30 | Cycling World
6 Family-Friendly
Cycle Routes in S
cotland
Cycling in Scotland
with the family isn’t
just about fresh air
trees on traffic free
and exercise, it’s ab
paths, cycling arou
out racing through
nd a loch in the sum
listen out for wildlif
the
mer sun and stoppi
e.
ng to stand quietly
,
and
Cycling is a wonde
rful way to have fu
n as a family, and th
portunities for actio
e National Cycle N
n-packed family da
etwork provides lo
ys out.
ts of op-
Many of the routes
follow old railway
lines, canal towpath
finest scenery. Kids
s and forest trails, th
will love being able
rough some of Scot
to ride their bikes
paths, and there ar
land’s
on these relatively
e lots of things for
flat and largely traffi
them to see and do
c free
along the way.
If you are complet
ely new to family cy
cling and family cy
National Cycle Net
cling holidays, then
work, offer some gr
Sustrans, who man
eat advice on cyclin
help keep those w
age the
g with kids and plan
heels turning.
ning a family bike rid
e, to
Here’s our pick of
six great family-fri
endly
cycle routes, to he
lp get you started
nal Park
tio
airngorms Na
C
y,
a
W
e
d
si
y
The Spe
1.
iles (8 km)
Distance: 5 m
ore
Start: Aviem
of Garten
Finish: Boat
Grade: Easy
ly undulating
nes and gent
la
et
ui
q
of
n
io
ss: a combinat
ients and acce
CN 7.
N
Terrain, grad
d
te
gn-pos
cycle paths. Si
d
oa
-r
off
el
grav
eyside Way,
the scenic Sp
of
n
io
ct
se
a
mplete
route follows
woodlands co
iption: This
native birch
d
an
-
rs
Route Descr
oo
m
d enjoy stun
heather
for a picnic an
way through
its
op
g
st
in
to
ad
s
re
ce
e
th
ong th
plenty of pla
ns running al
s! There are
the steam trai
or
,
with sculpture
ns
ai
nt
Mou
at of Garten,
the Cairngorm
the kids! At Bo
r
of
fo
s
s
ew
tie
vi
ni
tu
ng
ni
oppor
el for tea
the Boat Hot
– great photo
to
ay
in
ilw
op
Ra
p
ey
or
ce,
n
Strathsp
B Loch Garte
iendly post offi
acks at the fr
e popular RSP
sn
th
on
to
e
up
d
ri
k
e
oc
u-
st
e bea
d extend th
arn about thes
here, you coul
re you can le
he
w
),
and cakes. From
km
4
bikes are very
5 miles/
e (approx. 2.
– cyclists and
tr
e
en
or
C
y
em
vi
re
A
sp
to
O
m train back
r catch a stea
tiful birds. O
the trains!
welcome on
s
viemore Bike
thy Bikes or A
Cycle hire: Bo