Spittal of Glen Muick

The Spittal of Glenmuick has a visitor centre, toilets and a cafe (only open at peak times). It's the head of the valley below Loch Muick which is an amazing mountain loch in the southern Cairngorms. There is a trail around the loch and numerous paths off into the mountains but none are suitable for road bikes. This is a beautiful place to ride too though and well worth the effort of the out and back road up from Ballater. The car park is at 418m and the road starts at around 200m so it’s a good climb and a fun descent.

Car park charges apply - pay at machine; can use a card. The west side double track to the Lodge (and bothy) has a good gravel surface and is basically level. Lodge is a great area to pause, maybe have a swim, before continuing hiking/biking.

When you get to the loch it becomes a beach of stone so you’ll need to hike-a-bike to the boat shed. Once you reach there, it’s not suitable for a bike.