Highlights
- Watching the sun burn away the mists from Loch Lomond
- White pudding, Lorne sausage and tattie cakes for breakfast
- Enjoying a dram at Scotland’s smallest distillery
- Perth’s Georgian buildings
- Miles of quiet winding loch-side roads
- The spectacular mountain backdrop
Itinerary
Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond, is where you will spend your first evening.
If you plan to arrive by air, the nearest airport is Glasgow which has direct transport links to Glasgow train station. 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 near the accommodation for the duration of the trip. The evening can be spent strolling along the shoreline and sampling local dishes.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 815 Metres Approx.
Following a hearty Scottish breakfast, you will be met by our Skedaddle representative who will provide you with your rental bikes (if renting) and will talk you through how to use the navigation app.
From the accommodation you will follow a route via lochs and glens to Callander, your second night’s stop. The route takes you out into the solitude of the countryside from Loch Lomond to Loch Venacher via quiet country roads. After Aberfoyle you enter Achray Forest from where you will weave your 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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 510 Metres Approx.
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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 690 Metres Approx.
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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.
Retracing your tracks to the Logierait Viaduct you now follow the river Tay on the National Cycle Network route 77, The Salmon Run. This route eventually brings you to Perth, the town that inspired Sir Walter Scott to pen 'The Fair Maid of Perth', which in turn inspired Bizet's opera. On the way to this fair city, tucked away at the foot of thickly wooded hills, you will discover one of Perthshire’s gems – the cathedral town of Dunkeld. Resting on the opposite bank of the River Tay is the Victorian village of Birnam. Together, the beautifully restored buildings and rich heritage are an inspiration for lovers of history, the arts and the great green outdoors. At the end of the day you will be met by our representative and either whisked back to your car in Balloch or given your bags to catch a train in Perth.
Show ProfileUnderstanding Profiles
Use these profiles to see:
- Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
- Ascent / Descent in metres (vertical axis)
Click 'see gradient' to see:
- Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
- % Gradient (vertical axis)
Please check the scales on both graphs, and both axes as they both may differ from day to day.
White vertical lines indicate unpaved sections or slightly rougher terrain. Using both graphs, alongside the grading and terrain information provided, will give you a full picture of how flat, bumpy or steep the climbing on your particular tour is going to be. Please keep in mind this is an indicative guide and GPS units and software produce different statistical information.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The route 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.
If you’re wanting to spend more time exploring the sights along the way, then an e-bike is perfect to cover the miles a little quicker. Take advantage of the pedal assist on the climbs. Please note – E-bikes are normally heavier than standard hybrid bikes, so worth considering when handling the bike on rough tracks.
For more information about riding an electric bike on our holidays please click here
Lochs and Glens uses a part of the National Cycle Network, a route from the charity, Sustrans, who are working to make it easier for everyone to cycle in the UK. Skedaddle will donate to Sustrans for every mile that you and others ride on this route with us. If you fancy donating more to Sustrans, you can choose to make your own donation for the development of the National Cycle Network when you make a booking with us.
Leisure Cycling Grade
Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day
For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness
May include some steeper, cheeky climbs
Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).
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?
Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 trip to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Dates & Prices
Daily departures available from April to mid October. Choose your own dates from:
2025 $920 per person
You either can make a booking online or over the phone. Once we have your details, we’ll be able to check availability.
Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book now with a $200 deposit and nothing more to pay until 30 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.
Whats Included
A) Accommodation (shared twin/ double rooms)
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Access to an app for holiday information and navigation
D) A printed map
E) Luggage transfer service
F) Local Skedaddle representative
G) Emergency tool kit, pump etc. (if renting your bike from Skedaddle)
H) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included
A) Bike and helmet rental (available if required)
B) Travel or flight costs or charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Meals not stated in the itinerary
D) Single room (available if required)
E) Travel insurance
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
H) Entrance fees to cultural or historical sites and visitor centres
I) Other optional activities
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
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Meet our partners and hosts
Hear from a few of the people that help make our Skedaddle tours so special!
Reviews
Lori, UKWe really enjoyed the entire trip!We really enjoyed the entire trip. The scenery was beautiful and accommodations were welcoming and comfortable. Our bags were always there when we arrived at the end of the day. The navigation app was easy to use, and the routes were well-marked. I was concerned about the narrow roads, but they were generally pretty quiet. I would recommend an e-bike – I’m fit, but this made the trip more enjoyable.
Helen, CanadaExcellent!Excellent service, accommodation, hosts, excellent holiday! Alison is always super-efficient and helpful with our pre-holiday service, and Janis, our Rep, was great and went out of her way to be helpful. I am constantly recommending Saddle Skedaddle to people in UK and here in Canada.
Kate, YorkshireThe service was the usual high standard!We had a fantastic time, it would be impossible to pick a favourite day! Every day was very different and the route was really easy to follow, from the tracks through forests to the small country roads by the Lochs. Even on the day when it rained continually, it was so much fun.
Given the turbulent year with the COVID-19, the service was the usual high standard. Thank you! Skedaddle kept us in the loop as much as possible with the constantly changing situation and I cannot imagine how difficult things must have been. We always wonder whether we would be able to do the holiday on our own, cheaper, without the support of Skedaddle… but we know we couldn’t!
Keep smiling and doing what you do best, making cycling holidays magic!
Helen, Worcestershire, UKJust brilliant!My favourite day would have to be Day 4 Killin and then along quiet side of Loch Tay and meeting the Crannog was brilliant. Day 3 is close behind, with some great stretches through the forests on good paths especially out of Aberfoyle. Beautiful trail with lake views and fab signposting. I adored the Glen Ogle viaduct stretch.
We found all accommodation to be at an excellent standard with good attention to detail- phasing eating for guests etc. Hand sanitiser everywhere was appreciated. Even in area of local lock down we found a friendly welcome with good places to enjoy meals and no problems experienced.
Ricardo de Silva, BrazilWell worth the travelling...I travelled a very long way to get to Scotland and take your cycling holiday and it was great. The route was super and the places were nice to stay in. I really like the B&B’s even if a bit too warm sometimes.
Sandy & Albert, Canterbury, New ZealandEveryday was different!Every day had different scenery and terrain. Variety of trail type was also really good with mix of tarseal back-roads, designated cycle paths and rougher forest trails. Also a big thank you to the Skedaddle representative, you were a pleasure to correspond with – we had a great time.
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!
Jo, Sheffield, UKThank you for a lovely holiday!Thank you for a lovely holiday! The accommodation was great and we were made very welcome. The cycling was wonderful and varied, the taxis came as planned and it all ran very smoothly.
Katherine, Middlesex, UKExcellent...Thank you we had a fabulous holiday! Our favourite day would have to be Day 3, the views over Loch Tay were stunning.
Stephen, Manchester, UKVery good...A lovely route, and with us choosing a self guided holiday we were able to travel at a pace comfortable to us and stop at places to have a good look around.
Nothing appeared too much trouble for Alison who was always quick to respond to communications, whether they were by phone or email.
Route 7 and 77 are excellent cycling route and avoid busy roads and traffic. Much of it is traffic free. Our best day was the cycle from Killin to Pitlochry. Although this was the longest day with respect to mileage, it was by far the easier ride. Gentle gradients along picturesque valleys – all on very good road surfaces too. The scenery was spectacular.