Highlights
- Watching the sun rise over Loch Lomond
- The beautiful lochs of Venachar, Lubnaig and Tay
- Cycling through the dramatic Cairngorms National Park
- Scottish wildlife at its best including deer, red squirrels, eagles and osprey
- Castles and Distilleries galore
- Tasting traditional Scottish fayre
Itinerary
Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond, is where you will spend your first evening.
For those arriving by train (40 minutes from Glasgow) your accommodation is a short walk from the station. If you decide to arrive into Balloch by car, limited parking is available at the accommodation for the duration of the trip (subject to availability), alternatively on-street parking is available nearby. The Skedaddle guide will meet you at the accommodation in the evening and there will be a chance for a chat about the next few days riding over a drink and something to eat.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 950m
Following a hearty Scottish breakfast, we leave our accommodation and follow a route via lochs and glens (no surprises there!) to Callander, our second night’s stop. The route takes us out into the solitude of the countryside from Loch Lomond to Loch Venacher via quiet country roads. After Aberfoyle we enter Achray Forest from where we will weave our way to Callander along the southern shore of Loch Venacher. Some climbing, with the inevitable descents, but plenty of time to enjoy the views, tranquillity and great cycling.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 550m
The countryside is different to yesterday’s riding, with a gentler landscape of farmland and woodland. A real combination of surfaces today, quiet lanes, cycle paths and a disused railway line through the beautiful Glen Ogle. You are now close to the birthplace of folk hero and latter day Robin Hood, Rob Roy Macgregor, whose grave may be found in Balquhidder. The final stretch is to Killin (or nearby) where you stop for the night.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 750m
The start of the day follows the 15 mile long Loch Tay to Aberfeldy the home to Dewars World of Whisky Distillery. All road today, as you pass through Aberfeldy and Strathay, before arriving at Pitlochry – watch out for those leaping salmon! An optional detour can be made from here to the Edradour Distillery (2.5 miles from Pitlochry) – you’ll need no persuasion to visit Scotland’s smallest distillery, established way back in 1825. The wide glens of the river Tay and river Tummel guide you to Pitlochry and your accommodation for the night.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 700m
Today we ride through Glen Garry and over the Pass of Drummochter, the main mountain pass separating the southern and northern Highlands. Not to worry as it’s a gradual, undulating climb with lovely Highland vistas. Early sights include impressive Blair Castle, ancestral home of Clan Murray in the pretty village of Blair Atholl. Soon we ride on a traffic free path adjacent to the River Garry with a waterfall or two spotted on the way. After conquering the pass on undulating cycle path, you’re rewarded with 20 miles of gradual downhill to finish the day in the town of Kingussie, passing Dalwhinnie, the highest village (and distillery) in the Highlands, and time permitting, a visit to the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Britain’s first open air museum and a glimpse at how locals have lived and worked here since the 1700s.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 800m
The first impressive sight of the day comes immediately after leaving Kingussie. Our route passes directly by the well-preserved Ruthven Barracks, built in 1719 after the Jacobite rising, sitting on an old castle mound. We will take a few minutes to explore the complex and take photos at this picturesque site. Continuing up Speyside through quieted forested roads we soon reach the ski resort town of Aviemore with terrific views of the Cairngorm Mountains. More traffic-free sections follow on a stretch of the Speyside Way, through pleasant forest and moorland track (you might see one of the local golden eagles or osprey if you’re lucky!) . A few miles further we reach Carrbridge with its packhorse bridge, the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands. Following the Slochd summit it’s mostly downhill to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, with glimpses of the Moray Firth ahead. The final miles are steeped in history, passing the 4000 year old Clava Cairns and the Culloden Battlefield before finishing our journey on the Ness Bridge in the heart of the northernmost city in the UK. We’ll have a celebratory evening with a wee dram or two before a good night’s rest and departure the next day.

- Meals: Breakfast
After our final hearty Scottish breakfast of the trip, time to say a sad farewell to our fellow cyclists and start our return journey home. Transfers to the train station at Inverness and back to cars in Balloch will be provided.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The route is part of the National Cycle Network and follows traffic-free paths and quiet roads. There are forest trails with some roots and stones, and forestry roads with small sections of rough track with chunky, looser gravel. We recommend either a hybrid bike, or a mountain bike fitted with semi-slick tyres, as parts of this route are not suitable for a road bike.

Leisure Cycling Grade
Aspects of both our grade 3 and 4 trips
Suitable for the leisure cyclist who rides frequently, and who’s comfortable with some moderately challenging climbs
Some of the terrain may vary, potentially including sections of uneven or unpaved ground
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Trips that are graded as a 3-4, will have aspects of both our grade 3 and 4 trips. These tours are suitable for those who keep themselves relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on the bikes at the weekend. Your preference may be for flatter terrain, but you don’t mind tackling some hills, the occasional steep climb and some varying terrain (forest tracks, gravel paths etc.). It might be however that on some days the distances will be longer than a standard grade 3 trip, or some of the climbs may be quite challenging. You may also require some previous experience of tackling some uneven / unpaved ground to comfortably and safely ride certain sections of the route.
Dates & Prices

Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms)
B) Meals as itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Full support service including a guide qualified in First Aid and a back up vehicle carrying spares, snacks and extra equipment not needed on your bike
D) Skedaddle App to access holiday information and navigation
E) GPX files available upon request
E) Scheduled train station transfers on arrival and departure days
What's not Included 
A) Personal clothing and equipment
B) Travel insurance
C) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.
D) Bike & helmet hire (available if required)
E) Travel or flight costs and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
F) Single room option (may be available if required)
G) Entrance fees to cultural or historical sites and visitor centres
H) Other optional activities
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Our travel guide to 2021
Travel with the seasons! We highlight some of the incredible experiences we can’t wait to share with you...
Meet our partners and hosts
Hear from a few of the people that help make our Skedaddle tours so special!
Reviews
Helen, CanadaExcellent!Excellent service, accommodation, hosts, excellent holiday! Alison is always super-efficient and helpful with our pre-holiday service. I am constantly recommending Saddle Skedaddle to people in UK and here in Canada.
Christine, York, UKEach day had its high points...Each day had its high points – mainly the mix in scenery and how our own Scotland can favourably compare with Europe – be it alpine-type meadows, woodlands or mountains!