The Highlands of Scotland are known for their stunning scenery and sparse population and conjure a romantic image which doesn't disappoint on closer inspection. From the sandy shores of the Moray Firth east of Inverness to the dramatic and rocky west coast, south of Fort William, this tour includes a wondrous variety of scenery from historic highland towns to tiny fishing hamlets, mountain ranges to deserted lochs and gorgeous off shore islands and stretches of countryside in between.

Remarkably, this isn't a tough ride with just one day of riding uphill and the remainder with few hills. Yet Ben Nevis is in close up and you brush awesome Glen Coe. Stop at local favourite the Dorres Inn on Loch Ness and pedal the towpath of the Caledonian Canal as you head through the Great Glen. Immerse yourself in history with a visit to Culloden battlefield, the site of the last full-scale battle to take place on British soil. Learn about the local legends at the castles of Cawdor and Brodie, stuffed to the turrets with antique furniture, paintings and ceramics. Ride through pine forests, past sweeping sandy beaches, across estuarine bridges and down a disused railway line hugging the seashore and virtually touching the western isles. Sample a 'wee dram' of local whisky at a traditional Scottish distillery en route and explore a pioneering eco-village at Findhorn. Ferry hop from Fort William and ride the length of the island of Lismore on the last day of your tour enroute to Oban. It's all part of the romance of the Highland coast!



Holiday details

Price

Classic

from £2,595 per person

Luxury

from £4,685 per person

Based on two people sharing a room

What’s included?

Transfer from Inverness to Nairn at the start.   See what’s included as standard

Duration

8 nights

Start & Finish

Luxury tour starts Wednesdays. Classic tour starts any day except Tuesday. Both tours start in Inverness and finish in Oban. Inverness has an airport and is 3.5 hours north of Edinburgh by train. Oban is 3 hours north of Glasgow by train.

Hotels

Classic

Individual small hotels in 7 stunning locations

Luxury

Scotland's finest - grand Inverlochy Castle, boutique Boath House, Glencoe House suites, and Isle of Eriska's unique luxury.

Holiday type

Self-guided

This tour is priced without a guide and you are free to explore on your own.  If you would like a guide for part or all of your trip, we are happy to provide a knowledgeable, local guide

Activity level

Not so gentle cycling (With the addition of the optional transfer on day 4, the tour rates as a gentle trip level 5) More info...

Electric bikes

Available

Mileage

7 days of cycling 16 to 31 miles (26 to 49 km) with options for further cycling on several days

Terrain

Bike paths, canal towpath, disused railway line and back lanes

Traffic-free

60% with very little traffic on the rest

Options

  • Ferry hop from Oban to the many more islands off the west coast at the end of the trip; we recommend stays on Iona or Mull
  • An additional day in Glencoe to experience romantic Glen Coe either on foot or with a driver guide
  • Extra night's stay on the luxury tour on the Isle of Eriska to relax and enjoy this unique private island
  • Tour can be 6 nights




Itinerary day-by-day


Classic

  1. 1. Day one

    Arrive in Nairn

    Our friendly host will meet you in Inverness and transfer you to your hotel for the next 2 nights in nearby Nairn. This ancient fishing port and market town has a harbour and expansive beach. Once you've settled in, your host will brief you on the routes, fit you to your bicycles and answer any questions you have. The rest of the day presents an opportunity to explore locally and unwind in your hotel.

  2. 2. Day two

    Nairn to Findhorn and back

    Heading to the remarkable community at Findhorn in a beautiful bay on the Moray coast, the riding is flat but always interesting. Tiny bridges lead over streams whilst 16th Century Brodie Castle is stuffed to the turrets with antique furniture. Spin past forests and stop at a distillery if you wish, before pedalling along the waters edge of the tidal bay, a haven for ornithologists. Findhorn village is cosy with a pub or two and is sandwiched between the bay and a stunning 7 mile beach. Here too is a spiritual community that is self sufficient, has its own currency and is also known for producing gigantic vegetables. Explore the village and unique marine setting before pedalling on to the town of Forres. From here you can take a short train hop back to Nairn or ride a fresh route to return to the hotel.

    Optional 26 or 38 miles (42 or 61 km)

  3. 3. Day three

    Nairn to Inverness

    Let quiet roads and a pretty landscape lead you to the most romantic castle in the Highlands - Cawdor Castle & Gardens, which Shakespeare chose for the setting of Macbeth. Stop awhile here before riding through an idyllic scene of grazing sheep and gently folded hills. Pedal under a breath taking viaduct and then up a few slopes to survey the battlefield of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie fought in 1746. It's just a short distance then into the heart of Inverness.

    24 miles (38 km)

  4. 4. Day four

    Inverness to Fort Augustus

    Today is a completely different scene as you begin the ride along the water’s edge of Loch Ness on a quiet backroad. The setting of this vast and beautiful lake is magical with one or two pretty villages and their harbours and the delightful Dores Inn, located on a picturesque beach. This is the most demanding day with 2,500 ft (860 metres) of not too steep ascent above the loch with an awesome view from the top and a freewheel down hill into Fort Augustus which sits at the western end of Loch Ness. Gentle cyclists may prefer a transfer to the top, which we can arrange, at the time of booking only and is included in the luxury tour.

    19 or 33 miles (30 or 53 km)

  5. 5. Day five

    Fort Augustus to Fort William

    Traffic free and almost flat today, your route continues through the atmospheric Great Glen where the hills and peaks tower above in this wild, unspoilt and spectacular scene. The silence is broken only by the occasional boat or swing bridge in action but you might glimpse a red deer, a diving peregrine or soaring golden eagle. Riding along the towpath of the Caledonian Canal, beside Loch Oich on a disused railway line and through forests on the shores of Loch Lochy, you are witnessing the Highlands at their very best. The flight of locks at Neptune's staircase signals your arrival on the outskirts of Fort William with Ben Nevis to the south and the sea waters of Loch Linnhe to the west. Your overnight stay is in Fort William.

    31 miles (49 km)

  6. 6. Day six

    Fort William to Ballachulish

    Cycle through Fort William and take the ferry across Loch Linnhe. Beyond is an idyllically peaceful, and completely unspoilt ride along the loch with no refreshments or cars in this part of the world. With barely a slope on your route and the shore always at your side, sheep, bogs and woodland are in the foreground and Ben Nevis in the background. The Corran ferry takes you back across the loch to your hotel. Pick up the cycle path along Loch Leven into Glencoe village if you wish to explore further.

    16 or 22 miles (26 or 35 km)

  7. 7. Day seven

    Ballachulish to Port Appin

    An utterly glorious day of traffic free riding down the west coast of the Highlands reveals stunning scenes and a backdrop of islands. Often following a disused railway line and hugging the shore, you will breeze through hamlets and woodland, past old jetties and relic castles and cross the estuary into tiny, picturesque Port Appin. Those wanting to ride on, can continue south along the cycle path and cross onto the tiny island of Eriska for a refreshment, before retracing the route back to Port Appin.

    16 or up to 43 miles (26 or up to 69 km)

  8. 8. Day eight

    Port Appin to Oban

    What a fantastic final day is in store! Here's your chance to experience the tranquility and beauty of a Scottish island by taking the 10 minute ferry to the 'garden island' of Lismore. With 300 species of wild flowers and 130 species of birds, this is a wonderful ride across the island with 300 ft of ascent. Learn about the island's heritage and stop for refreshments before boarding the Achnacroish ferry for the one hour crossing back to civilization and the mainland at Oban. Your overnight stay is in the heart of the town.

    6 miles (10km)

  9. 9. Day nine

    Depart Oban

    Depart from Oban at your leisure today. Oban has a railway station and inumerable ferries to the many islands. We recommend stays on the islands of Iona and Mull. You can also add our tour here of the Highlands and Hebrides.

Luxury

  1. 1. Day one

    Arrive in Nairn

    Our friendly host will meet you in Inverness and transfer you to your hotel for the next 2 nights, close to Nairn. Once you've settled in, your host will brief you on the routes, fit you to your bicycles and answer any questions you have. The rest of the day presents an opportunity to relax and unwind in this Georgian mansion with its inviting restaurant, art gallery and walled garden.

  2. 2. Day two

    Nairn to Findhorn and back

    Heading to the remarkable community at Findhorn in a beautiful bay on the Moray coast, the riding is flat but always interesting. Tiny bridges lead over streams whilst 16th Century Brodie Castle is stuffed to the turrets with antique furniture. Spin past forests and stop at a distillery if you wish, before pedalling along the waters edge of the tidal bay, a haven for ornithologists. Findhorn village is cosy with a pub or two and is sandwiched between the bay and a stunning 7 mile beach. Here too is a spiritual community that is self sufficient, has its own currency and is also known for producing gigantic vegetables. Explore the village and unique marine setting before pedalling on to the town of Forres. From here you can take a short train hop back to Nairn or ride a fresh route to return to the hotel.

    Optional 26 or 38 miles (42 or 61 km)

  3. 3. Day three

    Nairn to Inverness

    Head to the ancient fishing port and market town of Nairn with its harbour and expansive beach. Then let quiet roads and a pretty landscape lead you to the most romantic castle in the Highlands - Cawdor Castle & Gardens, which Shakespeare chose for the setting of Macbeth. Stop awhile here before riding through an idyllic scene of grazing sheep and gently folded hills. Pedal under a breath taking viaduct and then up a few slopes to survey the battlefield of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie fought in 1746. It's just a short distance then into the heart of Inverness.

    27 miles (43 km)

  4. 4. Day four

    Inverness to Fort Augustus

    Today is a completely different scene as you begin the ride along the water’s edge of Loch Ness on a quiet backroad. The setting of this vast and beautiful lake is magical with one or two pretty villages and their harbours and the delightful Dores Inn, located on a picturesque beach. This is the most demanding day with 2,500 ft (860 metres) of not too steep ascent above the loch with an awesome view from the top and a freewheel down hill into Fort Augustus which sits at the western end of Loch Ness. Gentle cyclists may prefer a transfer to the top, which we can arrange, at the time of booking only.

    19 or 33 miles (30 or 53 km)

  5. 5. Day five

    Fort Augustus to Fort William

    Traffic free and almost flat today, your route continues through the atmospheric Great Glen where the hills and peaks tower above in this wild, unspoilt and spectacular scene. The silence is broken only by the occasional boat or swing bridge in action but you might glimpse a red deer, a diving peregrine or soaring golden eagle. Riding along the towpath of the Caledonian Canal, beside Loch Oich on a disused railway line and through forests on the shores of Loch Lochy, you are witnessing the Highlands at their very best. The flight of locks at Neptune's staircase signals your arrival on the outskirts of Fort William with Ben Nevis to the south and the sea waters of Loch Linnhe to the west. Your overnight stay is in Scotland's finest castle hotel.

    31 miles (49 km)

  6. 6. Day six

    Fort William to Glencoe

    Cycle through Fort William and take the ferry across Loch Linnhe. Beyond is an idyllically peaceful, and completely unspoilt ride along the loch with no refreshments or cars in this part of the world. With barely a slope on your route and the shore always at your side, sheep, bogs and woodland are in the foreground and Ben Nevis in the background. The Corran ferry takes you back across the loch for you to pick up the cycle path along Loch Leven into Glencoe village where you will spend the night in a Glencoe House suite, complete with telescope for spotting the wildlife!

    20 miles (35 km)

  7. 7. Day seven

    Glencoe to The Isle of Eriska

    An utterly glorious day of traffic free riding down the west coast of the Highlands reveals stunning scenes and a backdrop of islands. Often following a disused railway line and hugging the shore, you will breeze through hamlets and woodland, past old jetties and relic castles and cross the estuary into tiny, picturesque Port Appin. Stop for a refreshment on the pier before heading on to the wonderful Isle of Eriska along the cycle path and cross onto the tiny island for a magical overnight stay.

    31 miles (48 km)

  8. 8. Day eight

    Isle of Eriska to Oban

    What a fantastic final day is in store! Here's your chance to experience the tranquility and beauty of yet another Scottish island by taking the 10 minute ferry to the 'garden island' of Lismore. With 300 species of wild flowers and 130 species of birds, this is a wonderful ride across the island with 300 ft of ascent. Learn about the island's heritage and stop for refreshments before boarding the Achnacroish ferry for the one hour crossing back to civilization and the mainland at Oban. Your overnight stay is in the heart of the town.

    21 miles (34 km)

  9. 9. Day nine

    Depart Oban

    Depart from Oban at your leisure today. Oban has a railway station and inumerable ferries to the many islands. We recommend stays on the islands of Iona and Mull. You can also add our tour here of the Highlands and Hebrides.