Why the Cairngorms Works So Well for Young Cyclists

The Cairngorms National Park has something rare for a British upland area: a genuine network of smooth, well-drained forest tracks linking villages, lochs and picnic benches without forcing you onto busy roads. Around Aviemore, Boat of Garten, Nethy Bridge and Glenmore, former estate and logging routes have been improved over the years and now form gentle corridors through the pinewoods. Gradients in the straths are modest, surfaces are mostly compacted gravel, and the gaps between cake stops are short enough to bribe tired legs. Children on 20-inch or 24-inch wheel bikes cope well, and parents towing a trailer or running a tag-along will find the going far kinder than on open hill ground.

The golden rule is to pick a route shorter than you think you need. A five-kilometre loop with a beach, a castle and an ice cream at the end beats a fifteen-kilometre epic every time.

Gentle Forest Loops to Start With

• Loch an Eilein, near Aviemore: roughly an 8 km circuit on wide gravel through Rothiemurchus pinewoods, past a ruined island castle. Mostly level, with benches and a couple of short pushes if the little ones are on balance bikes.
• Loch Morlich, Glenmore: a 5 km loop beside a sandy beach with a cafe and toilets nearby. Ideal as a first proper ride, and easy to shorten by turning back at any point.
• Insh Marshes, near Kincraig: flat, quiet paths with excellent wildlife watching and hides. Good for trailers and nervous riders, though it can be muddy after rain.

Traffic-Free Runs Between the Villages

Once everyone is pedalling confidently, the Old Logging Way between Aviemore and Glenmore is the classic family day out. It runs for around 10 km of traffic-free gravel, climbing gradually alongside the ski road, and finishes within easy reach of Loch Morlich and the cafe at Glenmore. Older children can manage it one way; younger ones are better off doing an out-and-back from the Glenmore end, which is gentler.

In Strathspey, the waymarked path between Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge is another lovely, largely off-road stretch of about 5 miles, with the option to continue to Grantown-on-Spey if energy allows. The section through Abernethy Forest is a particular highlight — watch for red squirrels and crossbills on the feeders at the forest edge.

For a bigger challenge with teenagers, the climb up through Ryvoan Pass from Glenmore past the Green Lochan is a proper mountain-bike-flavoured outing: rougher, steeper and best tackled without a trailer.

Hiring Bikes, Seats and Trailers

You do not need to transport half a bike shop to the Highlands. Hire outlets in and around Aviemore, Glenmore and Boat of Garten stock adult hybrids, hardtails, children's bikes, tag-alongs, trailers and rear child seats. A few practical points:

• Book ahead in July, August and school holidays — child seats and trailers in particular disappear fast.
• Bring your own helmets if you can; hired ones are fine but fit matters more than anything else.
• Check the brakes and tyre pressure before you set off, and ask staff to adjust saddle height for each child.
• Child seats usually suit children up to about 22 kg; beyond that, a tag-along or trailer works better.

What to Pack and When to Ride

Highland weather changes fast, even in midsummer. Pack waterproof jackets, a spare warm layer each, sun cream, midge repellent, water, and more snacks than you think necessary. A basic repair kit, a pump and a paper map are worth the weight, because phone signal is patchy in the glens.

Ride in the morning where you can. Winds are lighter, tracks are quieter and the midges are far less persistent before lunch. May, June and September are the sweet spots: long daylight, fewer crowds and cooler, comfortable temperatures for pedalling.

Good Habits on Shared Tracks

These routes are shared with walkers, dog owners, horse riders and forestry vehicles that occasionally need access. Slow down, ring a bell or call out politely, and give way to anyone on foot or on horseback. Close every gate behind you and give grazing sheep and cattle plenty of room — deer are common too, especially at dawn and dusk.

Finish the day with chips in Aviemore or a hot chocolate at a Glenmore cafe, and let the children choose the route next time. That small bit of ownership is what turns a good holiday ride into a habit they keep for life.