Mountain Biking Across Scotland

Mountain Biking Across Scotland

Mountain Biking Across Scotland

Prices

From $2,150USD

Difficulty

Guided

Hotels / guesthouses

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Highlights

Experience the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands by mountain bike

Explore the famous Loch Ness area and be on the lookout for Nessie, the Loch Ness monster.

Visit historic villages in the Scottish Highlands, such as Spean Bridge, Drumnadrochit, and Fort Augustus.

Ride through the city of Inverness, crossing bridges between its beautiful network of islands.

Learn new skills from experienced coaches in the Leanachan Forest, home to the Mountain Biking World Cup

This guided tour is an incredible mountain bike ride across the Scottish Highlands. A ride in the Scottish Highlands is the stuff of legends.

From ancient castles and rugged landscapes, to beautiful coastline and scenic lochs, your Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour shows you the highlights of the area on an active mountain biking adventure you won’t soon forget.

Imagine riding along the shores of the famous Loch Ness, or across densely forested hills that open to moors with castle views. Surround yourself with the history, culture, and folklore of this unique and spectacular part of the world. This trip is perfect for mountain bikers who also want to improve their skills on new terrain with qualified guides and coaches.

What better place to challenge yourself than the Leanachan Forest near Fort William, which is home to the annual Mountain Biking World Cup? This Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour in the Scottish Highlands is a mountain biking dream come true.

Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Ride in Cairngorms National Park

Arrive in Aviemore and meet your guide at the Aviemore Railway Station by 10:00 AM. Begin your tour with a warm-up ride through Cairngorms National Park, Britain’s largest national park. Before the ride, your guide will check to make sure your bike is well-equipped for the journey ahead. Today’s route is flexible, and you’ll ride for just 2-3 hours as an introduction to your tour. You can expect to see beautiful views of the Cairngorms mountain range and the surrounding hills and forests. After the ride, transfer to the west to the village of Spean Bridge where you’ll have dinner and spend the night.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Spean Bridge
Distance
2-3 hours, flexible distance
Meals
Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Ride to Fort William and Back

Ride from your hotel this morning, following trails through the Leanachan Forest. This area is home to the Mountain Bike World Cup and offers a wide variety of trail features that you can enjoy or learn to ride, including berms, rolling and flowing twists and turns, and boardwalks. Ride through the forest for 15 km to reach Fort William then return to your Spean Bridge hotel via a cross-country route. Leaving Fort William, pause to enjoy views toward Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. Ride past the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle and follow Loch Linnhe’s shoreline to the Caledonian Canal. The last leg of the ride is flat and gentle along the canal’s tow-path. Altogether, today’s fun ride will take about 4-5 hours.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Spean Bridge
Distance
4-5 hours, 30 km
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Ride to the Loch Oich Overlook, then down to Fort Augustus

Leave your Spean Bridge hotel and ride along the canal at first, then on the western side of Loch Lochy you’ll follow a remote forest trail. Emerge from the forest at Laggan Locks, where you can eat lunch in a floating restaurant converted from an old barge. After your meal, return to the trail and cross a swinging bridge. Here, beside the Loch Oich, begin to climb up into the forest above Invergarry village. It is a tough but rewarding climb, giving you excellent views overlooking Loch Oich and the hills that surround it. With the hardest part of the day behind you, descent down a fun trail to the shores of the famous Loch Ness and the village of Fort Augustus. This area offers a number of pubs, restaurants, and cafes. Stop here for the night after about 4-5 hours of riding.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Fort Augustus
Distance
4-5 hours, 36 km
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Ride around Loch Ness

A challenging but memorable day awaits as the trail climbs high through a forest to reach the open moors above Loch Ness. Spend the day around this legendary lake, crossing the moors high above it then enjoying the trail as it descends to the village of Invermoriston. Stop here for a break, then hug the shoreline of Loch Ness for a while before the trail takes another climb. After this, an easy trail allows you to coast into Drumnadrochit village. Spend the afternoon exploring the village at your leisure. Many visitors enjoy the Urquhart Castle or the Loch Ness Monster Museum.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Drumnadrochit
Distance
4-5 hours, 35 km
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Ride to Inverness, Transfer to Aviemore

Celebrate your last day on the trail by riding from Drumnadrochit and the incredible Loch Ness to Inverness, often called the capital of the Highlands. Begin the day with a climb that rewards you with incredible views of the Great Glen, then relax knowing the rest of your tour is downhill. All along your ride today you’ll have beautiful views of the city of Inverness and beyond to the sparkling blue waters of Moray Firth. Enjoy the fun single-track trails that lead to the city. When you reach Inverness, you’ll follow the river and cross a series of bridges between islands. The ride ends just outside the stunning Inverness Castle. What a fitting finish line! Transfer back to Aviemore for a celebration dinner.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Aviemore
Distance
4-5 hours, 30 km
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Departure Day

Sadly, your Mountain Biking Across Scotland tour has come to an end. Enjoy breakfast in your hotel and begin your journey home. Have a pleasant journey!

Overnight Location
None
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast

Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour Price and Dates

This guided mountain biking tour to Highlands of Scotland is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you).

Prices below are per person:

StartFinishDurationPlaces LeftPrice

2023-05-14

Aviemore

6 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2023-05-19

Aviemore

65+
$2,150USDBook Now
Book Now

2023-06-11

Aviemore

6 days / 2 Spaces Left

2023-06-16

Aviemore

62
$2,150USDBook Now
Book Now

2023-07-16

Aviemore

6 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2023-07-21

Aviemore

65+
$2,150USDBook Now
Book Now

2023-09-03

Aviemore

6 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2023-09-08

Aviemore

65+
$2,150USDBook Now
Book Now

Accommodation on Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour

This tour is based in hotels and guesthouses.

All the accommodations for this tour are hand-picked from high quality local businesses and are of 4-star quality. The first two nights are in a small hotel, while the rest are in guesthouses. All rooms are double or twin rooms but you can book a single room for your trip for an additional fee.

Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $350USD to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try to match up single travelers when possible.

Night 1-2

Hotel in Spean Bridge

Welcome to the “Crossroads of the Highlands”, a perfect location for touring the Highlands region. Don’t miss the view from the Commando Memorial.

Night 3

Hotel in Fort Augustus

Stay in this historic village on the southern tip of Loch Ness and beside the Caledonian Canal. Enjoy lovely scenery and a variety of attractions.

Night 4

Hotel in Drumnadrochit

Situated beside the legendary Loch Ness, this lovely village is especially popular with visitors hoping to spot Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.

Night 5

Hotel in Aviemore

Stay in the heart of the stunning Cairngorms region, surrounded by the incredible natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

Hotels on Standard Tour

What’s included in Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour?

Meals

5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, and snacks along the route each day.

Accommodations

Accommodations for 5 nights along the tour. Accommodation before the tour in Aviemore is not included.

Transportation during the Tour

All the transportation for you, your luggage and your bike is included starting from Aviemore.

Also Included

  • 2 qualified and experienced mountain bike guides throughout your trip
  • Ride support from vehicle with trailer
  • Entrance and admission fees during the tour
  • All the equipment needed to ensure group safety and bike maintenance

Not included

  • Bike Rental
  • Transportation to and from Aviemore
  • Insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not stated as ‘included’

Optional Extras

  • Bike rental:
    • Full suspension - $375USD per trip
    • Hardtail - $250USD per trip
  • Extra night in Aviemore before or after the tour

Frequenty Asked Questions about Mountain Biking Across Scotland

How hard is the Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour?

We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. This tour requires 5-6 hours of biking each day. You should be used to mountain bike rides of this length in mountainous terrain.

Do I need a visa to travel to Scotland?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

Is this tour to the Scottish Highlands guaranteed?

We can guarantee the tour to run as soon as we have 2 people booked.

How big is the group?

The groups for this tour are between 2-8 people to ensure everything runs smoothly and everyone gets individual attention from the guide.

Are meals included on the Mountain Biking Across Scotland tour?

5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.

How do I get to Aviemore to start this tour?

You can get to Aviemore by train (the town has connection to London, Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh), or by road. The town is a 40-minute drive from Inverness or 2 h 40 min drive from Glasgow or Edinburgh. The closest airport is Inverness. There are regular flights to the Inverness Airport (INV) from most of major cities in UK.

Is the Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour in English?

Yes, the tour guide is English speaking.

Where does the Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour end?

The tour ends where it starts, at Aviemore Railway Station.

Can I rent a bike?

Yes, you can rent a bike during the booking process. Please check ‘Optional Extras’ for more information.

Can I bring my own bike?

Yes, definitely. Please make sure it’s a mountain bike.

Do I need special vaccines to travel to Scotland?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Scotland?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

When is the best time to travel to Scotland for this tour?

The best time to travel to Scotland for this trek is from May to September.

Reviews

All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.

Having local tour operators and guides means you get a more authentic experience, and your booking creates jobs in the local communities you visit.

Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.

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Prices

From $2,150USD

Difficulty

Guided

Hotels / guesthouses

Start Your Booking

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Tour Difficulty

We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. This tour requires 5-6 hours of biking each day. You should be used to mountain bike rides of this length in mountainous terrain.


Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.

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