Remote Bothies to Scotland’s Best Family MTB Trails | Tarland Adventure

Some Mountain bike rides feel like a proper journey and this one had it all.
Our MTB Adventure started from the Cairngorm Bothies, tucked away in the woods with that remote, back-to-nature feel. Just a few miles later, we were rolling into Tarland Trails, one of Scotland’s best family-friendly flow centres.
The contrast was unreal: from slow, simple living at the Bothies to fast, flowing berms and jumps at Tarland.

It really showed how this corner of Aberdeenshire is special, a place where you can reconnect with the traditional slower way of life, and at the same time be just minutes away from Scotland’s favourite riding spots like Heartbreak Ridge, Aboyne, Pitfichie, and Scolty.

Riding as a family made it even better. Lindsey, Connor, and I all had our moments on the trails, and the Bothies gave us the perfect base to start and finish from. We capped it all off with a pint in the Commercial pub in Tarland and some excellent pub grub in The Airdale located just 5 mins from the bothies in Logie Coldstone — the perfect end to a mindful MTB day out.

Special Viewer Offer:
If you’re tempted to experience the Cairngorm Bothies (or the Cairngorm Lodges), there’s an exclusive discount available:

🍂 Autumn/Winter Break Offer 🍂
Use code JON10 for a discount at both Cairngorm Lodges and Cairngorm Bothies.
Valid for bookings made before 31st Oct 2025
Stays from now until end of Feb 2026
Excludes Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s weekend, and special event dates
Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers
Find out more here: 👉 https://www.cairngormbothies.co.uk

I am proud to be a Rider Resilience ambassador. Please keep an eye on our socials for group ride announcements and come along and share our collective passion for riding with a friendly and supportive group!
@riderresilience
#RiderResilience #BikesAreMedicine #rideitout

00:00 Intro
02:23 Welcome to Cairngorm Bothies
03:19 Tour of the bothies
05:07 Digital map to Tarland MTB Trails from the Cairngorm bothies
05:50 Making our way to Tarland
07:21 Tarland 1 (the original tarland MTB Trails)
08:31 High Pressure - Tarland Trails
09:31 Rip Tide - Tarland Trails
11:00 Project Mushroom - Tarland Trails
12:45 Call Me Chris - Tarland Trails
15:04 Crowd Surfin - Tarland Trails
16:54 Scalectrix - Tarland Trails
18:48 To the pub
19:57 Back to the Bothies