A project to build a new foot and cycle bridge over the River Dee at Braemar is under way.
The crossing will link Braemar directly with access tracks to the Cairngorms.
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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
New River Dee bridge for Braemar
(11 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Nice.
It's always bugged me that I have to take the detour via Linn of Dee to get to the paths up Ben Macdui
Posted 11 years ago # -
Does this mean we can avoid the A93 from Balmoral to Braemar? Ah no I've just checked the map.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Alas, it's another 'bridge to nowhere'. Well, unless you're going Munro bagging or somesuch. So the "...and cyclists" is more like "...and stuff".
Posted 11 years ago # -
@crowriver it depends whether you think of Ben Avon and Beinn A'Bhuird and the rest of the Cairngorms beyond as "nowhere"... You can get to Braemar by bus, but then to get the the bridge at Linn of Dee it is quite a walk along the road. This would take that road walk out and make using public transport to access these hills a more attractive option. And mountain bikers could go that way too (I have mixed feelings about mountain bikes on the high hills, but there are low-level Land Rover tracks (yes, they're debatable too, I know...))
Posted 11 years ago # -
@fimm, I'm sure it will be great for walkers, mountaineers and mountain bikers. Can't see many touring cyclists using it though. Don't know how much utility cycling there is in Braemar, but the bridge probably not much use for that either as it doesn't go anywhere that people live.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not all cycling is utility or traditional touring and just because its for recreation doesn't mean its a bridge to nowhere.
Not all mountain biking is irresponsible down-hilling a couple of loaded mtb's well ridden probably do less damage than a small group of walkers and there much more likely to stick to the paths and avoid any further erosion.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Nobody (even fellow cyclists) ever describes either of the two alternate road bridges as bridges to nowhere. Is it because they take cars too?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sorry, my point was that the bridge serves to make the Cairngorms mountain range its destination. It's therefore largely for leisure and recreation usage by walkers. climbers, mountain bikers. Which is great for Braemar, local economy, etc.
The difference with the road bridges is they are connected to the road network so whether driving or cycling you could follow that network and get to another village, town, range of mountains, whatever. Okay theoretically you could walk/bike over the Cairngorms trails and end up in another village/town but I'd suggest it's unlikely most folk would.
Hence 'bridge to nowhere' unless you are a walker, mountaineer or mountain biker primarily going over for recreation.
Posted 11 years ago # -
True story: a couple of tourists staying in Aviemore walked over the Lairig Ghru to Deeside. Realising they were going to struggle to return in daylight they hitched a lift. Their best description of where they had come from elicited a generous ride all the way up to Loch Muick where they were dropped off. They eventually reached a B and B on the road to Morven in darkness.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@crowriver yes it is a bridge for recreational use. And this is a problem because?
(Incidentally the road that goes over the Linn of Dee bridge goes to a couple of farms and a Big Hoose, IIRC, and comes to an end at Linn of Quoich. Are you suggesting it should be downgraded to a land Rover track?)
Oh and a friend and I were planning some epic walk from Braemar to Aviemore starting over this bridge. It'll have to wait till his ankle is a bit better, though.
Posted 11 years ago #
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