Scottish Highlands 5-Day Gentle

Scottish Highlands
5-Day Gentle

(12 Reviews)

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Overview

  • Tour DifficultyGentle
  • Tour Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time1.5-3.5 Hours
  • Daily Elevation210 m (710 feet)
  • Daily Distance28 km (17 miles)
  • Total Distance84 kms (52 miles)
  • StartFort William, Scotland
  • FinishFort Augustus, Scotland
  • Local AirportsEdinburgh or Glasgow
  • Tour SeasonApr 1 - Sept 31
  • Lakes & MountainsYes
  • Electric BikeYes
  • Leisure BikingYes

Overview

  • Tour DifficultyGentle
  • Tour Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time1.5-3.5 Hours
  • Daily Elevation210 m (710 feet)
  • Daily Distance28 km (17 miles)
  • Total Distance84 kms (52 miles)
  • StartFort William, Scotland
  • FinishFort Augustus, Scotland

Highlights

  • Fort William: Scotland's "Outdoor" capital, relish in the towering beauty of Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak.
  • Glenfinnan: A historic village famous for its iconic viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films and the Jacobite Rising monument.
  • Neptune's Staircase: A series of eight interconnected canal locks, forming the longest staircase lock in Britain.
  • Caledonian Canal: A 100 km (60 mile) man made waterway connecting Scotland from East to West.
  • Loch Ness: Britain's largest and most impressive lake. Home to the infamous Loch Ness Monster, locally know as "Nessie".

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Fort William

Welcome to Fort William, your gateway to adventure. Nestled at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, this charming town invites you to explore the Great Glen and beyond. Prepare for your journey with a visit to the local shops or stock up on essentials at the large supermarket. If you’re craving a hearty meal, Fort William offers a delightful array of restaurants to satisfy your appetite. Before settling in for the evening, don’t forget to pick up your bike—it’s the key to tomorrow’s stunning ride. Rest well, and get ready to embrace the beauty of the journey ahead.

Day 2: Glenfinnan Loop

Distance: 32 kms (20 miles) / Elevation Gain: 185 m (620 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

A morning ferry takes you across Loch Linnhe to Camusnagaul, where a scenic ride awaits. Pedal towards Glenfinnan, tracing quiet roads that meander through lush glens and past clear streams. At Glenfinnan, the famous viaduct—a favorite of Harry Potter fans—comes into view. Stand in awe of its graceful arches, and visit the Glenfinnan Monument, marking the start of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite uprising. Cycle back to the ferry, with memories of sweeping Highland vistas to carry you into the evening.

Day 3: Fort William - South Laggan

Distance: 33 kms (20 miles) / Elevation Gain: 336 m (1130 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Today’s ride takes you along the Caledonian Canal, a peaceful route flanked by towering peaks and mirrored waters. Follow the Great Glen Way, a cycle path that meanders along canal towpaths and loch shores, passing Neptune’s Staircase—an impressive series of locks. Enjoy the tranquility of the canal and the sense of adventure as you push onwards to South Laggan. The natural beauty of Loch Lochy accompanies you, with forests and hills creating a backdrop of utter serenity.

Day 4: South Laggan - Fort Augustus

Distance: 19 kms (12 miles) / Elevation Gain: 110 m (370 feet) / Saddle Time: 1-3 hours

Your journey continues along the Great Glen, with sweeping views of Loch Oich’s sparkling waters. The path leads you through lush woodland and open stretches, each turn offering a new perspective of the majestic Highlands. Arriving in Fort Augustus, you’ll be greeted by the impressive sight of boats navigating the locks of the Caledonian Canal. Relax in this picturesque village, taking in the sights along the canal and the stunning views of Loch Ness, with a well-earned sense of accomplishment.

Day 5: Depart from Fort Augustus

Spend your final day exploring Fort Augustus, a village that embodies the charm of the Highlands. Wander along the canal locks, watch boats ease their way between lochs, and perhaps even take a boat tour onto Loch Ness—keeping an eye out for its legendary resident. Visit the quaint shops or simply sit by the water, reflecting on the journey you’ve taken through these magnificent landscapes. As you depart, the beauty and tranquility of the Highlands will surely stay with you, calling you back again one day.

Map

Accommodation

All our accommodation selections are in-house reviewed. We partner with family-owned, charming guesthouses and hotels where you can relax and recharge. Below are some sample accommodations on our Scottish Highlands tours. Depending on availability, the accommodation you stay at may vary but will always be of a similar standard.

Fort William: Torlinnhe Guesthouse

Welcome to Torlinnhe Guest House, offering exceptional hospitality and luxury value accommodation in Fort William ‘The Outdoor Capital of the UK’, on the West Coast of the Scottish Highlands.
Situated 1 mile South of Fort William city centre ( 20 min walk or 5 min by car) this award-winning guest house has beautiful views over Loch Linnhe and the Ardgour peninsula.
The guesthouse provides 8 stylish and modern en-suite rooms and two luxury lodges.
All individually finished and designed with you in mind.

Fort Augustus: White House B&B

Welcome to The White House, your Fort Augustus “home away from home.” The White House aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year.

The White House puts the best of Fort Augustus at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.

FAQ

What Is the cycle like?

This tour is in our Gentle difficulty grading. Consisting of a blend of cycle lanes, quiet country roads and forest trails. The mid stages of the tour have a bit more elevation gain, but the final stages give you an opportunity to recover.

We offer hard-tail mountain bikes, gravel bikes and if you are having doubts about your fitness levels, we also offer electric mountain bikes on this tour.

Is this tour for me?

This tour is for those that appreciate scenery above all else. The days are also short so you are under no time pressure and can go completely at your own pace.

The region can be at points very remote, so if you enjoy feeling like it’s just you brushing with unspoiled nature and wildlife, this tour will be perfect for you.

Tour includes

  • 4 nights accommodation in charming guesthouses and hotels.
  • A hearty breakfast each morning
  • Luggage transfers between accommodations
  • Detailed itinerary, GPX files and printable maps of your route
  • Tips on local attractions, history & evening meals
  • On call support before and during your tour

Tour excludes

  • Flights and transfers to and from the trail heads
  • Lunches & Dinners
  • Insurance
  • Bike rental (Selected on checkout)

The Bikes

You have a choice of bringing your own bike or renting your tour bike through us during booking. For the Scottish Highlands, the bikes available are robust electric or manual mountain bikes and manual gravel bikes. If an electric bike is chosen, it will bring the daily saddle time down by approximately 1 hour.

We only partner with the best bike suppliers for all our destinations so you’ll be guaranteed well maintained, premium brand bikes such as Cube, Trek or KTM.

All bike rentals come with helmet, lock and repair kit. A network of mechanics are on call in case of any mechanical issues faced while on tour.

What Is The Climate Like?

We offer tours in Scotland from April – September. At the start of the tour season, the average temperatures in Inverness are approximately 8 °C (45 °F). This is the quietest times of the season to miss queues at landmarks and also the driest time of the year. Temperatures peak at 18 °C (64 °F) in July & August. Temperatures as high as 25 °C (77 °F) have been recorded, but these are quite rare. Please see image below for reference.

As you will be cycling through a glen, you’ll encounter micro climates where the weather can suddenly shift. It is recommended to have emergency wet gear packed at all times while riding. Precipitation in this region is typically quite frequent but light in nature.

Is The Tour Easy To Navigate?

We include detailed navigation instructions and GPX files for your ride. Our navigation app is easy to use and we give a detailed instructional video on how to use it. If you are having any difficulty, we are on call at all times to assist you.

There is some marked signage on the routes to keep you on course, as well as many fellow bikers and hikers on the trails to steer you in the right direction.

What If There Is An Issue On Tour?

Included in your tour, is 24/7 message and video support. If you have an issue with navigation, bike breakdown, accommodation, medical, etc, we are at the touch of a button away at all times.

We have an extensive network of suppliers along the route, who will resolve the problem as swiftly as possible.

More FAQ

If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for above, visit our general FAQ page for more information or simply reach out to us with the “Ask A Question” button on the side.

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Price

Scottish Highlands 5-Day Gentle

From$658
(12 Reviews)
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Tour Includes


3* or 4* Accommodation Throughout

Breakfast Each Morning

Luggage Transfer

Itinerary & Navigation Documentation

Tips & Local Insights

24-Hour Support

From$658
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