SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS LOOP
See the best that Scotland has to offer!
Dates
6-13th July 2024
(Minimum numbers of 8)
Price
£1,375pp
(Single supplement of £350)
Experience level
A good level of cycling specific fitness recommended to ensure you get the best out of your trip!
Scotland offers some of the most beautiful cycling in the UK, with striking backdrops and stunning roads to explore.
This route takes in Bealach Na Ba (9km climb and the third highest road in Scotland) and encompasses jaw dropping vistas of the mountains, including Ben Muir, and the Summer Isles. We'll pass through the most north westerly town of the UK, Durness, and take in countless lochs and picturesque villages before coming back into Inverness via a loop of the Moray Firth.
Its a challenging ride, with tough climbs and undulating terrain to deal with, but the views will more than compensate for the pain in your legs! Plus we'll keep you well fuelled with some great Scottish food and maybe the odd tot of Whisky of an evening to get you through!
Read the feedback from our previous clients here.
Day 1: Inverness to Lochcarron (98km, 600m)
We’ll leave Inverness along the river Ness and head almost exclusively West for the entire day as we weave our way through ever quietening roads, smaller hamlets and picturesque lochs. Today is a relatively gentle day as we warm our legs for the much more challenging days that lie ahead!
We’ll rest up in the loch side village of Lochcarron, doubling its population for the evening!
Day 2: Lochcarron to Gairloch (125km, 2200m)
We start today with 10km of leg warming riding before it’s time to get out your 100 greatest climbs book – time to tick off the mythical beast that is Bealach Na Ba! This iconic climb is 9km long with an average gradient of 8% - save some in the tank for the upper switch backs as we top out to the reward of world class views! We’ll then descend into Applecross for a quick coffee and recharge before a leg sapping 30km of undulating coastline as we get to our lunch stop in Shieldaig.
After lunch the scenery continues to impress as we make our way to our evenings stop in Gairloch.
Day 3: Gairloch to Lochinver (147km 2100m)
Stunning coastal views out to the summer isles greet us this morning as we hug the ever more fragmented West coast before cycling between the ancient mountains of Sgurr Mor and Beinn Dearg.
We’ll lunch in the pretty fishing town of Ullapool – watch out for dolphin super pods in the marina! A tough, but stunning afternoon lies ahead as we negotiate the gnarly and constantly undulating terrain of the wild Highlands!
Day 4: Lochinver to Bettyhill (160km, 2500m)
Today is the longest day of the trip and was also quoted by Mark Beaumont as a sharks mouth, rightly so as the terrain continues to test the legs with constant undulations, but chances are you’ll be distracted from the pain as each turning corner reveals yet another jaw dropping vista – this stretch houses some of the most dramatic scenery the world has to offer!
After a hearty lunch in Durness and our first glimpse of the North coast of the British isles, we’ll push on towards the evenings resting point at Bettyhill.
Day 5: Bettyhill to Lairg (125km, 1400m)
We wave goodbye to Scotland’s coast today as we also leave the official NC500 route in search of quieter cycling friendly roads! We’ll carve our way through the wild and almost entirely unspoilt middle of the Highlands along virtually traffic free single tracks!
Today is most certainly less taxing than those that have gone before but is not without its challenges.
Day 6: Lairg to Inverness (145km, 1400m)
Our final day sees us head out past Bonar Bridge and then out into farmlands and single tracks before glimpsing views of a far away Inverness as we pass by the Cromarty Firth. Cruely we’ll get within 30km of our triumphant return before turning left after Conan bridge and adding another 40 km to our tally as we take in views of the beautiful Moray Firth.
Finally, we’ll cross the impressive Kesseck suspension bridge and return, somewhat more tired and eternally enriched to where we started on the bank of the river Ness!
Package includes:
- 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation (6 nights ensuite, 1 night shared bathroom)
- Lunch and snacks on each ride day
- Daily ride briefing and route information
- GPX files for guidance
- Ride leader support
- Vehicle support and luggage transfer
Not included:
- Travel to and from the tour start / finish points
- Dinner and drinks with meals
- Entry to tourist attractions
- Travel insurance
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