The Blue Route combines forest road with some singletrack (shared with the green route), giving a ride of 13.5km. The trail is ideal if you want to step up from the green-graded trail, and to take in a little bit more of the forest.
The outward route is shared with the green and red-graded trails. Cross the Water of Ae, go past the start of the Green Route, then take a left turn onto forest road. At junction 9, go past the start of the red route (on the right). Turn right and continue on the forest road.
Towards Gubhill
This section takes you round the side of Green Hill to Gubhill. At Gubhill, bear right on the forest road. A climb here takes you up to junction 12 where you join up briefly with the red route as far as junction 13. Here, the red trail heads off to the left while the blue route starts to descend, bringing you back down towards the Water of Ae and joining up with the Green Route.
Back down the valley
The trail heads up the Water of Ae Valley towards Dan's Pool. It returns down the valley, running next to the river, taking in some easy, handrailed wooden boardwalk, and runs through the Craigshields outdoors centre site, with a meadow to the left.
Crossing back over the Water of Ae, there are good views down the river off the bridge, before a combination of singletrack and forest road brings you back to the 7stanes car park.
Grade: Blue (see trail grades for details of this grade)
Distance: 13.5km
30% singletrack
Estimated time to ride the trail: 1.5 hrs - 2.5 hrs