Out on the moors between Tomintoul and Grantown the Snow Roads takes on a different tone, quieter and less dramatic than the Lecht but just as wide. The land here is gentle, with rolling hills, scattered farms and the occasional stand of birch, and the River Avon winds through the valley, cold and clear. The high point of the whole route is behind, and this is a stretch for relaxed riding, with views to the Cairngorm plateau away to the south.
Tomintoul, a short way back, is among the highest villages in the Highlands, at about 345 metres, laid out on a grid by the Duke of Gordon in the eighteenth century, and it is also the gateway to Speyside's whisky country. A cluster of famous distilleries lies in the glens to the north, and a small museum tells the local story.
The road has a rolling character, with long straights, easy bends, and a few humps and dips where the surface can be patchy. Traffic is light, and the main hazards are sheep, tractors and the occasional lorry. The weather can turn from clear skies to heavy rain, and wind is constant on the open moor, so a windproof layer is wise. In summer, the heather blooms in August and September, giving the hills a purple haze, and the evenings are long and gold.
Keep an eye out for wildlife. Red deer graze the hills, and golden eagles and buzzards patrol the skies, and with luck you will see a mountain hare or a flash of a red grouse across the heather. The Spey and Avon are famous for salmon, and anglers wade the pools in season. Take a break at a lay-by, listen to the curlews, and breathe the clean air. If it rains, take shelter in the next village for a hot drink, and wait for the light to return.