Cycling/Camping Cairngorms/Grampians : Newtonmore – Cairngorm Mountain was the second day of a five day cycling trip around the Cairngorm and Grampian mountains. For the first day of this tour see Pitlochry – Newtonmore.
The trip took place between Mon. 4 Sep. 2023 and Fri. 13 Sep. 2023.
I cycled this route on Tues. 5 Sep. 2023.
In all my previous cycling tours in Scotland, prior to the camping tour I did in Skye in June 2023, I had used hotels and B & B’s as a place to stay at night time. However, I enjoyed the camping tour in Skye so I decided to continue with the camping for this tour.
Therefore I had planned the route to cycle from campsite to campsite around the Cairngorm and Grampian mountains..
Cycling/Camping Cairngorms/Grampians : Newtonmore - Cairngorm Mountain
- Route Map
Cycling/Camping Cairngorms/Grampians : Newtonmore - Cairngorm Mountain
- My Timings & Distances
Left Invernahavon campsite 10.00 / Rested 11.35 – 11.45 (11.52) / Rothiemurches Visitors Centre 12.50 (20.05) / The Barn Restaurant 12.55 – 1.35 / Left 1.45 / Glenmore campsite 2.50 (25.50) / Checked in to 3.10 / Pitched tent, etc. 3.15 – 3.30 / Tea & choc bar 3.40 – 4.10 / Dinner in Pine Marten bar 5.00 – 6.00 / Left campsite at 6.05 to cycle up to Cairngorm Mountain Railway / Cycled 6.05 – 6.45 / At mountain railway 6.45 – 7.00 (29.75) / Back at campsite 7.15 (33.01).
Cycling/Camping Cairngorms/Grampians : Newtonmore - Cairngorm Mountain
- Log
Surprisingly, given how tired I was after yesterday’s exertions, I didn’t sleep well last night. At first I was quite cold and I woke up several times. I got up at 3.45 a.m. to go to the toilet and after that I slept better.
In the morning I was back and forth a few times to reception to get my phone and power bank charged. Otherwise I could probably have left about 15 minutes earlier.
Newtonmore - Kingussie
When I started cycling I realised that I was still very tired from the hard day of cycling yesterday. I therefore decided to use the electric motor on my e-bike more often today. I used it earlier and more often on hills. I also rested my legs and my bum on downhill stretches by freewheeling whilst standing up on the pedals.
Soon after leaving Newtonmore I passed through the tourist town of Kingussie.
Kingussie - Rothiemurches Visitors Centre
I plodded away using the electric motor more frequently, as planned, and eventually I reached the Rothiemurches Visitors centre, where I stopped for lunch.
I went into the Barn Restaurant and got two rolls and link sausage that were huge, plus a mug of tea. I went to a table outside to eat ny lunch in the beautiful sunshine.
Ruthiemurches - Gartmore Campsite, Loch Morlich
After lunch I cycled the last 5 miles or so to the Glenmore campsite. I arrived in good time at 2.50 p.m.
After checking in and pitching my tent I had a cup of tea and a choc bar. Then I inflated my mattress and pillow, unpacked my sleeping bag and organised my panniers.
I walked around the campsite for a while and then went to the Pine Marten bar/restaurant for dinner. The Pine Marten was right next to the campsite and could be accessed from the campsite.
Gartmore Campsite - Cairngorm Mountain Railway
After dinner I cycled up to Cairngorm Mountain.
I continued cycling up to the Cairngorm Mountain Railway car park. The road up, of course, had long, steep stretches and some hairpin bends. I managed it okay using mostly the second level of assistance from the electric motor. There was one very long stretch, though, where I had to use the third level of assistance.
I eventually got to the top where there was the Base Station and ticket office for the mountain railway
From the car park at the Base Station there were good views of the mountain railway.
After spending a short time walking about I freewheeled back down to the campsite.
When I got back I took my three electronic devices (e-bike battery, iPhone & power bank) to reception for charging.
Then I went for a walk down to the beach at Loch Morlich. This is a long, wide sandy beach and it was very pleasant walking along it in the evening sunshine.