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A last minute trip to Braemar with family and we realised that we could pop up to Tomintoul on a free day. It was a sunny morning, mixed cloud and sun afternoon, little wind, cold on top. We took our bikes, from Queen Victoria's viewpoint car park. Undulating down into glen on tracks, tarmac between bridges, uphill to farm and beyond, pushing occasionally on the steeper sections especially when rough ground. Mostly riding though. Typical moorland rounded hills but then from summit, amazing views to across to Ben Avon, corries and tors, outlined in snow. Mast and possibly weather station at top.
Down steep zigs (walked) to Glen Loin, along a bit, lunch mostly in the sun in this beautiful and deserted glen. Then onwards, met 3 mountain bikers going the other way (young), and got to the ford. The Hare only just made it across riding, I pushed my bike across in bare feet, treading carefully. But I had left my gloves on the far bank, and my feet were cold. Unable to cross back without poles, I would have to take the bike back for support. The Hare volunteered to walk back across in boots, and found a route. Unfortunately he got wet feet on the way back. What a hero. Walkhighlands suggests that the burn is impassable in spate, but walkers would have had to paddle often I think. Lovely ride back out along the glens, quite a bit of ascent as well as descent. The track improved as we carried on, finally on tarmac quite a long way up the glen. Continued on tarmac through Delnabo back to car park. Brilliant to have a ride and a summit all in one!