Scottish Highlands 5-Day Moderate

Scottish Highlands
5-Day Moderate

(9 Reviews)

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Overview

  • Tour DifficultyModerate
  • Tour Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time3-5 Hours
  • Daily Elevation408 m (1375 feet)
  • Daily Distance35 km (22 miles)
  • Total Distance105 kms (65 miles)
  • StartInverness, Scotland
  • FinishFort William, Scotland
  • Local AirportsEdinburgh or Glasgow
  • Tour SeasonApr 1 - Sept 31
  • Lakes & MountainsYes
  • Electric BikeYes
  • Gravel BikingYes
  • Mountain BikingYes

Overview

  • Tour DifficultyModerate
  • Tour Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time3-5 Hours
  • Daily Elevation408 m (1375 feet)
  • Daily Distance35 km (22 miles)
  • Total Distance105 kms (65 miles)
  • StartInverness, Scotland
  • FinishFort William, Scotland

Highlights

  • Inverness: The capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness has an abundance of charming pubs to try locally made Scotch Whisky.
  • Loch Ness: Britain's largest and most impressive lake. Home to the infamous Loch Ness Monster, locally know as "Nessie".
  • Caledonian Canal: A 100 km (60 mile) man made waterway connecting Scotland from East to West.
  • Neptune's Staircase: A series of eight interconnected canal locks, forming the longest staircase lock in Britain.
  • Fort William: Scotland's "Outdoor" capital, relish in the towering beauty of Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Inverness

Your adventure begins in Inverness, the cultural capital of the Highlands. Spend the day wandering along the banks of the River Ness, where you’ll glimpse Inverness Castle’s impressive towers. Take a moment at the peaceful Ness Islands, surrounded by towering pines, and explore the historic lanes of the city. Visit the Victorian Market and indulge in local flavors, perhaps some fresh smoked salmon or sweet Scottish tablet. With a sense of anticipation building, soak in the city’s rich history before your cycling journey begins.

Day 2: Inverness - Foyers

Distance: 31 kms (19 miles) / Elevation Gain: 286 m (965 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Leave Inverness behind, cycling alongside the enchanting shores of Loch Ness. The ride southwards offers sweeping views of this legendary loch, with its mysterious, deep waters flanked by lush forests. Feel the breeze as you ride through the tranquility of Dores and catch glimpses of charming hillside cottages. Arrive in Foyers, where the cascading Falls of Foyers await you. Stand in awe at this dramatic waterfall, whose roar echoes in the wooded glen, adding a natural rhythm to the landscape. Unwind here for the night and revel in the peacefulness of nature.

Day 3: Foyers - South Laggan

Distance: 41 kms (25 miles) / Elevation Gain: 629 m (2100 feet) / Saddle Time: 3-5 hours

Embark on a scenic ride along the quiet country lanes that trace Loch Ness’s remote, southeastern edge. The route takes you through thick woodland and past serene glens, with glimpses of the loch often peeking through. You’ll pass through the village of Fort Augustus, where you can watch the boats navigate the Caledonian Canal locks—a perfect spot for a lunch break. From there, the road gently climbs and falls as you make your way to South Laggan, where the moody landscape gives a sense of unspoiled beauty. Rest here, cradled by the surrounding hills.

Day 4: South Laggan - Fort William

Distance: 33 kms (20 miles) / Elevation Gain: 310 m (10450 feet) / Saddle Time: 2.5-4 hours

Pedal along the peaceful towpath of the Caledonian Canal, relishing the reflections of pine-clad hills in the still water. Reach Gairlochy, and continue along quiet roads that guide you towards the dramatic peaks of Ben Nevis. The closer you get to Fort William, the more the mountains seem to grow, welcoming you into the heart of the Highlands. The journey’s end for the day is Fort William, a bustling town framed by soaring hills. Take a moment to marvel at the imposing mass of Ben Nevis, hinting at the Highlands’ untamed spirit.

Day 5: Depart from Fort William

Spend your morning exploring Fort William, perhaps taking the time to ride the Nevis Range gondola for a panoramic view of the Great Glen. If you’re in the mood for more cycling, venture down the West Highland Way towards Glen Nevis, where streams and ancient woodlands converge to paint a scene of pristine beauty. As your time winds to a close, breathe in the crisp Highland air one last time before departing—your spirit refreshed, filled with memories of lochs, glens, and the timeless allure of Scotland’s rugged landscape.

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 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.

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.

FAQ

What Is the cycle like?

This tour is in our Moderate difficulty grading. Consisting of a blend of cycle lanes, quiet country roads and forest trails. The early stages of the tour have a bit more elevation gain and longer days, 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. Although there may be points of steeper elevation gain, it isn’t anything unsurmountable to someone of moderate fitness.

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 Moderate

From$688
(9 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$688
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