Following the success of last year's event, the Cairn o' Mount Challenge is back and offers a memorable and enjoyable cycling challenge in some of Scotland's best scenery while raising funds to support two charities who are bringing help and hope to some of the world's poorest communities in Africa.

Participants have the choice of the Cairn o' Mount 80 - a challenging 80 mile route or the Cairn o' Mount 30 - a more modest 30 mile cycling challenge. Both events feature electronic chip timing and at least £25 of the £30 fee for the 80 mile route and £20 of the £25 fee for the 30 mile route will be donated to charity. Participants may choose to raise additional funds through sponsorship and sponsor forms can be downloaded from the event website.

The event starts and finishes at The Muir in the centre of the beautiful Angus village of Edzell. The village church stands in the centre of the Muir and this offers loads of car parking as well as changing, toilet and refreshment facilities.

The two routes are very different: the shorter route is on the gentle minor roads of rural Angus with just one significant climb which is over the famous Cathertuns road and into Glen Lethnot. With a refreshment stop at the half way point, this is an ideal starter event for beginners or younger people or simply a change of scenery for more experienced riders.

The 80 mile route is a different proposition! Leaving from Edzell Muir we make our way to Fettercairn and prepare for the big climb up the steep side of the Cairn o’Mount. It’s the end of May so the snow gates shouldn’t (!) be closed. The reward is spectacular views and a long run down the other side to Clachan. From there it’s a short section on the Slug Road before turning onto excellent minor roads to bring you to Stonehaven. This really is the best of both worlds because from the mountains on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park we are now running down the coast through Inverbervie and Johnshaven using minor roads and cycle path before cutting west towards Brechin and taking in the Catheruns road before returning to base.

Refreshments stops will provide what you need along the way and we are convinced that this will be a memorable Sportive in a beautiful part of Scotland.

This event is linked with the Highland Perthshire Challenge(www.highlandperthshirechallenge.org.uk) so why not consider entering that one too! The event has the same ethos and offers 50 mile and 100 mile routes - the routes start from Perth airport and take in the beutiful towns of Dunkeld, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry. If you enter this event and the Highland Perthshire Challenge at the same time then you can claim a £5 discount!