a distinct resemblance to Mt Field in Tasmania with the rivers forming small Tarns surrounded by rocks, grass and hills. We eventually got to the rood and had a well earnt break. A walker stops to say hallo and asks where we are heading. He remarks it’s the first time he's seen tourers up here, after the last hours of pushing we know why!

Off we race down the 'beautiful' graded road. There are a few rover crossings, most are ridable while a few we need unpack and carry the trailers across. A little rain start to fall as we get closed to the tarmac road we will take to Balater. We all start to fantasise about bakery products and hot coffee. We soon enter town and unfortunately neither are available. But they do have a Rockie mountain distributer so Sarah is able to get a much needed drop out. We leave town, only to stop a few meters down the road to fix another broken chain on Bridgette's bike. Tom and Sarah take the bike Path to Aboyne while Bridgette and Peter decided to A road it

The Aboyne campsite is lovely situated next to a lake, friendly staff, a hose and pot belly stove. We clean the bikes up which are caked in mud from this morning. Tom and Sarah arrive an hour later and we get the stove going to dry out shoes. Things begin to dry or melt (inner soles) and we cook dinner. More dhal with cheesy pittas followed by toffee cake with custard.