General Wades Military Road

[johnnyboy]

Does anybody know if this is open for vehicles/bikes? Looks like it could be fun; any info/advice appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Posh Pete]

Which one? He (and his sojers) bullt a few. Maybe you mean the Corrieyairack?

 

[kirky1298]

aye , as long as yer no droving sheep up it in yer landy , wee fell for that auld trick afore

 

[rockchunk]

went over it the last 3 years on the montesa ,,,been over in the landy a lot of winching involved going up 28th or 29th dec see open invite trips

 

[johnnyboy]

went over it the last 3 years on the montesa ,,,been over in the landy a lot of winching involved going up 28th or 29th dec see open invite trips

Would have joined you if I was in the area. Would like to do it some time next year if you're planning doing it again. Is it feasable on a big trail bike (990 adventure)? I've got a fair bit of off road experience.

 

[squid]

Isn't there lots of different sections going west to east? I thought the road as such never got completed?

I've been on sections at various places (mountainbiking) but there where clear vehicle tracks. Looked good for a bike, I have also seen parts that would be for walkers/pushbikes only at a guess?

 

[weewan]

Does anybody know if this is open for vehicles/bikes? Looks like it could be fun; any info/advice appreciated.

Cheers

Have a look on here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/fleetwood650gs/CorrieyairackPass?feat=directlink I went up part of it in 2007, but to be honest although it doesn't look to bad in the pics some bits of the road were a real test for the Dakar "and rider" the bike in standard trim is just to tall geared so I wouldn't bother on a 990 adv better suited to a trials bike. but please don't be put of giving it a go, the run up to the pass is fantastic, stunning scenery. Edit as you will see in the last few pics I went back to the Corrieyairack with my son in August this year and there was a chain across the road obviously put up to stop 4x4's but enough of a gap left for bikes Also some theivin cnut has taken the descriptive plaque

 

[Packer]

I have been over the Corrie on a mountain bike and had to carry it half the way up from the Laggan side.

I had a stab at it a few years ago on my 1150GS but decided that it would be stupid as I was alone and there is (was?) no cellphone coverage. Lots of mini-boulders around 150mm - 200mm diameter on top of big slabs of stone used as the foundation of the road. The gaps in between were big enough for a bike wheel to drop into I would call it very technical and don't have the experience/ability to do it on a heavy bike. I'd try it on a lightweight trail/trials bike but don't have one so that's that.

If they've regraded it it could now be very different, the problem being that all the top dressing gravel had been washed away over the years.

Try it on the wrong day and if something went wrong you could lie trapped under your bike for a long time until someone happened by. In winter that could be fatal as I've experienced local temperatures of -25C a few miles along the road at Drumguish.

 

[AndyT]

I spoke to the lady at the Scottish Rights of Way Society and she says that the Corrieyairack Pass was very much unclear and they were quite open that they weren't fighting for vehicular rights

I have taken my GS over the General Wades section between Corgarff and the A939 towards Ballater a few times and never been approached (nice wee section too).

 

[johnnyboy]

Thanks for all the replies. Some useful info there; I might try the Corgarff section that AndyT mentioned as I get up that way most years around about easter time.

Cheers