Corrour Bothy
Distance: 18m / 28km
Profile: View
Grade: Hard
Fitness: High
Time: 6 - 7 Hours
OS MAP: 43
Route Data: GPX KML
Riders: Dave Banks, Brian Gray
Date: 08/09/2013
Summary
A mixture of tarmac, landrover track, single track, bog and a river crossing, with a lot bike and hike, make this a hard mountain bike trek through remote and interesting scenery.
The route is best run clockwise as there is an excellent downhill section as you head down to Luibeg Bridge.
Details
Starting off at the cattle grid just beyond the NTS Car Park, follow the road back towards the Linn of Dee. As the road swings left to cross the bridge, take the forest track straight ahead through the trees and follow this track out to White Bridge. The track is generally in good condition, but is rougher in a couple of sections due to water erosion.
Just before White Bridge, there is a path to the right which heads up Glen Dee. This path starts off fine, progress is hampered only by large drainage channels that can be as frequent as every 30 yards. This doesn't last for long, after a few hundred yards the track soon descends into a bike and hike session. There are sections you can ride, but distance is very variable as the track changes from steep uphill sections, rocky sections, drainage channels and stepping stones over boggy sections. The frequency of these sections varies, but this is pretty well continuous all the way till the track joins onto the track heading to Corrour Bothy. We did this run in the dry, in the wet there would be additional boggy sections that may be difficult to negotiate. This section is hard going, and progress is slow, the reward for all this effort is the view towards the Devils Point.
The track to Corrour Bothy is good, but large drainage channels means you have to get off, as does the bridge crossing over the River Dee. The bothy is a welcome sight after all the effort getting there and there are nice views of Ben Macdui to be had while you stop for a well deserved break.
You retrace your tracks back, but when you reach the point where you joined the track to Corrour Bothy, you continue straight ahead. At this point you are back off your bike again as the track is steep, and rocky. This section is hard going and there is no opportunity to get back on the bike until the climb finishes and the track levels off. With reasonable mountain biking skills, it is possible to cycle most of the high level section, occasional rocky outcrops and drainage channels requiring you to get off, as this is no place to get hurt. As the track heads downhill towards Luibeg Bridge, the reason for doing the loop in a clockwise direction becomes apparent. This is like the Lower Red run at Wolftrax, Laggan. The descent is technical with rocky slabs, drops, drainage channels and rocky sections and this descent continues all the way down to the split in the track near Luibeg Bridge.
As it was dry and the water levels in the rivers were low, we opted for the river crossing, but there is a detour to a bridge crossing about 400 yards upstream. The track on both sides is rough and requires more bike and hike, so we opted for the river crossing. The descent down to the river is via stone steps cut into the steep river bank. The crossing itself was reasonably straight forward using boulders as stepping stones, we managed to keep our feet dry. The track through the young Scots Pine trees on the other bank requires you to push your bike, and is basically a continuation of the track from Luibeg Bridge.
As you clear the trees, the track is rough, and resembles a dried up river bed in places as it heads down the valley floor towards Derry Lodge. The track soon improves and becomes a decent landrover track. The track undulates as it heads down the valley, but apart from drainage channels, there is little to hamper your progress. The drainage channels change to troughs and these allow you to cycle in and out of them and add to the fun. Before long, Derry Lodge comes into sight. The track becomes indistinct in places as it heads across the grassy valley floor which can also be boggy in places as well, so you need to choose your line carefully.
Crossing the bridge of the Derry Burn, takes you to the Mountain Rescue Point and Derry Lodge. You continue on this track as it undulates along the valley floor in Glen Lui, crossing the river at the bridge for a short uphill section before heading downhill. This part of the track is rough in places due to water erosion. The track brings you out at the Linn of Dee road, turning left and a few hundred yards later brings you back to the car.
Photo Gallery
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Unloading the car |
Cattle grid area |
Turn off at Linn of Dee |
Landrover track to White Bridge |
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Landrover track to White Bridge |
Approaching White Bridge |
Turn off to Glen Derry |
One of many drainage channels |
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Lone horse |
Path starts to climb |
The hiking starts here |
Waterfall on the River Dee |
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Looking back to White Bridge |
More drainage channels |
More hiking |
Stepping stone in drainage channel |
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Track dissappears |
Track more obvious again |
More stepping stones |
Boggy patch with stepping stones |
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Track through the grass |
Peaty track to Devils Point |
Devils Point |
Track heads through grass again |
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Firm peaty track follows River Dee |
Track climbs - more hiking |
More drainage channels |
Stepping stones over boggy patch |
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Firmer track towards the Devils Point |
More boggy patches |
Peaty outcrop |
More hiking |
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Firm track across moorland |
First sight of Corrour Bothy |
Track turns peaty again |
No track here |
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Faint track through heather |
Drainage ditch on approach to Corrour Bothy |
Approaching footbridge over River Dee |
Footbridge and Corrour Bothy |
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Footbridge over River Dee |
Footbridge over River Dee |
River Dee |
Looking up Lairig Ghru |
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Inside Corrour Bothy |
Inside Corrour Bothy |
Ben Macdui from Corrour Bothy |
Corrour Bothy |
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Track back to footbridge |
Peaty outcrop |
Ready to cross footbridge again |
Track on right from White Bridge - stick to main path |
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Hiking required from now on |
Looking back to Corrour Bothy |
Track improves |
More drainage ditches |
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Firm track allows good progress |
First glimpse of Glen Lui |
More obstacles |
Downhill to Lui Water |
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Rocky slabs |
Excellent downhill continues |
Junction for Luibeg Bridge |
Luibeg Bridge to the left |
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River crossing to the right |
Hiking required down to river crossing |
River crossing below |
Steps down to river |
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Lui Water |
Stepping stones over river |
Track along river bank |
Track heads through trees |
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Trees thin out |
Sandier track into open moorland |
Approaching start of landrover track |
Water crossing |
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Track down Gleann Laoigh Bheag |
Drainage trough |
Downhill to Derry Lodge |
Faint track through the grass |
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Bridge crossing to Derry Lodge |
Stepping stones at Mountain Rescue Post |
Uphill to Derry Lodge |
Derry Lodge |
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Leaving Derry Lodge |
Undulating track along Glen Lui |
Bridge crossing over Lui Water |
Final descent to car park |
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View of Lui Water from track |
View of Lui Water from track |
Approaching tarmac road |
Starting short tarmac section back to car |