Cairngorm Bothies, the award-winning sustainable tourism business, has announced the launch of its Cairngorm Excursions Biking Map.

It aims to help visitors and locals alike explore the Cairngorms National Park.

Delivered with support from Visit Aberdeenshire, and funded by the UK Government, the Map uses GPS technology to provide a 360° sky tour of the forest area, with a series of sequential photographs guiding riders along the 1.5-mile route.

It connects Cairngorm Bothies to the award-winning Tarland Trails of Drummy Woods, Tarland, and onto the award-winning Pittenderich Trails.

The route is “off road” for the majority of the way, enabling bikers to enjoy the peace and safety of the forest, whilst they are led across Knockargerty Hill, with its panoramic views of Royal Deeside, and Donside. Local points of interest afe highlighted, along with the location of Cairngorm Bothies’ recently-installed Bike & Pet Wash station.

By validating their navigation as they bike, participants can be confident that they’re staying on the designated path and avoiding any potential obstacles or surprises.

Cairngorm Bothies has been able to enhance guests’ mountain biking experience further with the addition of several new facilities, including a washing bike station where riders can clean off their bikes after their adventures.

This has been enabled by funding and guidance from NEAT, North East Adventure Tourism, a body committed to transforming Aberdeen City & Shire into a world class destination for adventure activities & sports.

Additionally, two of the business’s new bothies, Hazel and Oak, now have secure private bike sheds with pin locks, allowing guests to store their bikes safely and conveniently using their own personal pin numbers. 

The new map, together with a new geo caching experience, was given a soft launch by Cairngorm Bothies last weekend, as part of Aberdeenshire Council’s “Doors Open Day”.

Dr Gordon Drummond, entrepreneur owner of the business, led a group on an informative one-mile walk around the woodland area where the Bothy complex is sited.

Along with enjoying a tour through the ancient Scots Pines, they were able to gather valuable knowledge on how Gordon has successfully married sustainable tourism with an enjoyable luxury glamping experience which enables guests to holiday with a lower carbon footprint.

Those who came along on bikes had the workings of the digital map explained to them, and were then invited to try it out for themselves to navigate their way to Tarland. With a new geo caching experience going live that day, visitors could also try out this fun treasure hunting activity.

Commenting on the launch of the Cairngorm Excursions Biking Map, Dr Drummond said: “Our recent involvement in the fantastic initiative which is Open Doors Day provided the perfect opportunity to soft launch this pioneering new map, asking the public for their feedback on using it.

“We have timed it to go live this weekend to coincide with the end of this year’s Climate Action Week, which, as a green tourism business committed to lowering carbon footprints, is something we wholeheartedly support.

“We’re also really pleased to have geo caching available now on the estate, with a series of micro treasure points waiting to be marked off. Geo caching is another very popular outdoor pastime for all ages. A clue to those planning to do this is to look very closely and carefully at the local flora!”

Dr Drummond thanked Visit Aberdeenshire for its support in making the Cairngorm Excursions Biking Map a reality, together with the UK Government for its vital funding assistance.

“I’d also like to thank Project Manager at NEAT, Will Clark, for all his valuable funding assistance, help and support in enabling us to make the business even more bike friendly overall. The bike stores and wash are already being very well used,” he said.

“Mountain biking is a brilliant fit with our business as many of our customers come here bringing their bikes, or hire them locally, to explore what we have to offer.

“We would often be asked by our self catering guests about the quickest way to get to local Trails avoiding roads where possible. Developing our own map has given them a fantastic option to try.

“Come and enjoy the mountain biking paradise that is this area!”

Cairngorm Bothies was a regional finalist in the prestigious Aberdeen City & Shire Thistle Awards for the third time in a row, shortlisted in the Climate Action Category, and in Innovation in Tourism.

Amongst Cairngorm Bothies impressive collection of awards, further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, are Gold Green Tourism Award status, together with the 2022 “Working together in Tourism” ACTA Award.

The business is a member of VisitAberdeenshire, VisitCairngorms, CoolSpaces UK and Scottish Land & Estates.

Further details on Cairngorm Bothies at www.cairngormbothies.co.uk, and Cairngorm Lodges at www.cairngormlodges.co.uk.