Pedal your way through lands where fantasy meets countless adventure opportunities—the Scottish Highlands. Riding from coast to coast over 6 days, immerse yourself into the rugged wilderness with primeval conifer forests overlooked by medieval castles and countless lochs shrouded in mist(eries). Your 235-mile dive into the heart of the Highlands includes everything from laidback loch-side paths and ancient flower-strewn drove roads, to tantilizing forest tracks and meandering river banks. Don’t get completely buiguiled by the landscapes though—the trails here are epic, but never forgiving! Managing twisting swithcbacks, strenous climbs, and rough descents with the supervision of your expert guide, let the fairytale vistas of Scotland be the backdrop for your legendary MTB adventure.
235-mile coast-to-coast MTB traverse through the heart of Scotland
World-famous Isle of Sky, Loch Ness, and Cairngorms National Park
Varied and challenging route in one of Europe’s most scenic regions
Meet your guides at Glasgow International Airport (GLA). Make sure to book a flight or get to the airport before 11am. Your guides will take you to Invershiel, situated on the west coast of Scotland. Spend the first night scenically positioned by the shores of Loch Duich— the perfect base for the biking journey which starts the following day. The evening is reserved for a gear check, going over the final details of the itinerary, and getting to know your guides and fellow mountain bikers over dinner!
Meals: No meals included
Following an early Scottish breakfast, the adventure starts with a short transfer to Corran where your biking journey begins. Relish the dramatic landscapes across the Isle of Skye and the jagged peaks of the Cullins. A strenuous track takes your group to Glen Arnisdale past Dubh Lochain, over the pass and then down towards a picturesque country road. This road will take you up to and along Loch Quoich, meandering your way into Glen Garry and taking a forest trail to the loch’s southern shore. Follow the path along the Caledonian Canal and you will end up in Fort Augustus, situated at the southern point of Loch Ness.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 47 miles / 74 km
Starting in Fort Augustus, get a few miles under your wheels before a face-off with the Corrieairack Pass (772m / 2500ft)—the highest point of the entire adventure. The climb up the Corrieairack is a tough and long climb, but you will be rewarded with an exhilarating descent, showcasing mountain biking in Scotland at its wildest. Once you have reached the pass, the route follows the River Spey at Melgrave. Continue downhill to Garva Bridge and then along a country road leading you to Laggan.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 36 miles / 58 km
Begin another day with a ride through the Inshriach Forest. Later, you will follow the Spey Valley, before turning eastward through the Rothiemurchus Estate. Enjoy a proper Scottish lunch on the shores of Loch Morlich located in the heart of the magical Glenmore Forest Park. Later you will ride the elusive forest tracks and wild moorland singletracks crossing the Braes of Abernethy. After an afternoon snack at the Bridge of Avon, the riding continues with going up to Tomintoul—the highest village in the Highlands surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 43 miles / 69 km
Following the route through the east side of the Cairngorm Mountains, you will head south along the banks of the River Avon and into Glen Builg. With spectacular mountains to the west, the route soon takes your group up and over the side of Culardoch before descending to Invercauld House. Finally, you will bike along the River Dee and past the royal estate at Balmoral and on to Ballater, where you will overnight.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 36 miles / 58 km
The morning of your last full biking day starts with a flat ride following the River Dee to Dinnet—the eastern gateway to both the Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park. Pass the towering Caledonian Pines of the Forest of Glen Tanar. The next objective is Mounth Road, a technical singletrack route meandering up and round the side of Mount Keen. From here it’s all downhill all the way to Glen Esk. Follow the banks of another river called Esk, along a section of fun woodland singletrack taking your group to the picturesque village of Edzell, where you will stay for your last night of the grand traverse. Celebrate your achievements with your group and sample one of the fine malts.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 40 miles / 65 km
Treat yourself to a final Scottish breakfast—the final section to Montrose is a laid back ride posing no challenges. Enjoy the 15-mile countryside ride from Edzell to Montrose, where your coast-to-coast escapade ends. Upon reaching your final destination, toast with your squad to celebrate the completion of this epic adventure. Visit a nearby leisure center for a warming shower. Afterwards, it’s back to the Glasgow International Airport. Say goodbye to your guide and Scotland or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 15 miles / 24 km
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To embark on this epic MTB adventure through the Scottish Highlands, you need to be an experienced biker comfortable with riding sections of technical or exposed singletrack. You’ll need to be able to bike between 25 and 50 miles (40-80 km) each day for 6 consecutive days. The terrain in the Scottish Highlands features mixed trails, ranging from tough and gnarly singletrack and stalkers paths, to long winding Land Rover tracks. You need to be able to tackle some serious climbs, as well as long, rough descents. Keep in mind that you will frequently take breaks and receive extensive guidance on how to successfully cross any given section.
For this adventure, you need to have extensive experience in mountain biking. The tour is suitable only to intermediate and advanced bikers because it involves 8-9 hours and up to 50 miles of riding (with breaks) per day in terrain which is often challenging, involving long climbs (1-2 hours at a time), technical switchbacks, rough descents, sections with large and loose rock, as well as obstacles such as drop-offs. Though you need to be an experienced biker, keep in mind that not all sections are challenging and that your guides will supervise your technique, make sure to adjust the tempo if needed, and make every obstacle safe and fun!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
During your epic coast-to-coast MTB traverse in the Scottish Highlands, you can expect good quality 3 or 4 star hotels, B&Bs, inns and family-run guesthouses. All accommodations are cycle-friendly, located close to your routes and showcase the style and hospitality of the area you are visiting. Locally-owned businesses offering local delicacies are prioritized so that you get an authentic experience of each location and the Scottish Highlands as a whole. The price includes double en suite and twin rooms. If you want a room to yourself, it is available for an additional fee.
Group sizes and prices:
Mountain biking in the Scottish Highlands can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A $230 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to Invershiel and the Loch Duich, most people fly into Glasgow International Airport, which is about 4 hours away. From the airport, your guide will transfer you to tour starting point.
You are expected to meet up with your guide at the Glasgow international Airport by 11am, so make sure to book a flight which arrives in Glasgow before the expected meeting time.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Scottish Highlands, please refer to the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 updates.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
