by Phil the Hill » Fri May 07, 2021 1:09 pm
I walked the two routes from Old Blair last October, not having a bike with me (and having totally failed to notice the bike hire at the campsite until I left). The Northern route past the rifle range was nice, and joins the other route higher up the hill, but it was a rougher track with at least 4 stream crossings by fords. I returned by the Southern route direct from the bothy, which seemed better for biking (particularly without suspension). The one stream crossing has a bridge. It would be best to leave the bike by the bothy, rather than cross the Allt and take it up the steepish and stony path beyond (though I met someone on a mountain bike doing just that).
I bailed out below the start of the hill, as I was too tired after walking in to Carn a'Chlamain the previous day, so I looked across to the Glen Bruar track on the way out, thinking it would be a good approach by bike for my return. It looked nice and flat, and should be a better surface as it leads to the Lodge. But a look at the map showed there's a steep climb over a hill from Calvine to start. I now have an e-bike hybrid, and am planning that approach route for the beginning of June, with a wild camp beyond the Lodge so I can take in Beinn Bhreac as well.