Scotland Bike Tour

We’ll get to know Scotland’s natural beauty today, with a ride along the river, through forests and mountains. Starting right from the hotel doorstep in Ballater, we 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 we’ll gently climb alongside the river before reaching our first challenge of the tour. Two climbs take us 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 will find the Queen’s official residence in Scotland - Balmoral Castle. We'll stop for a visit of the intimate Royal Lochnagar whisky distillery and have a tour and tasting. From Balmoral, it’s a short distance back to our starting point in Ballater. Now it’s time to relax before dinner on your own, with a stroll around the village or perhaps a pint at the local pub. If you'd like, you may play a round of golf at the Ballater Golf Club this afternoon or evening (not included in trip price, please request with your trip consultant upon booking so the guides can assist with arranging a tee time - subject to tee time and rental availability). 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 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 highest village in the Highlands – 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 we cross the Bridge of Brown, pass through the village of Nethy Bridge before arriving in the tiny hamlet of Dulnain Bridge. Our hotel sits on the edge of the village, with its gates marked by the two resident Highland cows in the adjacent field – a must-have photo!

Today we dig deeper into another famous tall tale of Scottish history with a trip down to mystical, magical Loch Ness. We ride straight from the hotel this morning, initially enjoying a rolling ride with superb views of the high summits of the Cairngorms National Park. Reaching the village of Carrbridge, we pause to admire the famous arched ‘Packhorse Bridge’, which dates back to 1717. We then turn northwest, passing under the impressive Findhorn Viaduct which was completed in 1897, as we ride towards the village of Farr. Enjoy the vast views as we ride across the wild moors which form the southern banks of Loch Ness, leading to lunch at a charming local tea house. The ride ends with an epic descent which drops 1,300 feet over 5 miles, taking us down to the banks of Loch Ness itself and directly to our hotel in the attractive village of Fort Augustus. Here you’re free to explore the village for dinner on your own, and our guides are happy to provide some local favorite destinations.

Loch Ness is so much more than the story of a monster, and we’ll see it all on this epic day. Our day starts with a short transfer to the village of Drumnadrochit, best known for being home to 13th Century Castle Urquhart, a ruin lying on the banks of Loch Ness. Your bikes will be waiting for you when you’re done to continue a classic loop in the hills above Loch Ness. You can expect some of Scotland’s most magnificent, spellbinding scenery along the way, including the majestic mountains of Glen Affric and the forested beauty of Aigas Gorge. Our final descent takes us from the hills back down to the shores of the Loch. For a post-ride cool-down, take a brief tour to learn more about the fascinating Castle Urquhart ruins and their turbulent past. From here we'll enjoy a thrilling motor boat (or Zodiac, as it's known locally) transfer to Fort Augustus. Relax back at the hotel and prepare your stories for sharing over drinks and dinner with your new friends that evening.

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 we take a one-hour transfer to the Highland capital of Inverness. You'll say farewell to your guides at 11:00 AM and board a shuttle to the Inverness Airport, arriving at approximately 12:30 PM (you can also be dropped off at the Inverness train station on the way to the airport, arriving at approximately 12:15 PM). Please do not schedule a flight out of Inverness Airport before 2:30 PM or a train before 1:00 PM to allow plenty of time for any unforeseen delays.