Weekend road trip to the Cairngorms-good route?

[cragswinter]

Hi to all the north of the border PH'ers, thinking of taking swmbo up to the Cairngorms next month for a wee blast.

Starting at Carlisle we'll head up to Edinburgh via the a72 on Friday afternoon to queensferry (south shore). There's a nice hotel there & I'd like to go over the forth road bridge.

Then head north up the m90 past Perth to Aboyne for the Saturday night hotel. Then on Sunday we'd ideally want to return to Carlisle for around 8pm.

Any ideas of great driving roads to take this loop over?

Any changes to the planned route that may be a better option (hotels not booked yet)?

Cheers guys

[Chuck328]

cragswinter said:

Hi to all the north of the border PH'ers, thinking of taking swmbo up to the Cairngorms next month for a wee blast.

Starting at Carlisle we'll head up to Edinburgh via the a72 on Friday afternoon to queensferry (south shore). There's a nice hotel there & I'd like to go over the forth road bridge.

Then head north up the m90 past Perth to Aboyne for the Saturday night hotel. Then on Sunday we'd ideally want to return to Carlisle for around 8pm.

Any ideas of great driving roads to take this loop over?

Any changes to the planned route that may be a better option (hotels not booked yet)?

Cheers guys

I suggest you avoid the M90, boring. Head into Perth and take the A93 (the Old Military Road) to Aboyne via Blairgowrie and Braemar. That will take you right past the Glenshea sky slopes. Lovely run, stunning scenery and a bikers heaven on a fine summers weekend.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=perth&dadd...

HTH.

[cragswinter]

Thanks chuck, that's the route I figured looked good but it's hard to tell without insider knowledge!

Any ideas for the Sunday drive, that'll eventually have us returning south & back home?

[Chuck328]

Check out the Roads section in GG (if you haven't already done so). There's a topic there titled "Scottish Roads"

As you are going more Easterly coming up, I'd consider the West coast to return towards Carlisle. Not ventured much out that way, but of the roads I have done, I've not complained.

[JM]

cragswinter said:

Any ideas for the Sunday drive, that'll eventually have us returning south & back home?

Take the B974 south from South Deeside to Fettercairn, over the Cairn O' Mount.

You can then just take the easy option of the A90 dual carriageway south to Dundee and Perth, or take some back roads through the likes of Edzell, Kirriemuir, Alyth etc to get back to the A93 north of Perth.

[OlberJ]

cragswinter said:

Hi to all the north of the border PH'ers, thinking of taking swmbo up the Cairngorms next month for a wee blast.

I say, woof woof!

What date you thinking of heading up? Might have to arrange a local run seeing as the 'Baw is burst for me this year.

Sunday the 27th would work quite well.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

OlberJ said:

I say, woof woof!

What date you thinking of heading up? Might have to arrange a local run seeing as the 'Baw is burst for me this year.

Sunday the 27th would work quite well.

Ah sorry olber missed your post-we're coming up 18th & 19th of this month

[heebeegeetee]

Take that road that goes past the Lecht ski lift. It's brilliant!

[Pooh]

JM said:

cragswinter said:

Any ideas for the Sunday drive, that'll eventually have us returning south & back home?

Take the B974 south from South Deeside to Fettercairn, over the Cairn O' Mount.

You can then just take the easy option of the A90 dual carriageway south to Dundee and Perth, or take some back roads through the likes of Edzell, Kirriemuir, Alyth etc to get back to the A93 north of Perth.

I live in Alyth so I know these roads very well and I agree with this.

Up over Glenshee and back via the Cairn O'Mount, if you want a quicker route back without going through Kirriemuir and Blairgowrie but missing out Dundee you can cut off the A90 at Forfar and go via Glamis, Couper Angus and Scone to Perth on the A94. It is a good fast road with lots of passing opportunities apart from the last bit through Scone and Perth which is a little slow but it is just as quick as going via Dundee and a much nicer drive.

[CrazyTurboBeast]

Couldn't agree more about the A93, thats a great road. Cairn o mount also decent but sometimes a lot of grit on te road.
Lots of bikes on both those roads so keep an eye out.

You said you were ging to aboyne, whichever way you are coming from (braemar side up A93, banchory side cairn o mount road) go along south deeside road, its much better than north deeside. Its crap between ballater and braemar though.
Further west of aboyne is midmar and you can take a turn off there to the lecht, it will take you through strathdon before you get to cockbridge and the lecht.
(also a turn off to the lecht near ballater)

Just keep away from the A96, its crap!!

[CrazyTurboBeast]

also a lot of sheep on lecht road and A93, so watch out as they are nae feart!