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Mountain biking trails

United Kingdom

Scotland

Aberdeenshire

Kirriemuir Landward East

Glas-allt-Shiel Bothy – Loch Muick loop from Acharn

Routes

Mountain biking trails

United Kingdom

Scotland

Aberdeenshire

Kirriemuir Landward East

Glas-allt-Shiel Bothy – Loch Muick loop from Acharn

Moderate

3.8

(5)

riders

Glas-allt-Shiel Bothy – Loch Muick loop from Acharn

03:02

26.3km

880m

Mountain biking

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Tips

Includes a very steep uphill segment

You may need to push your bike.

After 5.83 km for 1.79 km

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

7.87 km

Streak of Lightning Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Incredible mountain bike single track, extremely challenging due to the narrow nature of the trail, exposure and technical aspects.

Tip by

10.1 km

View of Loch Muick

Highlight • Lake

Clear path around the far end of the Loch, not all rideable but easy to walk when unrideable.

Tip by

11.1 km

To find the entrance to the bothy is a little tricky. It is located between the buildings. Follow the dark(er) alley at the east side of the main building to the only accessible part of the mansion. The bothy offers a room with a large table and two bunkbeds at the ground floor and space for around four to five people in the attic.

There is a fireplace and you might find some (wet) wood and saws. The toilet is a few feet away in the adjacent building. It is primitive with a hole in the ground and two buckets to flush. The flowing stream next to the bothy is a decent water source.

Tip by

11.2 km

Loch Muick

Highlight • Lake

Loch Muick is a fantastic place to visit and there are several options for a walk, cycle or perhaps even a paddle.

For Mountain walkers, the White Mount Munros takes you on a loop high above it, with spectacular views back down to the loch and beyond. For those looking for something flatter, there is a path all the way around the loch, taking about 3 hours to walk.

The loch has a large car park and toilets, though on busy summer days and weekends, it can be full as early as 9am.

Tip by

13.4 km

Loch Muick

Lake

15.2 km

Loch Muick

Highlight • Lake

Glen Muick is part of the Balmoral Estate, Scottish holiday home to the Royal Family. You can discover lots of great walking routes in the area, plus see a variety of wildlife including grouse and deer. There is a visitor centre and a car park nearby, too.

Tip by

15.4 km

Loch Muick Footbridge

Highlight • Bridge

The footbridge over the outflow which becomes the River Muick at the northeast end of Loch Muick. The loch is a wonderful place to ride, the trails around the loch are rough but the road and the parallel trails up from Ballater are great.

Tip by

22.2 km

Grassy Singletrack in Cairngorms National Park

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

hike a bike up. can be boggy all year around try stick to main trail

Tip by

26.3 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

18.0 km

8.07 km

201 m

Surfaces

12.6 km

7.22 km

5.51 km

717 m

201 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (700 m)

Lowest point (250 m)

Weather

Wednesday 6 May

8°C

1°C

46 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Glas-allt-Shiel Bothy – Loch Muick loop from Acharn

Streak of Lightning Trail

View of Loch Muick