Itinerary

Day 1 – Inverness & The Black Isle

We will rendezvous around midday in Inverness for introductions and bike fitting. Once we are good to go with the bikes, we will head out of the city for a leisurely ride on the scenic Black Isle. We cross over the Kessock Bridge which spans the Moray Firth and aim for Chanonry Point. This is the best place to see bottlenose dolphins in the UK and sightings are regularly possible from the shore. The roads on the Black Isle are relatively flat so this is a good route to get used to your bike and find your cycle legs. From Chanonry we head back west, across the bridge and into the city.

Day 2 – Inverness to Fort Augustus

Riding out of Inverness we head south east into the hills above Loch Ness. The roads here are very quiet and offer a great introduction to Scotland with lovely scenery and many places of interest. We will make a short diversion to Loch Ruthven - a beautiful loch fringed by birch woods. It is a good place to see the spectacular Osprey hunting for fish on the loch. We can enjoy a picnic lunch here before continuing south above the vast waters of Loch Ness. World-famous for its monster, the south shore is far quieter with superb views down the length of the Great Glen.

Day 3 – Fort Augustus to Strathpeffer

A novel start to the day as we board a boat on Loch Ness for a short journey to Castle Urquhart. The castle is spectacularly perched on the edge of the Loch and dates to the 1200’s. It has a long and fascinating history and after a short tour here we will rejoin the bikes for the ride to Strathpeffer. The route takes us west and into the Balmacaan Forest. At the Highland village of Cannich, we turn east to join a nice road alongside the River Glass. Its quiet roads all the way to Glen Ord Distillery. One of Scotland’s oldest whiskies, we will arrange for a tour and tasting here.

Day 4 – Strathpeffer to Achnasheen

An easier day today as we traverse from the East to the West Highlands. Starting beneath the dominant mountain of Ben Wyvis. Legend has it that the Clan Munro kept their lands here on the condition that they could provide the Crown with a snowball in midsummer. Fortunately for them, the high slopes of Ben Wyvis provided the solution. A short distance from Strathpeffer, we pass Rogie Falls which is well worth the short diversion.

Day 5 – Achnasheen to Shieldaig

From Achansheen we pass several lochs en route to Lochcarron. You will notice how the scenery becomes wilder and the mountains more dramatic - this is the North West Highlands at its best. Our lunchtime stop is in the lovely village of Lochcarron. After lunch we will arrange for a visit to Lochcarron Weavers where you can learn all about tartan production from spinning of the yarn to the finished article. From Lochcarron, a great stretch of road heads through the hills above Loch Kishorn. The Mountains of Applecross start to dominate the scene including the spectacular mountain pass we will tackle tomorrow.

Day 6 – The Applecross Loop

Today is a classic and arguably the best day ride in the UK. 45 miles, 6000ft of ascent and the highest road pass in the UK! Starting from Shieldaig, it’s a short distance to the turn-off at Tornapress. Here starts the UK’s biggest road climb, rising over 2000ft in just 6 miles. For sure it’s a challenge, but the rewards are ample. The Islands of Skye, Rasaay and Rona home into view and, further afield, the Outer Hebrides are often visible. The descent is fast, long and exciting all the way to the picturesque Applecross Bay. If that wasn’t enough, in Applecross you will find one of the best pubs in Scotland serving amazingly fresh seafood. On a sunny day, we couldn’t think of a better place for lunch. The second half of the route follows the coast, with stunning views that just keep coming. An absolutely epic day of road riding in a wild and remote corner of Scotland.

Day 7 – Shieldaig to Gairloch

For our final day on the road, we ride through Glen Torridon, beneath the mighty sandstone peaks. In our view, Torridon is one of the finest mountain areas in Europe. Here, the mountains meet the sea with ancient mountains (500 million years old) thrusting skywards. Pushing on we move into a wonderful mixture of lochs and lone mountains, perfect for pictures on our last day in the saddle. Eventually we arrive in Gairloch; a Highland village full of character and charm.

Day 8 – Return to Inverness

After breakfast, we will drive south to Inverness. We should arrive by mid-morning to join return flight connections home, or overnight accommodation, (additional cost), in Inverness for a more relaxed departure the following day.

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