The best MTB trails around Mount Blair

A long way from anywhere.

2 or 3 river crossings. Your potentially getting wet. There is a high level bypass which is not a great cycle and boggy, stagnant and rocky in parts.

Gulabin Lodge was built in 1846 and originally served as a manse for the local church. The lodge has a notable Austrian connection through Gustav Fischnaller, a notable figure in Scottish skiing, who established the Cairnwell Mountain Sports Ski School in Glenshee in 1970. Fischnaller's expertise and passion for skiing led him to become the Scottish Ski Champion in 1970, and he also produced skis in Glenshee during that period, further supporting the local ski community.

Glenshee Kirk stands on the site of a late Neolithic or early Bronze Age standing stone, still visible behind the church. A simple parish church, it reflects the austere style of remote Scottish churches and remains an active place of worship, with a popular Christmas service. The name "Glenshee" derives from the Gaelic shith (fairies), and legend tells that fairies thwarted its original construction at Runavey, forcing builders to relocate. The standing stone would have once been visible from Diarmuid’s Tomb stone circle.

The Spittal of Glenshee takes its name from the Old Scots word "spittal," meaning a hospital or resting place. Historically, it served as a shelter for travelers crossing the Cairngorms, especially drovers moving cattle and goods across the Highlands. It was an important stop for pilgrims and traders, providing respite from the harsh mountain terrain. Located at the head of Glenshee valley, the area was historically inhabited by the Clan Farquharson and other Highland clans, and served as a key point linking northern and southern Scotland. Over time, the settlement grew from a simple refuge into a more established community, reflecting the broader heritage of the Scottish Highlands and their role in connecting different regions.

Curling, known as "The Roaring Game" due to the rumbling sound of the stones on ice, originated in Scotland around 500 years ago and became the country’s most popular winter sport by the 19th century. Early curling stones were simple, flat-bottomed rocks without handles, making the game more reliant on luck than skill. One historic site, the Old Curling Pond at Wester Tullochcurran, dates back to the early 19th century and provided a space for local enthusiasts to play during cold winters. Tho

Kindrogan Wood, near Enochdhu in Strathardle, has a rich history, once owned by the Robertson, Reid, Small Keir, and Balfour families before becoming the Kindrogan Field Centre in the 1960s and later The Chiron Hub, a therapeutic outreach service. The area is steeped in local legends, including the tale of Donal Mor and a visit from Queen Victoria. Now part of a 1,137-hectare estate managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, the woodlands host diverse wildlife, mature trees, and historical sites like an old curling pond and Bronze Age roundhouse remnants.

Alexander Duff, born in Moulin in 1806, was educated in the Kirkmichael Session House before attending Perth Grammar School and St. Andrews University, where he studied theology. He became the Church of Scotland's first missionary to India, playing a crucial role in modernizing India's education system and helping establish the University of Calcutta. In his honor, the Duff Memorial Free Church was built in 1890 by L & J G Falconer, though it now stands disused and in disrepair.