Snow Roads Scenic Route by Motorcycle: Glenshee, Braemar and the Lecht

The Snow Roads Scenic Route runs about 145km (90 mi) through the eastern Cairngorms, from Blairgowrie in Perthshire to Grantown-on-Spey. It takes its name from the snow gates on its high passes, which close the road in winter, and it crosses the two highest main roads in Britain: the Cairnwell Pass above Glenshee and the Lecht above Tomintoul. On a bike it is a superb day: wide, well-surfaced roads with long sweeping bends, very little traffic outside the holiday weeks, and views across some of the wildest country in Britain.

The route

Blairgowrie to Spittal of Glenshee (about 32km / 20 mi). Leave Blairgowrie north on the A93 up Strathardle and Glenshee. The road starts gently through farmland and woods, then narrows and climbs as the hills close in.

Over the Cairnwell to Braemar (about 24km / 15 mi). From Spittal of Glenshee the A93 climbs steadily to the Cairnwell Pass at 670m (2,199ft), the highest main road in Britain, past the Glenshee ski centre at the summit. The modern road bypasses the old Devil's Elbow hairpin, but the climb is still steep in places, with long open bends. The descent through Glen Clunie to Braemar is one of the best stretches of the whole route: fast, open and empty.

Royal Deeside: Braemar to Ballater (about 27km / 17 mi). The A93 follows the River Dee east past Balmoral to Ballater through pine forest and along the river. It is gentler riding, with good surfaces and a few tighter bends. Braemar and Ballater are both good fuel and food stops.

Ballater to Cock Bridge (about 25km / 16 mi). North of Ballater, the Snow Roads follow the B976 and A939 north past Gairnshiel, with its old humpback bridge, to Cock Bridge and Corgarff Castle, a white-walled tower house in the middle of the moor.

The Lecht to Tomintoul (about 15km / 9 mi). From Cock Bridge, the A939 climbs very steeply to the Lecht ski centre at about 637m (2,090ft). The gradient here is far steeper than on the Cairnwell, so take it in a low gear. The descent north is a series of sweeping bends over open moor to Tomintoul, one of the highest villages in the Highlands.

Tomintoul to Grantown-on-Spey (about 22km / 14 mi). The A939 continues north-west past the Bridge of Brown, with a tight, steep dip down to the bridge and back up, and on to Grantown-on-Spey in Strathspey.

What to expect

These are proper main roads with good surfaces for most of their length, wide enough to enjoy without the stress of single-track riding. The hazards are the ones that come with remote high country: red deer on the road at dawn and dusk, sheep on unfenced stretches, and grouse that burst out of the heather. The Lecht and the Bridge of Brown have short, very steep sections. The weather on the tops changes fast, with strong winds and low cloud even in summer. The snow gates on the A93 and A939 close the road in winter weather: check Traffic Scotland before you set off out of season.

Getting there

Most riders come up the A9 to Perth and take the A93 to Blairgowrie. The A9 north of Perth has average-speed cameras over long stretches, so keep an eye on the limit. From the north end, Grantown is a short run to Aviemore and the A9, or north-east to the whisky distilleries of Speyside. Riding the route south to north, as here, puts the steep Lecht climb uphill and leaves the gentler Speyside roads for the end of the day. Riding it north to south works just as well, and gives you the long descent off the Cairnwell into Glenshee with the whole glen spread out in front of you.

Extensions

• Speyside. From Grantown or Tomintoul, the roads through Dufftown and along the Spey are quiet and twisty, with a distillery in every glen. Save the tasting for the evening.
• Glen Shee via Kirkmichael. The B950 and the roads through Strathardle are a quieter way into Glenshee from Pitlochry.
• The Cairngorm ski road. From Aviemore, the road past Loch Morlich climbs to the Cairngorm car park, an out-and-back with big views over Strathspey.

A suggested day

From Blairgowrie, ride the Cairnwell in the morning and stop in Braemar for coffee. Follow the Dee to Ballater for lunch, then take the Lecht and the run down to Tomintoul in the afternoon, finishing in Grantown-on-Spey. The route itself takes three to four hours of riding, so you have time for the stops, a distillery visit (riders save the tasting for later) or a walk up to Corgarff Castle. Many riders ride the route both ways over two days, with a night in Braemar or Ballater, and the Cairnwell and the Lecht feel very different in reverse.

Bikes and kit

Any bike handles the Snow Roads. The roads are smooth and wide enough for big tourers, and the climbs are short. The steep sections on the Lecht and the Bridge of Brown ask for a low gear and smooth throttle, especially two-up. The Cairnwell and the Lecht are high and exposed, and even on a summer day the wind at 600m (1,970ft) can be cold. Heated grips, a warm mid-layer and good waterproofs are the right kit here.

When to go

May to September is the main season. Snow can linger on the tops into May, and the first falls can come in October. Midges are rarely a problem on the high, windy sections but can be fierce at dusk in the glens in July and August. The route is at its busiest in July and August and during the Braemar Gathering in early September.

Where to stay

Braemar and Ballater are the best bases on the route itself, with Blairgowrie at the south end and Grantown and Tomintoul at the north. See all Cairngorms biker-friendly stays. The Snow Roads pair well with the west coast: ride on via Inverness for the North Coast 500, or west to Glencoe and the A82. See also all Scottish Highlands biker-friendly stays.