Itinerary

Day 1 – Laggan Wolftrax

You’ll meet your guide and driver in Inverness (airport or train station) at lunchtime and then we’ll head into the Cairngorms and our first adventure of the trip at Laggan Wolftrax trail centre.

Laggan Wolftrax is the north of Scotland’s best man-made trail centre, based in Strathmashie Forest, Laggan. With nearly 18km of mountain bike tracks ranging from the blue grade fun park to the extremely difficult black grade trail. There’s also a great café for re-fuelling and a well-stocked shop for buying last-minute bike gear. We’ll spend the day enjoying the different trails, checking bikes and practising skills that will come in handy during the rest of your mountain bike adventure tour in the Cairngorms.

At the end of the day we’ll drive half an hour to your home-from-home for the week: a beautiful country lodge house in Aviemore.

Day 2 – Speyside Way and Loch Garten

On our day in the Loch Garten area we’ll pedal through Glenmore Forest, over the rocky Ryvoan pass and through Abernethy Forest towards Boat of Garten. On the way, we can stop at the Osprey Centre at Loch Garten to see if we can spot any of the resident birds. There are a couple of climbs ahead of us now, before joining the Speyside Way and heading back into Aviemore to some delicious home baking at the Mountain Café!

Day 3 – Pedal and paddle

Today we will have a short pedal to the banks of the river Spey where we will meet our open canoe guide who will be leading you down a stunning stretch of the famous salmon fishing river. Your guide will be on hand to talk you through all safety aspects and paddling techniques involved with river canoeing. During your trip along the river Spey your guide will find a picturesque spot on the banks for a picnic lunch of local food of outstanding quality.

Day 4 – Singletrack and single malt

This morning we will venture out to Kincraig, in the southern Cairngorms. There is a vast network of amazing natural mountain bike trails all over this area, with flowy, narrow trails and nice, steady climbs. Lots of reward, for not too much work! Then when we have had enough we will retire for lunch before heading to the Dalwhinnie distillery for an afternoon tour and whisky tasting session.

Day 5 – Wildlife walk

Today you will be guided around the Caledonian forest at the foot of the Cairngorms massif by a local wildlife expert who will endeavour to spot some of the local wildlife for you. In this area, if you are lucky, you could see deer, pine martin, birds of prey, and capercaillie. After your wildlife walk and lunch we will bike back to our accommodation and settle in for the night.

Day 6 – your day off

You’ll also have a day off the bike to try some of the other activities available in the area or to do a bit of sight-seeing – you decide. You could even come out mountain biking with our guide if you feel up to it!?

Day 7 – Loch Ness and Inverness

Today we will travel 45 minutes north to the Highland capital of Inverness, where we will cycle a four-hour route that will see us high above the banks of Loch Ness, before descending to lunch on the banks of the loch, and a spot of Nessie hunting. After our lunch we will cycle back towards Inverness city along the banks of the River Ness and into town for last minute gift buying, before returning to Aviemore for our last supper in a local restaurant to celebrate the end of an unforgettable adventure tour in Scotland!

Day 8 – Departure day

We will spend the morning packing, organising your luggage and transport you back to your Inverness airport or train station at lunchtime to say our farewells.

More information from Highlands and Islands Adventures:

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