Mountain biking holidays in Scotland
| country: | Scotland |
| location: | Scottish Highlands |
| trip type: | Challenging / hard core mountain biking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 12 Sep |
| price: | From £845 (8 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Coast to Coast (Challenging to hard core mountain biking)
Firmly established as one of our favourites, it’s easy to see why! You can’t get wilder and more beautiful landscapes than the Scottish Highlands. A ‘once in a lifetime’ classic route that takes us over 235 miles from Loch Hourn on the west coast near Skye to Montrose on the east coast.
Following drovers roads, forest tracks, singletrack and minor roads over mountain passes, along spectacular lochs and over the Cairngorm and Grampian Mountains, this is a tremendous yet strenuous route perfect for those up to the challenge.
Firmly established as one of our favourites, it’s easy to see why! You can’t get wilder and more beautiful landscapes than the Scottish Highlands. A ‘once in a lifetime’ classic route that takes us over 235 miles from Loch Hourn on the west coast near Skye to Montrose on the east coast.
Following drovers roads, forest tracks, singletrack and minor roads over mountain passes, along spectacular lochs and over the Cairngorm and Grampian Mountains, this is a tremendous yet strenuous route perfect for those up to the challenge.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | With easy access by plane, train or car, the meet up point for the trip is at Glasgow airport. The meeting time of 11am provides us with plenty of time to transfer you to our first night’s accommodation, Invershiel, near to the start of tomorrow’s riding. We arrive on the west coast of Scotland mid to late afternoon leaving plenty of time to get our bikes out and check they are ready for the journey ahead and the early start tomorrow morning. Tonight’s evening meal provides a chance to chat with your guides about the schedule for the next week with the guides. |
| Day 2: | An early start today for our first days ride and a short 20 minute transfer to Glenelg. With great views across to Skye and the dramatic Cullins mountains, even at this early stage, you’ll begin to get a real flavour of the amazing scenery to come. Our journey takes us along the shore of the beautiful Loch Hourn, via a scenic quiet road, to Corran where we turn east and head inland. A rough track takes us up Glen Arnisdale past Dubh Lochann. We cross the river at the mouth of the loch and our track changes to a path that leads us up the valley over the pass at Gleann Dhubh Arnisdale. At the head of the valley we turn east towards Kinlochhourn where the route joins a quiet country road. With today’s major off-road sections behind us, this road takes up to Loch Quoich where we follow the northern shore into Glen Garry and our night’s accommodation. Time for a well deserved bath (optional!?!), meal and good nights sleep. (B,L) Total distance - 40 miles |
| Day 3: | A shorter day today, in order to recover from yesterday’s exertions, relax the muscles a little and prepare for the long days of biking ahead. After a hearty breakfast we head east along Glen Garry through the forest to the southern shore of the loch. At Mandally we hit the famous Great Glen and follow the 'Great Glen Cycle Route' into Invergarry. We turn north east up the Great Glen to Bridge of Oich where the route follows the towpath of the Caledonian Canal to Fort Augustus at the southern point of Loch Ness. The afternoon is free for some Nessie spotting on the Loch or some additional riding on the local tracks. We take dinner in one of the great pubs in Fort Augustus. (B,L) Total distance - 21-30 miles |
| Day 4: | With our toughest day ahead we start early. Setting off from Fort Augustus we head across the Corrieairack Pass on General Wade’s old Military Road. At 772 metres this is the highest point on the whole route. This is a tough and long climb followed by a technical and exhilarating descent. This is mountain biking in Scotland at its wildest and dramatic best. Once over the pass our route picks up the River Spey at Melgrave from where we follow the river downhill to Garva bridge and then a country road to Laggan. The final section for the day is the ride along the valley to Kingussie for a relaxing evening and the opportunity to share stories over a dram of whisky. (This section is weather dependant. If the weather makes the route impassable we will have to take an alternative route via Spean Bridge and Glen Spean). (B,L) Total distance - 35 miles |
| Day 5: | After yesterday’s exertions another day of great biking lies ahead, less strenuous but just as much fun. A ride through Inshriach Forest provides some great mountain biking with some cheeky climbs, singletrack and a ford at Allt Chromhraig to negotiate. We follow the Spey Valley north-east before turning eastward through Rothiemurchus Estate. After a stop at the visitor centre at Glenmore Forest Park, the route takes us along forest tracks and singletrack through the Braes of Abernethy to Bridge of Avon and then onto the village of Tomintoul. (B,L) Total distance - 46 miles |
| Day 6: | Another amazing off-road day as we skirt the east side of the Cairngorm Mountains. From Tomintoul we head south following a track up the side of the River Avon and into Glen Builg. We travel on past Loch Builg. With spectacular mountains to the west our route takes us up and over the side of Culardoch before descending down to Invercauld House near Braemar. The final part of the day sees us follow the River Dee down the valley past Queenies country house at Balmoral (let’s hope Phil’s got the kettle on!) and onto Ballater for a few more ‘wee’ drams. (B,L) Total distance - 34 miles |
| Day 7: | Our last full day of riding, and what a day! After a short flat ride along the Dee to Dinnet we turn south up Glan Tanar and through the Forest of Glen Tanar. The path ‘Mounth Road’ is a technical singletrack route that takes us up and round the side of Mount Keen. From here its all downhill (steep in places) to Glen Esk. Our routes then follows the river Esk to the picturesque village of Edzell for the final night of our trip and celebration time, the mountains are behind you...’oh no they aren’t...oh yes they are!!’ (B,L) Total distance - 39 miles |
| Day 8: | After filling our faces with the traditional full Scottish breakfast, we cycle the final 15 miles from Edzell to Montrose where you can dip your wheel in the North Sea. Congratulations, you have just completed the Highlands Coast to Coast! – feeling pleased with yourself aren’t you!! With a real sense of satisfaction we make the journey back to Glasgow where mid to late afternoon we drop you at Glasgow Airport to catch flights home, pick up your cars or transfer you to the Glasgow Central station - Memories of a great journey, fantastic scenery and wild mountain biking will be definitely swirling around your head. Total distance - 15 miles. Total distance home - a few... (B) |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch
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Global adventures start with a local perspective – that's the our philosophy. Whether abroad, or just as importantly at home, the start point is the same; how to get the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting the environment.
Cycling is a great way to explore the countryside, travelling at a speed that enables you to take in the surroundings without damaging the environment. In each of our locations, such as the Derbyshire White Peak and Dorset, we use local guides, small independent B&B's, guest houses and hotels to ensure that the money stays in the local economy. Where we provide food we aim to use locally produced product. We provide travellers with Travellers Codes that encourage the reduction of water usage, systems for collecting, recycling or safe disposal of litter and relevant suggestions to minimise damage to the environment, wildlife and marine ecosystems. All our holidays have a maximum group size of 12 to 15 people minimising both the social and environmental impact. We work with and support Sustrans and the development of the excellent National Cycle Network and use these routes for our UK Cycling Breaks. |
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