Bongo Fury

Hi, I've recently bought a doggy trailer so we can take the bikes on the back of the bongo to France and be able to cycle with the dog. Thought it could enhance our British camping as well. Anyone know of sites in Scotland with or near cycle routes/paths. Need to be fairly even as towing trailer with dog. Cycle routes with destinations would be good i.e cycle to a village pub for lunch!

Ermm.wonderful thing Google

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Scotl ... tes-1.html

That website is rather poor for cycling in the Scottish Borders. I suggest this one, well I would as I live there.

Tony

http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/outabout/ ... 20147.html

thanks for the links, can't wait to try some of the routes out. I am trying to get the dog used to the trailer and so far he is doing quite well. First day I just left the trailer in the living room with his bed in it and he went in no bother. Had him outside in the trailer twice with the bike - he's not overly keen as yet but I don't think the experience is traumatic as he gets back in it without too much coaxing. I have wanted to cycle for years but thought it wouldn't be possible because of the dog so hopefully this will work out - the last 2 years in France has really inspired me.

Fife coastal path is excellent and there is a good website for it.
Just stay away from the locals.

Two places spring to mind up this neck of the woods which are as follows:

Ballater - Council run website. Facilities are clean and is is inexpensive. A short distance from the site is the old disused Deeside Railway. This is now a clay/gravel based track that is flat apart from any section where the bridge has been removed and you need to go down, cross the road and go back up again but shouldn't be a problem with a trailer.

Rothiemurcus (Aviemore) - Great little campsite in the woods. There are various tracks in the Rothiemurcus estate by the campsite which can be cycled. Can't remember how rough they are. There is an old logging trail running from by campsite to Glenmore (which has a nice little cafe). There is a Caravan & Camping Club site at Gelnmore. The same trail can be used to get from the campsite to the the estate shop or into Aviemore itself (The Mountain Cafe has cakes to die for). There is a trail from Aviemore across to the village of Boat of Garten over the moor which I guess may be ok with a trailer.

Paul

+1 for rothiemurcas

there are trails in the area for all abilities - in fact, the singlespeed mountainbiking world championships was held on the estate in 2007. There is a bike shop on the cairngorm road (can't remember its name) that has details of all the routes in the local area. If you are after total piece and quiet then ride round the loch to feshiebridge and through the forest there. you won't see a soul.

The Aviemore sites sound great - I have been up there once and promised myself to go back!

If you don't have the time to go so far you could always try Glentress near Peebles, one of the 7 stanes forests. Then park your Bongo in Dunslair's back yard.

Tony

Watch out Dunslair

I forgot to ask -can you cycle to the loch from Rothiemurchus?

He makes a good cuppa ! Bytheway lol

I think that the bike shop that Rapiddescent is referring to is Bothy Bikes. The Rothiemurcus estate shop sells a map of the easy routes around the estate for £2. If I remember correctly the campsite give you a similar map when you check in. The couple that run the campsite do some cycling. When we were there they dug out the 1:25K OS map and recommended some routes.

I also forgot to mention the excellant Norwegian cake shop on the loch insch road which was voted one of Britian's ten top ckae shops by the observer.

Booked for Rothiemurchus in June, thanks. No doggy friendly pubs I think but I'll make do with a gin at the van! Looking forward to it.

Or why not visit the Cairngorm brewery shop. Just great for sitting underneath the tress watching the squirrels frolic.

Paul