Map: OS Landranger 35

Distance: 17 miles (27km)

Time: 2-2.5 hours

Terrain: undulating with some hills, but mainly quiet roads and cyclepath

Fills your lungs with Highland air on this pleasant road circuit as, for the most part, it rolls by the Spey. The route is quite easy although hills appear later.

From Newtonmore follow the A86 towards Laggan. Traffic is usually light although it may be fast moving. Being in the saddle allows you to soak up the views beneath the southern end of the Monadhliath mountains.

At Laggan cross the Spey and take the next left, signed Dalwhinnie. Mountain bikers might want to keep straight for the fun but often quiet Laggan Wolftrax trail centre.

Further on, branch left on to the singletrack road for Glen Truim where you can see the distinctive profile of Creag Dhubh as the road begins its meandering journey. It's nice and varied with patches of oak and silver birch woods, and harebells lining the verge.

A Clan MacPherson monument is passed along the way. Emblazoned on a gate is the clan crest with the warning motto, "Touch not the cat but a glove," meaning keep away when the claws are out.

Close by, just after a walks information board, look for an oval-shaped stone set in a wall. An OS plaque once announced that this was the centre of Scotland before a recalculation gave that honour to a hillside near Loch Garry, between Dalwhinnie and Blair Atholl.

Continue to climb and descend sharply to the Truim. After this join the traffic-free cyclepath and continue by road back to Newtonmore.

Fergal MacErlean