Aberdeenshire
Find Your Next Adventure on These Aberdeenshire Bike Trails!
Find Your Next Adventure on These Aberdeenshire Bike Trails!
Deeside Way by Alan Findlay under license CC BY-SA 4.0
In this post we highlight some of the best cycling routes in Aberdeenshire including well maintained cycle paths and for the more adventurous, some of the area's best mountain bike trails! Cycling in Aberdeenshire is a great way to explore the county. The scenery is beautiful, and there are plenty of trails and paths to follow. Not only a great way to get exercise, cycling is a fun way to see the countryside. If you're looking for an enjoyable outdoor activity, getting the bike out in Aberdeenshire is definitely worth doing on your visit.
You can start off at the beginner mountain bike trails around Kirkhill Forest, spend an afternoon going round the Tarland Trails or take on a section of the 41 mile long Deeside Way! If you don't have your own bike with you, we've listed some of the bike hire companies (at the bottom of the page) in the area that you can easily take out a short or longer rent for your trip.
Once you've read up on the cycle routes to try on your visit to the county of Aberdeenshire, why not have a look at our blog posts for the activities that are available to do here. You can find them on the following buttons below:
The best bike trails in Aberdeenshire!
The table above lists all the best cycling routes in Aberdeenshire. Click on each name to be taken straight to the part of the blog post for that route.
There's nothing better than a lovely cycle taking in the sights and sounds of the countryside. Have a look below at the cycle routes listed on the interactive map and click on the buttons below the map for each route, for further information before you travel. The purple icons on the map are local bike hire shops.
Deeside Way
Split into 4 main sections, The Deeside Way is a cycling route that runs through Aberdeenshire stretching from the city of Aberdeen to Ballater. It's a great way to see a large chunk of the countryside with the route around 41 miles long. The route is well-marked and easy to follow, making it a perfect choice for beginner cyclists. This scenic path is a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy views of Scotland's beautiful landscape. The route follows the Old Royal Deeside Railway from Aberdeen all the way down through farmland, woodland and alongside the River Dee, ending in the town of Ballater.
The map above shows the Deeside Way from Duthie Park in Aberdeen to the old Ballater Railway Station with the family friendly sections being from Aberdeen to the Banchory Lodge Hotel and from Aboyne to Ballater.
Formartine and Buchan Way, by Mill of Clackriach by Colin Smith under license CC BY-SA 4.0
Formartine and Buchan Way
The Formartine and Buchan Way is a great way to explore the area north of Aberdeen. The path is well-maintained and offers beautiful scenery along the way. The route runs along the former railway from Dyce in Aberdeen to Maud, where it splits with branches headed north towards Fraserburgh and east towards Peterhead. There are also many places to stop and rest including the village of Newmacher and the town of Ellon. The route is an impressive 53 miles in length and entirely off-road so perfect for a trip with the family!
The Tarland Way
The Tarland Way is a family friendly cycle trail that connects the Aberdeenshire village of Tarland with Aboyne, located nearby. The 6 miles long walking path passes through beautiful areas like the Howe of Cromar, which has been rated as an area of outstanding natural beauty with evidence of humans living here all the way back to 4000 BC! The trail has some changes in elevation which makes it challenging, but also great for hiking and biking. It will take you just over 2 hours to complete this route if your pace is normal or faster than average; however if you stop to take in some of the scenery on offer you may be a little longer!
Tarland Trails by Anne Burgess under license CC BY-SA 4.0
MTB: Tarland Trails
If you're looking for a great mountain biking course, the Tarland Trails are well worth a visit. Located in Drummy Woods south of the village of Tarland, the trails are challenging and varied, with something to offer riders of all levels of experience. There's also plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way. The 3 km track has something to offer everyone, whether you're looking to warm up on the pump tracks before taking off onto one of the waymarked trails or just happy to learn the basics with the family at a slow pace, Tarland Trails is a place where an afternoon can fly by!
MTB: Aboyne Bike Park
An amazing bike park with two downhill tracks, a jump area and pump track for all ages and abilities. The Aboyne Bike Park is managed by volunteers along with Mid Deeside Limited who own the land on behalf of the community! The bike park is a beautiful, well maintained facility that's perfect for beginners or experienced bikers alike. The trails are short but worth checking out!
MTB: Pitfichie
Pitfichie Forest mountain bike trails are well worth a visit to get the adrenaline going! Lots of imagination and hard work went into making these popular, well-structured courses that flow beautifully through the forest to give you an amazing ride! For more information on the trails before you travel, check out the Forestry Commission's page for further details by clicking the button!
MTB: Kirkhill
Kirkhill forest is a great place for beginner mountain bikers! The mountain bike fun park is within close range of the car park and is an ideal place to practice skills before trying more demanding places in the county. With more challenging unmarked trails throughout the forest, Kirkhill is a place where anyone can be challenged. Located just outside the city of Aberdeen and easily accessed just off the A96 road.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have shared some of the cycle routes in the Aberdeenshire. With miles upon miles to explore, we hope you manage to see as much of this beautiful county on bike as possible! To find out more about things to do in this area, click on the buttons below:
Please note...
All outdoor activities including cycling involve a degree of risk. The routes are recommended due to the well known features of each route but this may change over time and further research is required before undertaking any activity. The weather can also impact the surface and general conditions of each route so please keep yourself updated with the weather forecast before setting off to enjoy your cycle!
Crown Copyright, courtesy Forestry and Land Scotland (15/08/22) licensed under the Open Government License.