We woke to drizzle and low-hanging cloud, but by the time we were dropped off at the start, the skies were already beginning to clear. The clouds had started to lift, revealing patches of bright blue sky, and with the improving weather our spirits were high from the outset.
We set off chatting and running comfortably along the trail, crossing the iron bridge before tackling the gradual climb that stretches for around 12 kilometres. Every so often we turned to look back and watch Aviemore slowly disappear behind the hills.
As the trail levelled out, we reached the boulder field. Thanks to the good visibility and having the route loaded onto a GPS watch, navigation was straightforward. A few well-placed cairns also helped confirm we were on the right track.
Before long we were bounding down the paths on the far side of the valley, where the route begins to follow the River Dee. Along the way we passed a few rather glum-looking walkers heading in the opposite direction—perhaps they had been caught in the earlier rain. Wildlife sightings included a cuckoo, a stonechat, and what may have been an eagle, although it was more likely a buzzard.
Reaching the trees of the Mar Estate brought a change of scenery, and as others have noted, the jeep tracks from Mar Lodge provide a pleasantly gentle way to finish the run. We took our time, stopping occasionally to soak up the views. Even so, the trail demanded attention, with rocks, puddles and boggy sections all waiting to catch out the unwary.
All in all, it was a fantastic run shared with great company. We both carried small packs stocked with homemade gels, energy bites, electrolytes and spare waterproof layers—fortunately, the latter stayed tucked away for the entire day