+ 156
Lochnagar Loop and the Glas Allt (Lochnagar 5 munros)
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
18.31 mi
3,611 ft
Rewarding loop that can be expanded to bag five munros, before descending one of the most technical natural trails in Scotland.
Lochnagar is an iconic hill, settled majestically over the royal Balmoral estate with its steep southern flanks falling into the shores of Loch Muick. When you picture rugged Scottish hills and glens, this is it.
The route is a demanding and rewarding one, climbing steeply and quickly up from the loch's shores, you traverse the plateau with the option to take in 5 munros during the circuit. Plenty of stiff climbing and hike-a-biking is punctuated by full throttle rugged and open singletrack, with views open as far as the weather will allow! The final push brings you out onto the crown itself, Lochnagar. Just make sure you go to the cairn at the true summit for your celebratory photo!
Once the view has been savoured, it is time to steel yourself for what is arguably the most technically demanding descent this side of Scotland, the Glas Allt. A gentle opener lulls you in before the first of many steep rugged and misshapen staircases of uncut granite. The stairs are both steep and tall and a steady feather of the brake and looking far ahead is what will bring you safely to the end. The trail then opens up and is punctuated by water bars that even a 29er couldn't roll over! Breaking in the final section, the trail turns the gradient and exposure back to 11 before finally delivery you shaking back to the shores of Loch Muick. Written by FATMAP Official
Lochnagar is an iconic hill, settled majestically over the royal Balmoral estate with its steep southern flanks falling into the shores of Loch Muick. When you picture rugged Scottish hills and glens, this is it.
The route is a demanding and rewarding one, climbing steeply and quickly up from the loch's shores, you traverse the plateau with the option to take in 5 munros during the circuit. Plenty of stiff climbing and hike-a-biking is punctuated by full throttle rugged and open singletrack, with views open as far as the weather will allow! The final push brings you out onto the crown itself, Lochnagar. Just make sure you go to the cairn at the true summit for your celebratory photo!
Once the view has been savoured, it is time to steel yourself for what is arguably the most technically demanding descent this side of Scotland, the Glas Allt. A gentle opener lulls you in before the first of many steep rugged and misshapen staircases of uncut granite. The stairs are both steep and tall and a steady feather of the brake and looking far ahead is what will bring you safely to the end. The trail then opens up and is punctuated by water bars that even a 29er couldn't roll over! Breaking in the final section, the trail turns the gradient and exposure back to 11 before finally delivery you shaking back to the shores of Loch Muick. Written by FATMAP Official
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Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat House turn off to Black Burn bridge | 1.53 mi | 164 ft | 2.0% |
| Capel Rd Climb | 0.85 mi | 610 ft | 13.5% |
| Last Zig Zag to hut | 2.08 mi | 466 ft | 3.5% |
| Capel Rd Climb | 0.74 mi | 489 ft | 12.4% |
| Capel Rd Climb | 0.89 mi | 509 ft | 10.7% |
| Cac Carn Mor to Glas-allt-Shiel | 2.94 mi | -2,244 ft | -14.4% |
| Cac Carn Mor to Glas-allt Tral | 0.31 mi | -276 ft | -16.6% |
| Queenie's Gnarley DH Course | 2.78 mi | -2,205 ft | -15.0% |
| Allt-initiation | 0.18 mi | -236 ft | -23.9% |
| Glas Allt | 2.62 mi | -1,955 ft | -14.1% |
| Glas Allt - to the bridge | 1.65 mi | -1,076 ft | -12.3% |
| Down the walkers path to bridge | 1.45 mi | -879 ft | -11.4% |
| Glas-allt Linn | 0.94 mi | -883 ft | -17.7% |
| Loch Muick TT | 1.68 mi | 72 ft | 0.1% |
| Lochside Shiel to Giubhsaich | 2.54 mi | 56 ft | 0.2% |
| Back to Carpark | 0.90 mi | -52 ft | -0.1% |
| Cross the open Muick | 0.71 mi | -72 ft | -0.4% |