Grantown High Moor and Valley Tour

A big loop from the Cairngorms National Park that begins on open high moorland, where the road climbs over a bare summit with a wide sky, then runs down through a quiet farming valley and along a broad river before returning through woodland and low hills. The scenery softens as the day goes on.

The opening climb is the hard part: exposed, windy and the first road to close in the region when snow arrives, so winter and early spring are not for this ride. After that the roads are wide and fast with long sweeping bends. There are cattle grids and gates on the high section, so cross them upright. The first fuel stop is more than thirty-five miles from the start, so fill up in Grantown before you set off.