On Wednesday a group of us braved the autumn rain and mud for a day of biking and discovery in the heart of the Cairngorms with Cairngorms Connect.

Guided by Huw from The SPIN Project, we set out to learn more about the incredible restoration work taking place across this landscape — and to enjoy the colours, conversations, and camaraderie that comes with exploring nature by bike.

The talk at the Tree nursery was really interesting, and we heard about the careful work that goes into restoring the forest. It was a reminder that while nature can heal itself, a little human help and patience helps the process along.

One of the day’s highlights was reaching Ryvoan Bothy, where we paused to see the natural regeneration unfolding all around us. Thanks to collaborative deer management, the land here is slowly but surely recovering, with young trees establishing themselves across the open hillsides. The iconic bothy itself — with its recently restored red roof — was a striking reminder of the deep connections between history, people, and landscape.

The weather was just as you expected on October in Scotland — soggy is probably the best word for it — but the conversations and laughter along the trail more than made up for the soak. With cakes from Nethy House fuelling us, the 15km ride through Abernethy Nature Reserve was a breeze.

By the time we rolled back to where we started from, muddy and smiling, I felt like we had all learned alot about restoration work and getting the reserve back to a healthy state. Seeing signs of recovery as we rode along, and sharing the experience with others left me buzzing despite the soggy socks.