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frank9755
motoko
So...
The history of the The Snow Roads 300 audax goes back to the early days of Audax UK and was one of the original AAA events. The way the story goes is that there were 4 events each year across England Scotland and Wales and to get the AAA award you had to complete all these events.
The route gets its name from the 2 passes it takes in past the Glenshee and The Lecht Ski Centres as well as other Cairngorm roads with Snow Gates installed for winter closures. It sets out from Kirriemuir in Angus across The Mearns, an agricultural belt between the Mounth range and the North Sea. The Mounth is then crossed via the Cairn o' Mount(h) as it drops into Deeside. Heading North across the Don River valley toward the Garioch and the pictish fort on Bennachie hill with its Granite Nipple prominent from many miles around. Westward towards Rhynie before another large pass over The Cabrach a now desolate moorland that once was a thriving farming community before the clearances. Efforts are being made to reestablish communities here. The Cabrach descends into the heart of Speyside Whisky at Dufftown where the tangy smell of the mash and distillates hangs in the air. A tough 18 mile stretch towards Tomintoul is just a warm up for the hardest climb of the ride up to The Lecht Ski centre with ramps of over 20%. Crossing the top we pass back into Aberdeenshire and descend down near to the source of the Don at Cock Bridge and Corgarff Castle. Not much rest before a pair of hills known at the BHs need to be tackled taking you first to Gairnshiel and then to the village Crathie, home of Balmoral Castle. Riders then head upstream along the Dee to Braemar for the final control. From here the last major climb of the day is tackled with the steady by 15km long climb up Glen Clunie to the Cairnwell Pass home of the Glenshee Ski Centre. Cresting here it is 50 odd km back to the finish all downhill (except the parts that aren't) via Glenshee and then Glen Isla.
The village hall at Kirriemuir will be available from Friday evening for riders to congregate and for a few quid (to help cover hall costs) stay the night before coffee/tea and butteries (Aberdonian Croissant) for breakfast. Similar accommodation arrangements are available after the ride where the famous Kirriemuir Bridies will be offered for food.
Entries are here: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9433
It is registered as a centenary BRM 300, so special ACP Brevet Cards and Medals will be issued.