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Difficulty: Long Day Rides (Over 40 Miles)

Surface/Terrain: Road

Distance (Miles): 51.9 miles

This route between Aberdeen and Ballater can be combined the route between Ballater and Aberdeen along the south side of the Dee to create a weekend of cycling on Royal Deeside. 

Following the north side of the River Dee, but very largely avoiding the busy A93, this route offers opportunities to visit at least two of this area's exellent castles, which form part of the Castle Trail.

The route leaves the Granite City by the Deeside Way, a formner railway line converted to a cycle-path.  There are, however, some gaps in the Deeside Way where the line has been redeveloped and our route takes some of the minor roads to pass Drum Castle and Crathes Castle of the way to the small town of Banchory. 

Beyond Banchory the route takes a bit of a detour to avoid the the busier road, but the scenery really begins to offer a reward for sticking to the backroads.