BRIAN ON LINE
 
 
With train tickets safely secured we were off heading for Blair Atholl station to pick up the 12:30 service that would tack us to Kingussie and the start of our latest adventure... an excursion through the Gaick Pass.
After an easy road section past Ruthven barracks we picked up the good track that would take us up to Gaick Lodge. Beyond  the lodge the track would deteriorate before eventually becoming a section of single track running along the side of Loch an Duin. This section was fairly technical and required a fair bit of concentration as there was a steep drop off in places to catch you out if you were not careful. Once beyond this section the track became more manageable with only a couple of river crossing to contend with before we were on an easy run down to the A9 where we crossed the dual carriageway at Dulnacardoch to pick up the Sustrans cycle route that followed the old A9 mainly downhill back into Blair Atholl.
All in all another good adventure into remote countryside on good tracks with very little hike & bike. Our journey covered some 35 miles but instead of the train the trip could have been done as a loop using the Sustrans cycle route from Kingussie back to the start point at Dulnacardoch should you want to do the route from south to north. This would make for a tough day out covering in excess of 50 miles .... not for us, but maybe next time! 

For a more technical review of the trip, additional photographs  and detailed GPS route files visit...... www.davebanks.scot/route_8.htmhttp://www.davebanks.scot/route_8.htmshapeimage_2_link_0
MTB Trip Kingussie to Blair atholl via the Gaick Pass
14th september 2013
The Route - Total mileage approx 35 miles
The Route  Profile