Glenmore , Ryvoan, Nethy Bridge loop

Loch Uaine

Today I cycled a circular route beginning at Loch Morlich then cycling past Glenmore lodge,
 Ryvoan bothy and down to Nethy bridge. The return is along the road to Kincardine 
then take the turn off marked Milton cottage a little further on and come back off road 
over the hill . It is a pleasant undemanding ride, with great views of the Cairngorms and 
a journey through the ancient Scot's pine woodland. There are many particular points 
of interest to stop and admire such as the green coloured  waters of Lochan Uaine. 
The fantastic situation of Ryvoan bothy with its views towards Bynack More and
 the Lairigh an  Laiogh which is apparently cyclable for most of its length unlike its more 
forbidding twin, the Lairigh Ghru.

Ryvoan bothy

The descent  through the forest to Nethy bridge was exhilirating and fast with the strong wind at my back. In Nethy bridge I had a sandwich and read the information about the Thomas Telford bridge. Telford's egineering achievements seem to be ubiquitous in the Highlands!

Thomas Telford bridge at Nethy bridge

 After Nethy bridge I was back on the road for a while admiring the Spey alongside me and thinking of the Jacobite hero, poet, bagpiper and dandy John Roy Stewart who came from this area. There is a cairn commemorating him somewhere here but I couldn't see it. 

the Spey near Kincardine

Another interesting stopping point was the Kirk at Kincardine which dates back to pre-reformation times. Many of the  gravestones are very old and show how populous the area once was. You can see the black mortsafe by the door which was used to protect coffins from body snatchers when the corpses were being stolen for use in medical school. There is also a stone basin of obvious antiquity outside the door which was probably the original font, put outside in the reformation.

Kincardine church

Turning back off road at Milton cottage gave a nice climb back over the hill to Loch Morlich with great views into Braeriach and the Northern corries, which were almost bare of snow.

Braeriach from the road back