Deeside Way

Deeside Way

The Deeside Way follows the old Royal Deeside Railway line for 41 miles (66km) between Duthie Park in Aberdeen and Ballater, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Waymarked throughout as National Cycle Network Route 195, it runs in four linked sections on a mostly flat, hard-packed gravel and tarmac surface, making it one of the best long-distance gravel rides in North East Scotland as well as a popular family cycling and walking route. It also passes close to the mountain bike trails at Scolty Hill along the way.

The Route

1. Aberdeen to Drumoak - starts at the Polmuir Road entrance to Duthie Park, behind the David Welch Winter Gardens, and follows the old railway trackbed out through Aberdeen's western suburbs on a mostly tarmac and hard-packed surface.
2. Drumoak to Banchory - continues on the old railway line to King George V Park in Banchory, still largely off road with gentle gradients throughout.
3. Banchory to Aboyne - the longest of the four sections, mixing the old rail line with forest tracks and woodland paths through Blackhall Forest and Potarch. There is a short waymarked road link east of Aboyne, where the old rail line itself has a gap.
4. Aboyne to Ballater - starts from the car park beside Victory Hall in Aboyne and finishes at the Old Royal Station in Ballater, once again mostly following the historic trackbed.

Check deesideway.org for the current section-by-section route guides and any temporary path closures or diversions before you set off.

Gravel Riding

The Deeside Way is substantially a gravel route. Surface varies section to section: smooth tarmac and hard-packed aggregate close to Aberdeen, hard-packed gravel and forest track for most of the middle and western sections, with occasional stonier or muddier patches after rain. The gentle railway gradients and firm surface suit gravel and cyclocross bikes as well as hybrids and mountain bikes, and it is a popular choice for a long, low-technicality gravel day out or an easy multi-day bikepacking route between Aberdeen and the Cairngorms.

Getting Here

The main trailhead car park is at Duthie Park, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen, AB11 7RX, at the Polmuir Road entrance behind the David Welch Winter Gardens. This is the eastern end of the route and the best served by public transport.

Alternative access points along the way include Drumoak, King George V Park in Banchory, the car park beside Victory Hall in Aboyne, and the Old Royal Station in Ballater at the western end.

Aberdeen has a mainline railway station with regular ScotRail services. The old Deeside railway line no longer carries passenger trains, so there is no rail service beyond Aberdeen along this route. Stagecoach's 201 and 202 bus services run along Deeside from Aberdeen through Banchory and Ballater to Braemar, calling at all the main access towns.

Along the Way

Duthie Park has toilets and a cafe in the Winter Gardens. Banchory, Aboyne and Ballater all have cafes and shops close to the route. Riders after technical singletrack rather than gravel can detour to nearby trail venues, including Scolty Hill near Banchory, Banchory Woodland Trails, and Aboyne Bike Park.

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