Biking over the hills between Kinveachy and Dalnahaitnach from Aviemore

Biking over the hills between Kinveachy and Dalnahaitnach | Gravel Bike Ride from Aviemore, Scotland

This gravel route through the Monadhliath Mountains is a bit gnarlier than what I usually ride — but when the heather’s in full bloom, it’s hard to resist exploring the bonny hills west of Aviemore and Carrbridge.

Note: There’s a locked gate near Dalnahaitnach that requires lifting your bike — worth knowing in advance!

From Aviemore, I followed one of the High Burnside Forest roads to Kinveachy, then picked up part of General Wade’s Military Road before climbing up Carn na Guaille — with a bit of hike-a-bike on the steeper bits. The route continues to the summit of Carn Sleamhuinn and offers incredible panoramic views, especially of the Cairngorms.

From there, you could push further to Geal Chàrn Beag — tempting, but I'm saving that summit for another day, planning to approach it from the Burma Road. That would involve a hike-a-bike through some boggy ground. A local gravel guru told me it’s a good descent, but it does get really sticky after frost or heavy rain and is rocky in places - definitely easier after a dry spell.

Back to this route. The descent from Carn Sleamhuinn is fairly rocky, but manageable — even for someone like me with limited experience on more technical terrain. I just had to take it slow on a few of the steeper sections. After that, I really enjoyed the fast run-out to Dalnahaitnach.

To return to Aviemore, I took the more traditional route: first on the single-track road to Carrbridge, then through Carr Plantation and Docharn Wood, down to Boat of Garten, and finally back via the Speyside Way.

A great gravel day out!

📺 Best viewed in HD or 4K.
👍 Like the video? A thumbs up and channel subscription really help. Thanks!

🚴‍♂️ Route Details
📏 Distance: 45 km / 28 miles
🚴 Strava: https:   / strava  
📍 Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/2096413626

🍰 Café Stop
☕ Carrbridge Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/CarrbridgeKi...

🚴🏼‍♂️ Bike Shops
🔗 Aviemore Bikes - bike hire and shop: https://www.aviemorebikes.co.uk/
🔗 Ride Scotland, Boat of Garten - bike hire and shop: https://ridescotland.com/
🔗 BackcountryScot, Aviemore - bike hire and shop: https://backcountry.scot/
🔗 Bothy Bikes, Kingussie - bike hire and shop: https://www.bothybikes.co.uk/
🔗 In Your Element, Rothiemurchus - bike hire: https://iye.scot/

🛏️ Cycle-friendly accommodation
🔗 Ravenscraig Guest House, Aviemore: https://www.ravenscraighouse.co.uk/
🔗 Silverglades Self Catering Holiday Homes, Aviemore: https://www.silvergladesaviemore.co.uk/
🔗 Go Self Catered Holiday Cottages, Aviemore: https://www.goselfcatered.com/
🔗 Pine Bank Chalets, Aviemore: https://www.pinebankchalets.co.uk/
🔗 Glencoldon Cottage, Boat of Garten: https://glencoldon.co.uk/

🎥 My YouTube Channel: Cycling in the Scottish Highlands
🔗    / pjd66  

▶️ All Videos
   • All 'Cycling in the Scottish Highlands' Vi...  

▶️ Bike Rides in the Cairngorms National Park
   • Bike Rides in the Cairngorms National Park  

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 — Up Carn na Guaille / Carn Sleamhuinn
1:18 — Down Carn Sleamhuinn

🎵 Music
'Give It Away' by Zero 7

#Aviemore #mountainbiking #gravelride #gravelcyclingroute #CairngormsNationalPark #Carrbridge #HighBurnside