Family Cycle Routes in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray
This section is all about trails, paths and routes suitable for families or those who just want to avoid traffic, danger and pollution. Its cycling on reclaimed railway tracks, towpaths, reservoir trails, estate and forestry tracks.
Family cycling routes can vary in severity. Many of our listed cycle trails are suitable for young families, for children over 4 years riding solo, for bikes with child seats or trailers, and for bikes for those with disabilities. Surfaces are blacktop or compacted limestone or gravel allowing for easy riding.
However, some are more slightly more demanding with rougher surfaces and are better suited to the more experienced cyclist or to the older family members.
Here in Grampian, as you would expect, we have all types. To help you get the most from the bike trails we have details on start points, terrain to expect, facilities on route and things to look out for - like ice cream shops!
Cycle Routes for Families
The Deeside Way
The Deeside Way is a 41 mile long, disused railway line that runs from Aberdeen to Ballater. With loads of ways to get on to the Deeside Way your cycle can be as long, or as short as you want making it ideal for cycling, and especially family cycling.
The Formartine & Buchan Way
A long distance cycle route and walking path running from Dyce railway station through rural Aberdeenshire along the route of the former Formartine and Buchan Railway Line, with links to Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
The Tarland Way
The Tarland Way is a family friendly 6 mile route joining the historic village of Tarland with the bustling town of Aboyne. A great combination of purpose built path, and quiet country roads through the Howe of Cromar.
The Isla Way
The Isla Way is a 13 mile cycle route and walking path joining the world's malt whisky capital, Dufftown, to the market town of Keith. It follows the River Isla for much of its way using a mixture of tracks, paths and public roads.
Bennachie Forest Trails
A selection of cycle routes suitable for families on the forestry tracks and lower paths around the iconic Bennachie hill, close to Inverurie. These trails are varied and some more suited to older family members than others.
Dava Way
The Dava Way is a cracker of a, mostly, off road cycling and walking trail. It is best described as ideal gravel riding, and will give a reasonable challenge to many families leaving them with a real sense of achievement.
Tarland Trails
Tarland Trails is a small mountain bike centre, in the village of Tarland. The trails are short, about 3km in total, but suit a wide range of users from family to experienced and competent riders. There is a family trail, a technical run, a big jump run and a pump track.
These books from Amazon will help get your kids off to a flying start when it comes to cycling:
