Bike Revolution: Short Sweet Circulars
With many miles of quiet country roads and formal and informal paths, Moray is tailor-made for walkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities, and throughout Moray there are opportunities for people to put on their walking boots or get on their bikes
This is a resource of local short cycle routes around the towns of Moray, ordered from nice flat easy cycling, to something with a bit of a hill. We aim to keep it as updated as often possible, so if we’ve missed any, let us know. Don’t forget, if you want to get out and hit some of the amazing tracks locally, but don’t have a suitable bike; you can always hire one from us. The bonus of that is that you won’t have to clean off all the mud from it afterwards!
For more information on local walks and cycle rides, please visit the Moray Council website
The Elgin Experience
The Elgin Experience is a 13 mile (21km) route starting and finishing in Cooper Park. The route takes you up through New Elgin and Miltonduff, and round past Quarrel Wood and Findrassie Wood.
The route tries to avoid too many busy junctions, but where this has been unavoidable it might be advisable to dismount and walk, particularly during heavy traffic flow, or if there are youngsters in the group.
The Forres Foray
The Forres Foray is a 10 mile (16km) route, starting and finishing in the centre of Forres. It is quite steep in places, but your uphill struggle on the way out will be rewarded with a downhill on the way back. It takes you out past the Golf Course to Rafford and back past the woodlands and Dallas Dhu distillery and back via Balnageith.
At different spots along the route you will see wonderful views of Findhorn Bay and over the Moray Firth, the forests of Darnaway and the hills of the Highlands in the background.
The Lossiemouth Loop
The Lossiemouth Loop is a 14 mile (23km) route starting and finishing at West Beach in Lossiemouth, taking you out round the RAF base, past Duffus Castle and Covesea.
The whole route is relatively flat and passes through fertile farming country. Watch out for the low-flying jets during the first two miles, as you pass close to the runway in the RAF base.
Buckie – Maud Meander
The Buckie – Maud Meander is a 10 mile (16km) route, starting and finishing at Cluny Square in Buckie. It is quite steep in places, but your uphill struggle on the way out will be rewarded with a downhill on the way back. It takes you out through Rathaven and round the back of the Hill of Maud following the Burn of Buckie back to the centre of town.
The Hill of Maud offers a picnic site and fantastic viewpoint, allowing you to take in views across Moray and the Moray Firth.
Scenic Speyside
The Scenic Speyside is a 10 mile (16km) route, starting and finishing on the banks of the Spey, on the outskirts of Fochabers. It is quite steep in places, but your uphill struggle on the way out will be rewarded with a downhill on the way back. It takes you out past Ordiequish to Boat o’ Brig, then follows the B9015 back through Inchberry and Dipple to Mosstodloch.
Part of the route takes you along little used roads with a few potholes to negotiate. It will also test your stamina and your brakes as the ascents and descents are sharp and full of tight corners.
Outfit Moray are one of nine Cycle Friendly Employers across Scotland who are fully accredited by Cycling Scotland to provide local support and delivery of the Cycle Friendly Employer Award. Please email stewart.evans@outfitmoray.com if you would like to find out more.