Tour # 21.
Aberdeen - Ballater - Corgarff - Alford - Aberdeen
185 km.
Approx. total hill climb: 550 meters.
Highest point: Ballater- Corgarff 450 meters above sea level.
Traffic: Minimal.
Severity Rating: *****
Fun rating: ****

How to get to Aberdeen: Train from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and London. Plane from the rest of the world. Ferry from Shetland, Orkney and Norway.

This route is mainly flat along River Dee and River Don, with one very serious hill between these two rivers. This is a medium interesting tour. The tour does not include any particular great views. But this tour is recommended as a long tour for those who are based in Aberdeen. This is a serious tour in sunny weather due to it's exposure to sunshine.

The sixty kilometers road from Aberdeen to Ballater (A 93) along River Dee is flat and not in particular interesting. There is shops at Peterculter, Banchory and Aboyne. Ballater is most known as the favorite town of the British Royal Family. The Balmoral Castle is ten kilometers up the river towards Braemar and Perth. It is essential that you shop for drink in Ballater because the next shops are 50 km. away. After three kilometers from Ballater, take the A 939 towards Tomintoul. The first ten kilometers follows a valley on a hilly road. At the end of this valley, the road takes of over a bridge (towards Tomintoul) and goes into a vertical climb for some hundred meters. The road drops down again over a small river before it steady climbs up to it's highest point at 450 meters above sea level. Enjoy the scenery and the view across to the horrid hills at the Lecht, where you are not heading this time. The road drops vertically down to River Don again. At the crossroad after the bridge, take the road to the right in the direction to Aberdeen. The road is flat down to Glenkindie (pub and shops), where a small hill take you over to Kildrummy (shops). Another small hill take you over to Mossat (shops). The road (A 944) towards Alford along the river is flat and interesting. If you think the road down to Aberdeen are a piece of cake, you will now get a surprise. The road goes up a sharp climb three kilometers after Alford. Then it goes down again in a short descent. The road towards Aberdeen are a blend of flat and moderate climb up towards Westhill. The sting of the tale is a short climb up the hill overlooking Aberdeen and the North Sea. The view is stunning. The descent down to Aberdeen is long and moderate. Be aware of the traffic and enjoy the stunning views along this descent towards Aberdeen. A perfect end to a perfect tour.