To Do: Cycling
Deeside is absolutely fabulous for biking and you can sample some of the best scenery in North-East Scotland with views over river valleys, coastal areas and distant mountains as well as rural villages and isolated farms. There are plenty of multi user trails which are mostly on forest roads which are wide enough for walkers, cyclists and horse riders to share together. Please act responsibly and show consideration for these other trail users.
All of the forests are managed for multiple benefits:- wildlife, the environment, recreation and timber. As you travel through the forests you will see how felling and thinning are changing the nature of the forests, making them more suitable habitats for our native wildlife as well as more beautiful places for people to enjoy.
You will find that Lary Cottage makes a superb base for cycling or mountain biking on Deeside and there is plenty of space out of site behind the house to keep your bikes. Please note that we have now installed an outside bike rack at Lary for safe storage of your bikes. It holds 5 bikes so all you need to bring along is your lock chain.
Check out the following websites:
www.forestry.gov.uk/aberdeenwoods
www.forestry.gov.uk/blackhallforest
www.forestry.gov.uk/fetteressoforest
www.forestry.gov.uk/thedurrisforest
For bike facilities in Ballater contact the following :
The Bike Shop, The Pavillion (Behind the church)
Victoria Rd
Ballater
Tel: 013397 55864
Guided rides every week for families/couples
Test rides, Sales Service & Repairs
Hire bikes collected and delivered
Trail route & info cards
Bikes, Tandems, Trikes, Tag & towalongs, child seats all available for hire
Cabin Fever
Station Square
Ballater
AB35 5RB
Tel : 013397 54004
email: ryan@cabinfever.org.uk
www.cabinfever.org.uk
Bike hire, sales and accessories
Also camping holidays, tent hire, canoe and kayak hire
Quad biking, karting, clay shooting, archery, target shooting, off road driving, rock climbing & pony trekking are all available.
For those of you who need kitting out with any bikes, cycling equipment, specialist clothing etc prior to your visit to the Highlands we can highly recommend BIKESHED who have a superb on line or phone ordering system or if you are near enough you can call in.
Their contact details are:
Bikeshed, Adrenilin House, Dearne Royd, Wakefield Rd, Scissett, Huddersfield, HD8 9HR Tel: 01484 860001 Ask for Mark and mention Lary Cottage and he will look after you.
www.bike-shed.com main website
www.bikes4trials.co.uk for specialist trial biking equipment