Bikepacking Scotland - The Cairngorms Loop Solo

The Cairngorms full route is 181 miles long with just over 11,000 ft of climbing. I chose to tour the outer loop which I worked out I could complete in three days at a decent pace.
The route takes you into some of the more remote areas of the Cairngorms rewarding you with some of the best views available and almost complete solitude in the second half.
I found the route online, downloaded the .gpx to my computer, and set off!
My pronunciation of Gaelic words is miles off, which I apologise for, I tried my hardest to get it right, and it got me frustrated that they didn't roll off my tongue too well.
I hope you enjoy this edit, it's a little longer than I'd hoped for, but I didn't want to edit the pants off it.
Get your bike, load it up and get out there. I may even see you in the hills.
🍕If you enjoyed the film, you can now buy me a slice of pizza to show your support! 🍕www.buymeacoffee.com/allenboa...
-Allen

[@headbangerstrail]

Thanks for the video! Amazing route! 😊

[@AllenBoardman]

You're very welcome! Thanks for stopping by and having a watch 👍👍

[@tonypaddler]

Well made video with great inspirational content. Thanks 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

Wow, thank you so much 🤩🤩

[@david-pascoe]

That looks like a great route. Will have to remember that one for the future. Cheers for the film Allen. :-)

[@AllenBoardman]

You really will! Thanks for checking out the video, pleased you enjoyed it!🙂

[@PigTraverse]

Looks a great route! Some great scenery.

[@AllenBoardman]

It was out of this world. Scotland is my most favorite place I've ever visited. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@jimbojet8728]

That was enjoyable. Thank you

[@AllenBoardman]

Thank you for watching! Happy you enjoyed it!! 🤗

[@Ziggymarlone]

Great video this mate. Nice to see someone showing more of the route, scenery and surroundings than themselves! Really inspiring stuff, keep up the good work ✌️

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey Chris! Thanks for watching. So happy you enjoyed it!!

[@CaptBongo]

Thank you Allen for sharing your trip. It looks fantastic. Wish I were there. Thank you for posting {Corpus Christi TX USA}

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks for stopping by and checking it out! I really appreciate it and I'm super happy you liked it! - Allen

[@grahamhaines9931]

Great video! Thanks

[@AllenBoardman]

You're very welcome :) thanks for watching it! 🤩

[@jamesherd9132]

Well done Allen loved the video it made it all look easy but its not I have done bits of this route and it was hard work .so well done again.

[@AllenBoardman]

Thank you James! I loved being out there in such a wonderful place. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the video, thanks for the kind comment. I still have the inner loop to do yet, so I may see you out there one day! Thanks again -Allen

[@chrisearnshaw7865]

Another great video 👍🏼

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks Chris ☺️☺️

[@GetInspiredMedia]

I loved this Allen. It looks like a bone-shaker in places so I’m not sure how my back would handle 😂 Loved this, thank you 👍 Dave 🇦🇺

[@AllenBoardman]

Hi Dave! I’m so happy you liked it that much! It was rather bumpy in places but at least I had suspension 😀 thank you so much for watching and from such a long way away too! Hope you get out this weekend 🤩 -Allen

[@samwises]

Cereal bar fatigue...! Another great video, Allen.

[@AllenBoardman]

You know it well 😂 thanks so much for the feedback, it means a lot!!

[@karolisg3180]

Well done, thousands kudos from me!

[@AllenBoardman]

Thank you so so much!! Glad you enjoyed it! 🤩🤩

[@dermotpurcell8861]

Thanks for sharing

[@AllenBoardman]

You’re welcome :)

[@JamesCorbett]

That was great!

[@AllenBoardman]

😀 that’s great to hear you liked it, thanks for watching!

[@gwynwrex]

Really enjoyed that, did some of it last year as part of CRC mtb. Can't wait to go back 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks so so much Gwyneth! That's brilliant to hear! I didn't think I'd go back, but I'm wondering when I'll be back to do the inner loop to complete it properly. Thanks for checking out my video :)

[@dons4europe]

Great video allan.well done.

[@AllenBoardman]

Thank you so much Gus. 🥳🥳

[@paulwatson-work3544]

Great video! Very much enjoyed it. Cheeres

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks for watching Paul! Means a lot to me, super happy you enjoyed it!

[@robertleuty]

Great video mate 😄😄

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks mate !!

[@mikkovulli]

Thanks! Really nice film! Pretty steep sections toward the end of the route...

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks Mikko! Yeah, it got a little hairy at points, but it kept me awake! 😆 Thank you for watching. -Allen

[@stephenbrown5844]

Fantastic place 😁👌❤️🇬🇧it's a nice easy route but short of refreshments 🤔mmmmm gona put it on my list😊👍💚💚

[@AllenBoardman]

I love it there. Yeah, not too many places to spend money. But it’s easy enough to carry what you need. Get it on a list and stick it right at the top! Thanks for checking out my video.

[@bigmikeshooter]

Very interesting Allen. Bravo from Greece...

[@AllenBoardman]

Thank you Dimitrios! Glad to hear you enjoyed it 😄😄

[@Leigh_thompsett]

Great video thanks and the scenery looks amazing! 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks for watching my edit! It's certainly an incredible place!

[@JAYZWORKSHOP]

The view at 24:09 love it, great video enjoyed watching

[@AllenBoardman]

Oh yeah! It's incredible. You should get yourself there to have a good play! Thanks so much for watching, I really appreciate it :)

[@googlemcshoogle1376]

Outstandingly shot video. The location. Is the star here with your bike set up a.close setting. I'm sure the highest compliments I could give a bike videographer in the outdoors Al. I sent U an Instagram with a pic of my favourite UK Bothy in the message. Anyway. Brilliant brilliant content. Exactly what u need when you can't get out and need a fix sitting in the house 🙌🏻

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey! Thank you very much for watching, the Cairngorms is an incredible place, so I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did being there! Thanks again, Allen

[@GrahamFootBicycleLover]

Great video Allen, definitely need to get this route and ride it. Thanks for sharing your trip.

[@AllenBoardman]

You really do, Graham! It's such a decent trip, your fat bike would love it!

[@GrahamFootBicycleLover]

@@AllenBoardman you need to try one of my bikes? Fatbike is just perfect for what your doing.

[@AllenBoardman]

@@GrahamFootBicycleLover I take do don't I!! 🤘

[@jonshedwick3870]

Great 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

Glad you enjoyed it!! 😁😁😁

[@stronch]

Great video, I am from right in the middle of the route and sad to say, not done hardly any of the loop. Must rectify that 😁

[@AllenBoardman]

I'd never be out of there if I lived right in the middle, you'll have to get on out there!

[@eastyorkshiremamil]

Good summary of the outer loop there Allen, nice one. Me and a mate spent 3 days doing the Cairngorms 300k last year which is the inner and outer loop, I can confirm the inner loop is beautiful to look at but brutal to do on a bike!

[@AllenBoardman]

I was a but gutted I didn't do the inner loop when I had the time to do so, but it means I can go back. I had a spare day and another 100km in the legs for sure! Thanks for watching Jason, I'm pleased you enjoyed it 😁😁

[@eastyorkshiremamil]

@@AllenBoardman you definitely should, it's stunning. Just be prepared for plenty of hike-a-bike!😂

[@AllenBoardman]

@@eastyorkshiremamil oh my, I'm not new to a bit of HAB but you have to have a sense of humour don't you 😂

[@ft6666]

Great video Allen. Thanks for sharing.

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it 😃

[@ft6666]

@@AllenBoardman Quick question if you have time, but is it doable on a gravel bike? Or is it MTB only?

[@AllenBoardman]

@@ft6666 That's a tough one to say which one to choose. I barely use the gravel bike for bikepacking, almost all of the time I choose the mountain bike. I would suggest that the flatter bits or road bits would be so muich quicker on a gravel bike, but the techy / rocky descents would be much slower. I've got a friend who rides a gravel bike properly offroad and he rips! I really prefer an MTB, but if you don't have a choice, just take your time when it's really rather bumpy, you don't want to end up in Glen Tilt, it's COLD!

[@ft6666]

@@AllenBoardman Thanks Allen, yep the techy bits looked way past gravel realms. Confirmed what I thought. Thanks for taking the time to reply and ride safe.

[@AllenBoardman]

@@ft6666 Anytime! Always happy to help 😊

[@kennyness8881]

Very well done video. Thanks for posting (from Arkansas, USA).

[@AllenBoardman]

Hi Kenny! Wow! Thank you so much!! I can't believe it reached that far. Thank you for checking out my video - I'm really pleased you enjoyed it :)

[@badmintonstan]

Cracker that Al, might av a crack at that one, stay in aviemore halfway, gonna do the badger divide in May I think

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks Stan. I loved the Badger Divide mate, you'll have such a laugh! Super jealous!

[@gethappycyclingcampingoutdoors]

Excellent video, beautiful place. Have you done anymore bike camping trips?

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey, yes I have indeed! Before winter you’ll see an Iceland video drop. It’s quite an epic edit as there were so many clips to search through! Keep an eye for that and maybe a few more before the year is out!

[@waheedhassan1643]

Hey Allen. great vid, was planning on doing this next week. Whats are the mozzies like when you did it?

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey dude!! The midgies were a right pain! Hope for a bit of rain, or get smidge and a net!! Thanks for watching 😁

[@TheCrippo]

Hi Al. Hope you’re well recently discovered you and Barry on the Tube and it’s got me starting bike packing. Just building a bike up... Trek would you believe

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey up Crispin! I'm absolutely brilliant buddy!! Hope you are too! Glad we could inspire you a little more get you out there bikepacking!! And yep, I can imagine you would have gone for a Trek 😉

[@TheCrippo]

Allen Boardman yeah I’m very inspired. I mentioned it to my friend and 2 days later he has bought a bike packing rig too. Going to have some cool trips to Scotland this year. This route looks great....

[@AllenBoardman]

@@TheCrippo you'll have to let me know how you get on! That's ace that he sorted himself outbso quickly. You'll have a blast on this route!

[@gregs7562]

Absolutely fabulous. Which route did you take after the Green Loch towards Tomintoul ? Down towards the Ford's of Avon & Faindouran ?

[@AllenBoardman]

Thank you Grreg! I'm so chuffed people are enjoying this as much as I enjoyed making it! Im unsure where the ford's are, I'm sorry. I went; River Nethy, Eag Mhòr, Ballintuim, Burn Of Brown :)

[@gregs7562]

@@AllenBoardman it's one if the routes to Tomintoul from around the Ryvoan Bothy. Not ridden it myself mind you. I was curious which route you took. I'll need to go study my maps 😄

[@AllenBoardman]

@@gregs7562 oops sorry BUT it will be fun joining up the places to the tracks available no? 😁 Grab a whisky and study away. You need to get up there and ride it. It's incredible.

[@gregs7562]

@@AllenBoardman haha. Its down from me 🤣 I'm up on the Moray coast. Ridden quite a bit if it but not done any camping. Something for next year I think 🤔

[@AllenBoardman]

@@gregs7562 Perfect Greg!! You're so lucky being up there. You should 100% go there and camp out, you'll have to remember to let me know how you get on!!

[@domquigley7890]

Brilliant video, and very useful for anyone thinking of doing this, thanks for sharing and well done for doing it in two days, I'd be interested in your times if you can remember them, i.e. how long did each day take, from start to finish?

[@AllenBoardman]

Hi Dom! Thank you so much for watching. It certainly was one of my most favourite trips, but I need to go back to do the inner loop. I think I was riding for 20 hours in total. I’m not super quick, I just plod on.

[@domquigley7890]

Cheers Allen, I figured about 10 hours a day, that's good going and good luck with the inner loop 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

@@domquigley7890 I’ll need it. It’s supposed to be a tough one!

[@domquigley7890]

@@AllenBoardman Hi again Allen, just thought I'd let you know I did my own version of the top half of the Cairngorms Loop, while avoiding that crazy Glen Derry section, here's a link to my KZbin video 👍kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6anlJypg6eFgac

[@gordonmculloch4904]

Amazing. How do you find theses routes? 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

Hi! Glad you liked it. It actually forms part of the official Caringorms Loop. I just removed the inner loop. Thanks for watching!

[@jcgadventures1102]

Superb video cheers 👍 is this rideable on a gravel bike btw? Looks rough in parts

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey Ian! Thank you for watching, I'm glad it hit the spot for you :) I know quite a few people do it on a gravel bike, there's a fair few sketchy parts that I'm glad I had my mtb for. The west side of the course was quite long and gravelly in places, so where I thought I was a bit slow, you'd be a bit faster. The faster descents may be a little slower on thinner tyres and narrower bars, but gravel bikes are getting better and better. Let me know how you get on! -Allen

[@jcgadventures1102]

@@AllenBoardman cheers I will. I ticked off the NC500 couple of years ago in a Scottish 20 degree heatwave April time! What a route that is. I wild camped it over 4 nights/5 days riding. Amazing adventure that I highly recommend Allen. PS I'll subscribe to your channel too 👍

[@AllenBoardman]

@@jcgadventures1102 ah man, thank you! I love that you enjoyed it that much! I completed the NC500 for charity in 2017, I rode 6 days and had a day off in Smoo Cave with the fam who followed me on a van to support me. This was just months before I found bikepacking, but I wouldn't change the way I done it. I would 100% go back too, but the HT550 is calling me. I think it wants to finish me off 😂 -Allen

[@PACEUK22]

Can you provide a link to the gpx please? Great vid

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks for checking it out! I've no idea how to share a gpx over KZbin but you can find it super easily via a quick Google search 🙂 thanks again for watching! 🤘

[@lovelyjubbly87]

What bike did you use? I'm planning my first bikepacking but not sure which bike to get, Whether a cheap £500 or expensive bike. Thank you

[@AllenBoardman]

Hey! Thanks for reaching out, I certainly wouldn't spend more than you feel comfortable with, just get something reliable, maybe a few seasons old and save some £. The bike I use is a Hunt, which is an Australian designed bike by Dan Hunt.

[@lovelyjubbly87]

@@AllenBoardman appreciate it thank you. Was thinking of getting a voodoo bizango, got rated well for budget bike. Thanks for the video and response.

[@AllenBoardman]

@@lovelyjubbly87 you're going to have a lot of fun exploring by bike! You'll have to let me know how you get on :)

[@BotanyDegreePilkerton]

land/property goes to the royals, if there's no descendants to inherit

[@davidsvoboda6371]

great video thanks A - one criticism I have of most cycling videos is too much speaking head time -talk while showing scenery is my suggestion

[@AllenBoardman]

Thanks David! I often waffle on a bit, so it's really good to hear someone's opinion on an edit who is watching it nice and fresh, rather than my rose tints stuck in editer mode. Thanks so much for the feedback and watching 😁