Scotland Bike Tour

We’ll experience the true essence of Scotland’s natural beauty today, with a ride along the river, through forests and mountains. Starting right from the hotel doorstep in Ballater, you'll follow the valley of Royal Deeside before turning north and passing through several small villages to reach the next valley of Donside. You can expect quiet roads in this scenic corner of the Highlands where heather-clad hills form the beautiful backdrop. After a hearty picnic lunch together, you’ll gently climb alongside the river before reaching your first challenge of the tour. Two climbs take you and your riding companions over military roads built in the 1700s to help government forces travel through these wild highlands. Magnificent views across the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park provide ample reward as does the fast cruise down to the tiny village of Crathie. Here you'll find the Queen’s official residence in Scotland - Balmoral Castle. We'll stop for a visit of the intimate Royal Lochnagar Distillery for whisky tasting. From Balmoral, it’s a short distance back to our starting point in Ballater. Now it’s time to relax before dinner; enjoy a stroll around the village or perhaps a pint at the local pub. Our hotel is just a few minutes walk from the club.

Are you ready to discover the distilled side of Scotland? Enjoy a relaxed Highland breakfast before rolling out of Ballater and into the hills for a classic Scottish ride through the heart of Speyside’s Whisky Country. Our route today crosses one of the highest roads in the UK, the Lecht Pass, with some steep ramps which will test your legs and challenge your heart. From the pass, it’s a fast blast downhill into the village of Tomintoul. Explore the highest village in the Highlands over a lunch of your choice before cruising through Speyside, which is the undisputed home of Scotch Whisky. More climbs and descents follow lunch as you cross the Bridge of Brown, pass through the village of Nethy Bridge. From there we will transfer to our next hotel in Inverness.

Today we take on a favorite local ride as we enjoy a relaxing loop across the wild heath-covered landscapes of Dava Moor. We take a short morning shuttle to Cawdor Castle, built in the 14th century, to explore its landscape gardens before setting off on our ride. A steady climb will take you up onto the Dava Moor, with its extensive vistas set beneath huge skies. We’ll cross the historic hump of Dulsie Bridge, which dates back to 1755 when it was built in by Major William Caufield (or, more likely, his troops!) and then ride out onto the moor. At lunchtime, we'll stop in Logie Steading at a converted country store for a cafe lunch together. Be sure to check out their shops for whisky, antiques, and local crafts! After a lunch refuel, you'll continue west, completing our loop and finishing at the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle fought on British soil, when Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite rebellion came to a bloody end in 1746. We take a walk around the battlefield to stretch our legs and soak up the atmosphere, before a 10 minute shuttle takes us back to the hotel. Tonight is free for you to enjoy on your own, and your guides will help you secure reservations for dinner in town, or simply stay back to dine at the hotel.

Today we dig deeper into another famous tall tale of Scottish history with a trip down to mystical, magical Loch Ness. You'll ride straight from the hotel this morning, and the route takes us out of Inverness and onto the open moorlands above Inverness. Beautiful descent takes us down to the shore of Loch Ness, and we enjoy a fabulous ride along a shore-hugging road, with one eye on the road and the other looking out for the monster as we ride towards the village of Foyers. Lunch this afternoon is available at a charming local tea house where we stop along the way. The ride ends with an epic descent, dropping 1,300 feet over 5 miles, taking you down to the banks of Loch Ness itself and directly to our hotel in the attractive village of Fort Augustus. After settling into the hotel, there is time for a thrilling speedboat (or Zodiac, as it's known locally) ride on Loch Ness - the perfect aperitif! Our final night ends with a dinner celebrating a memorable week of riding the Highlands.

It’s time to bid farewell to your Trek Travel guides and the atmospheric Scottish Highlands – perhaps with one final ride up a local classic climb used on the Loch Ness Etape. Or, simply rise at your own pace and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before taking a one-hour transfer to the Highland capital of Inverness. You'll say farewell to your guides at 11:00 AM and board a private shuttle to Inverness Aiport. Please do not schedule a flight out of Inverness Airport before 2:30 PM or a train before 1:00 PM on the last day to allow plenty of time for any unforeseen delays.