Linn of Dee to Fords of Avon

Route: Linn of Dee to Fords of Avon
Distance: 21m / 34km
Profile: View
Grade: Hard
Fitness: Moderate
Time: 6 - 8 Hours
OS MAP: 36
Route Data: GPX KML
Riders: Dave Banks, Brian Gray
Date: 13/07/2013


Summary

A mixture of bike and hike, landrover track, single track and water crossings make this a rewarding mountain bike trek through remote and interesting scenery.

This route requires good levels of fitness and depending on ability, also requires a fair amount of bike and hike.


Details

The plan was to cycle from the Linn of Dee to Loch Avon via Glen Derry. Due to the condition of the path, our destination was revised and the mountain refuge hut at the Fords of Avon became our new destination. Even this wasn't achieved by bike, progress was that slow, we hid the bikes behind a large rock and walked the last 1.5 miles to the refuge hut to fulfill our goal.

Starting off at the cattle grid just beyond the NTS Car Park, cross the bridge over the Lui Water and a few hundred yards later turn right onto the landrover track that heads to Derry Lodge. The track surface varies from loose stones to hard dirt with water erosion noticeable in places. Progress is good, and Derry Lodge is reached in 30 minutes.

Heading down to the Mountain Rescue hut, cross the burn via the stepping stones, but don't cross the bridge. Instead turn right and follow the grassy track as it follows the course of the river before turning into single track as it climbs away from the river. The single track is nice and firm, progress is only slowed by the numerous drainage channels that cut across the path, some of which are too awkward to cycle over. These channels can be as close as every 15 yards, so progress can be slow at times and a bit infuriating as you can't make the most of the singletrack. The only advantage of having to slow down or stop at these drainage channels is it gives you time to appreciate the scenery.

You will eventually come to a wider water crossing, but there are convenient stepping stones to prevent you getting your feet wet. The track steepens here from the gentle gradient, and another drainage channel, requiring you to get off your bike, spoils your run at it. It was easier just to walk rather than get back on the bike. This section isn't long and soon heads downhill where the track meets the valley floor and the river again. More drainage channels mean you can't take full advantage of the track, but some can be easily cycled over, while others require you to get off your bike.

The track heads along the valley floor, and here the drainage channels have areas to the side where bikes can bypass them. This makes progress a lot easier. The single track gives way to a grassy landrover track and a small burn crossing is easily managed using the stepping stones to keep your feet dry. The track varies from indistinct grassy patches, to firm dirt, to firm stony track and loose stony sections that may require you to get off at the more awkward bits. Another burn crossing is easily managed using the large boulders to pick a route over without getting your feet wet.

The track now starts its ascent to the col, as it reaches the Y junction, the left branch takes you to the Hutchison Memorial hut and Loch Etchachan, it deteriorates to more like a dried up river bed in places with loose stones making cycling hard. This is where the bike and hike really starts, there is more pushing than cycling in places and the numerous drainage channels add to the slow rate of progress. Once the path reaches the summit, you start seeing a hint of the turn off point for the final destination, Loch Avon.

The path drops down onto the valley floor and looks reasonable from the summit, but after about 50 yards, it soon deteriorates to a point where you are back off your bike and pushing. There are small sections of about 10 - 15 yards that can be cycled with care, but the track is basically just large stones and even pushing the bikes becomes very slow progress.

At this point, we decided to change our destination to the refuge hut at the Fords of Avon, ditch the bikes and just walk the final 1.5 miles there, just so we can say we saw the refuge hut and the Fords. We marked a suitable stone with some gravel to indicated where to find the bikes, as they couldn't be seen from the path at all. At times, the track improved and it looked like ditching the bikes was a mistake, but these sections were short and the track was as bad as ever, our decision was the right one, as the track varied from boggy sections to stony outcrops.

We reached the refuge hut just as a group of walkers arrived from Aviemore, so we didn't even get the place to ourselves. After a few photos, we headed back, collected the bikes and spend the next 15 minutes pushing them up to the top of the col.

This is where all the fun starts, with care it was possible to cycle down most of the track, just the larger boulders and the drainage channels slowing progress down. The distance is quickly covered, and good speeds can be attained, but the numerous drainage channels spoil the fun and you need to keep your speed down to make sure you can stop in time for the larger ones that can't be cycled over.

Derry Lodge is soon reached and another 20 minutes gets you back to the car.


Photo Gallery

Bridge over Lui Water		Cattle grid area		Turn off to Derry Lodge		Warning sign
Track starts off good		Track follows river		Water erosion		Looking towards Glen Derry
Loose surface		Looking down to bridge		Bridge over Lui Water		Looking up Lui Water
Derry Lodge		Mountain Rescue Hut		Looking towards Glen Lui		Take right fork
Head towards foorbridge		Stepping stones		Don't cross bridge		Head up this track
Looking towards Glen Lui		Track starts to climb		Track and river part		Drainage channel
Typical scenery		Looking up Glen Derry		Looking up Glen Derry		Another drainage channel
Off bike yet again		Track continues to climb		Firm singletrack		Glen Derry
Glen Derry		Another drainage channel		Glen Derry		Glen Derry
Another drainage channel		Track surface loser		Track climbs in the distance		Track firmer again
Waterfall in the valley below		Slight descent		Burn crossing		Steep climb
Another drainage channel		Easy crossing		Dead Scots Pine		Track descends to valley floor
Final descent to valley floor		By-Pass for drainage channel		Track along valley floor		Looking along valley floor
Track turns to landrover track		Looking towards the col		Burn crossing		Track heads through the grass
Back to proper singletrack		Going still good		Track cuts through the grass		Track resembles dried up river bed
Thistle		The bike and hike starts		Track ahead still OK		Climbing from the valley floor
Another burn crossing		Feet can be kept dry		Track ahead climbs towards the col		More hiking here
Y junction to the Hutchison Memorial hut		Track to Hutchison Memorial hut		Rocky track to the col		Progress is slow over lose stones
col getting closer		Looking over to Hutchison Memorial hut		Track improves again		Yet another drainage channel
Looking over to Hutchison Memorial hut		Another easy burn crossing		Track continues to climb		Looking over to Hutchison Memorial hut
Track reasonable at this stage		Track a bit rougher again		Looking over to Hutchison Memorial hut		Final ascent to the col
Looing down from the col		Track just visible		Descent looks OK		More hiking
Progress is slow		Looks promising again		Rock gives way to better surface		Getting rough again
The easiest way transport the bike		Hiding the bikes		X marks the spot		Track looks better
Boulder with marker		Path looks OK		Rocky slabs on mountain side		More rocky outcrops
Refuge hut in the distance		Closer view		Closer still		More rock
Easy burn crossing		Looking up towards Loch Avon		Nearly there		Fords of Avon
Looking down stream		Stepping stones		Looking upstream		Easier crossing point
Walkers arrive from Aviemore		Feet get wet this time		Refuge Hut		Inside is sparse
Toilet on the right (spade)		Stones to protect refuge		Refuge Hut		Looking back towards the col
Heading down from the col to the valley floor		Track up from Valley floor		Valley floor below		Drop down to burn crossing
Drainage channels slow descent to valley floor		Rocky descent to valley floor		Valley floor		Valley floor
Descent down to burn crossing		Climbing up from valley floor		Final descent to Derry Lodge		Frog in drainage channel