2011 – pugsley – highlands ride – route
The overall route, starting in the south-west at Taynuilt and finishing near the centre in Blair Atholl; about 220 miles and 21,000' of climbing.
Day One: from Taynuilt Station on the Oban line along the shore of Loch Etive and then up Glen Kinglass and along the old military road to the Black Mount, camping at 1000' overlooking the moor; 26 miles and 2900' of climbing.
Day Two: from the Black Mount down to the Kings House Hotel and east across Rannoch Moor to Rannoch Station, then northwards along the old Road to the Isles, past the ruins of Corrour Old Lodge and to Loch Ossian to camp by the shore; 27 miles and 2500' of climbing.
Day Three: from Loch Ossian past Corrour Shooting Lodge and Strathossian House into Glen Spean and then past the divided Lochan na h-Earba; through the Ardverikie Forest up to Loch Pattack and then down past Ben Alder Lodge to the shore of Loch Ericht; 30 miles and 1800' of climbing.
Day Four: from the drove road to Glen Truim and along the Cuaich aqueduct to the eponymous loch, then down to Glen Fernisdale to follow General Wade's Military Road to Kingussie, passing the ruins of Ruthven Barracks before following backroads to Feshiebridge and diving into Rothiemurchus Forest to camp near the Cairngorm Club Footbridge; 31 miles and 1800' of climbing.
Day Five: from the forest past Loch Morlich and Glenmore Lodge, over the Ryvoan Pass to Forest Lodge in the Abernethy Forest then up the Braes of Abernethy to cross the Water of Ailnack by the now disused Ca-du Ford, before crossing moors over to remote Glen Loin and camping at its confluence with Glen Avon; 27 miles and 3000' of climbing.
Day Six: from Inverloin up past Loch Builg and its ruined lodge and over grouse moors to drop down opposite Balmoral Castle into Royal Deeside at Crathies, then up and over the shoulder of Lochnagar to Spittal of Glenmuick and the ancient Capel Road across to Glen Doll; 29 miles and 4100' of climbing.
Day Seven: from Glen Doll the biggest single climb of the journey is up the oldest of all Scottish rights of way, Jock's Road, which crosses Crow Craigies at 3018' before dropping into Glen Callater and Glen Clunie and down to Braemar, thence onwards past Inverey to Linn of Dee and White Bridge, turning south across the plateau to cross the Geldie Burn and pass Bynack Lodge, up to the watershed just below Loch Tilt for the highest campsite of the journey, at 1584'; 31 miles and 3500' of climbing.
Day Eight: from the watershed a few miles of narrow singletrack following Allt Garbh Buidhe, past the Falls of Tarf and the mouth of Glen Loch and ever downwards along Glen Tilt, passing Forest Lodge, Marble Lodge and Gilberts Bridge before arriving at Old Bridge of Tilt and Blair Atholl in time for the afternoon train back via Perth to Glasgow; just 15 miles and 500' of climbing (but 1600' of descent).
