Scottish Highlands 7-Day Moderate

Scottish Highlands
7-Day Moderate

(9 Reviews)

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Overview

  • Tour DifficultyModerate
  • Tour Duration7 Days / 6 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time3-5 Hours
  • Daily Elevation487 m (1640 feet)
  • Daily Distance42 km (26 miles)
  • Total Distance210 kms (130 miles)
  • StartInverness, Scotland
  • FinishOban, Scotland
  • Local AirportsEdinburgh or Glasgow
  • Tour SeasonApr 1 - Sept 31
  • Lakes & MountainsYes
  • Electric BikeYes
  • Gravel BikingYes
  • Mountain BikingYes

Overview

  • Tour DifficultyModerate
  • Tour Duration7 Days / 6 Nights
  • Daily Saddle Time3-5 Hours
  • Daily Elevation487 m (1640 feet)
  • Daily Distance42 km (26 miles)
  • Total Distance210 kms (130 miles)
  • StartInverness, Scotland
  • FinishOban, Scotland

Highlights

  • 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.
  • Oban: A charming coastal town in Scotland, known as the "Gateway to the Isles," offering stunning views and fresh seafood.

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 - Fort Augustus

Distance: 52 kms (32 miles) / Elevation Gain: 729 m (2450 feet) / Saddle Time: 3-5 hours

Today, set off from Inverness, pedaling along the banks of the iconic Loch Ness. The undulating path offers glimpses of shimmering waters and mysterious depths. As you ride through charming villages like Dores, keep your eyes peeled—you might just spot Nessie! By the time you reach Fort Augustus, you’re greeted by the spectacular sight of the Caledonian Canal locks. Relax along the canal’s edge, watching boats glide through, surrounded by hills and the serene loch.

Day 3: Fort Augustus - Fort William

Distance: 51 kms (32 miles) / Elevation Gain: 397 m (1340 feet) / Saddle Time: 3-5 hours

The route today takes you along the Great Glen Way, a peaceful ride through woodlands and along the Caledonian Canal. You’ll pedal past Loch Oich and the dramatic Loch Lochy, where towering mountains reflect on the water’s surface. The sense of isolation and grandeur grows as you near Fort William, with majestic Ben Nevis rising in the distance. As you arrive in this charming town, the Highland’s tallest peak beckons, promising more adventures ahead.

Day 4: Fort William - Appin

Distance: 47 kms (29 miles) / Elevation Gain: 547 m (1840 feet) / Saddle Time: 2.5-4.5 hours

Heading south from Fort William, today’s ride is filled with coastal beauty. You’ll pass the tranquil shores of Loch Linnhe, with jagged mountains as your backdrop. Stop at Castle Stalker, a medieval fortress on a small islet that seems to float on the water. The ride to Appin is filled with the scent of salt air, and you’ll be captivated by sweeping views across the sea lochs. End your day with a sunset over the water, the colors reflecting in the calm loch.

Day 5: Appin - Oban

Distance: 31 kms (19 miles) / Elevation Gain: 416 m (1400 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Today’s ride takes you along the coast towards Oban, with expansive views of the Inner Hebrides in the distance. The winding road offers glimpses of islands and sparkling waters, with lush greenery all around. The iconic Connel Bridge provides a picturesque crossing, and soon, the bustling harbor town of Oban comes into view. Arrive in this seaside gem and savor the atmosphere—fresh seafood, lively pubs, and the sound of waves lapping against the piers.

Day 6: Lismore Island Loop

Distance: 31 kms (19 miles) / Elevation Gain: 416 m (1400 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours

Departing Oban, you’ll follow the sweeping coastline northwards, with views of shimmering waters beside you. Your route takes you through Glen Lonan, a beautiful valley of open fields dotted with Highland cattle. Approaching Appin, the iconic Castle Stalker emerges dramatically, standing solitary on its tidal islet. Pause to admire the serene beauty of this scene, a perfect marriage of rugged landscape and timeless history. End your day with a cozy stay in Appin, surrounded by tranquil views.

Day 7: Depart from Oban

Spend your final day exploring Oban, known as the “Gateway to the Isles.” Wander through the bustling harbor, watching ferries and fishing boats come and go. Take a stroll up to McCaig’s Tower for panoramic views over the bay and surrounding islands. Treat yourself to fresh seafood from a local shack and take in the salty breeze. As you prepare to depart, the memories of Highland lochs, mountains, and coastal roads stay with you—a journey full of natural beauty and Highland charm.

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.

Oban: Killorn Guest House

Killorn is a beautiful 5 bedroom townhouse located within the heart of the town of Oban.  It enjoys stunning views over Oban bay, overlooking the island of Kerrera and the hills of Mull.  Killorn is ideally situated just a 5 minute walk from Oban town centre and just moments from major ferry, train and bus links. Killorn is the perfect base for exploring the town centre, beautiful islands and surrounding areas.

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

  • 6 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 7-Day Moderate

From$1,079
(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$1,079
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