Meall Chuaich from Glen Tromie

Forests by Drumguish

The B970 travels along the southern bank of the River Spey, linking Kingussie to Aviemore. On this, around 4km south-east of Kingussie, the road twists sharply as it crosses the River Tromie via an old bridge (no parking here).

Around 500m north of the bridge, a sign points east to Drumguish. Drive uphill on a narrow road into woodland and park somewhere appropriate, without causing obstruction, before reaching the houses at Drumguish.

Bhran Cottage and bridge over River Tromie pre-2023.

On bike, cycle up the narrow road to the crossroads in the heart of Drumguish. Turn right and head downhill on a rough track to join the main estate track through Glen Tromie.

Now on a fine, fairly flat estate track, cycle down delightful Glen Tromie. The journey is around 9km, the first half of which is on track to Lynaberack Lodge - a rather 1970's housing-estate looking building and a bit out of place in such a beautiful area !

Beyond the lodge it's on tarmac all the way to Bhran Cottage . On the way the fast flowing River Tromie begins to hug the track and the last time I was here, a fair number of behives were standing close to the river just before reaching Bhran Cottage.

Ford on River Tromie (by Cat Wright).

Behind Bhran Cottage, a track drops down to some woodland and to the River Tromie, where a rather rickety bridge crosses the fast flowing water. The bridge was heavily damaged in autumn '23 but currently there is a ford upstream, though this will not be crossable if the river is in spate.

Beyond the bridge and ford the track gets rougher and climbs uphill, so if you don't have strong thighs (or are not on an e-bike), probably best to leave your bike somewhere near here.

Assuming still on bike, come out of the woodland, through a gate in a deer-fence and cycle on the track south-west. Around a corner, the track does a couple of short little climbs before leveling out to a more easy gradient as it climbs a little over 150m over the next 1.5km. The constructed track ends abruptly on Carn an Fheoir Bhuidhe .

Approaching the final climb up Meall Chuaich

Approaching the final climb up Meall Chuaich

Descending Meall Chuaich

Return is by the same route.

Once back on bike, the effort made on the uphill is rewarded by some really enjoyable downhill free-wheeling !

On Carn an Fheoir Bhuidhe looking north

I'd previously always approached Meall Chuaich from near Dalwhinnie on the A9, either running up it on its own or on a route with A' Bhuidheanach Bheag and Carn na Caim.

It was only when cycling down Glen Tromie to head for the likes of Meallach Mhor or An Dun above the Gaick Pass and with Meall Chuaich appearing in much of the view ahead, did I think of this route. It's certainly longer than approaching from the west, but with quieter parking at Drumguish compared to the lay-bys on the busy A9 and with the cycle down Glen Tromie being quite lovely, I'd prefer this over the aproaches from Dalwhinnie.

McGowan Environmental Engineering were working on the moorland above Carn an Fheoir Bhuidhe when I was there - I'm wondering if they'll connect the tracks over the marshy ground !