Walking, Hiking Running & Biking

Get off the beaten track

The Spittal of Glenshee has a centuries-old tradition of giving succour to the weary traveller. Today, walkers, bikers and runners of all abilities call in here to take a break from a through-route, or to stay for a few days and explore the myriad of trails that emanate from this magical place. The better-known routes such as the Cateran Trail are waymarked and relatively easy to follow; Gulabin Lodge is close to the Trail and is used by hikers looking for a cosier night than they might get “on the hill” during this multi-day trek. Other local trails are less well-defined, but no less beautiful and inviting. Guests staying at Gulabin can bag three Munros in a day, or walk miles into the interior of the Cairngorm mountains with relatively little climbing. Mountain bikers can pick from any number of challenging, technical ascents and hair-raising downhill runs that will test even the gnarliest of riders. If rowdy isn’t your bike style, you can enjoy some spectacular cross-country routes that take you well off the beaten track without raising the heart rate too much. The Cateran Ultra Marathon is among the more famous distance events that use Gulabin as a base. Getting off the hill after a 52-mile run is made all the better by our underfloor heating and hot showers.