Highland road trip

This Highland adventure includes some of the most exhilarating mountain biking and awe-inspiring landscapes the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have to offer. Throughout the week you will experience parts of Scotland where traditional culture, heritage and language are celebrated in contemporary style and woven into the fabric of the stunning scenery that will take you from east to west, mainland to island and back again.

Itinerary

Example*

• Day 1
  We will meet in Inverness, where we’ll pack our gear and bikes into the bus and head north, skirting the beautiful Black Isle to the east, towards our destination in Wester Ross, the picturesque town of Ullapool. On arrival at Ullapool, which is nestled on the shores of Loch Broom, we will settle into our accommodation and into true Highland life.
• Day 2
  After a good breakfast we will set off on our miniature coast-to-coast mountain bike adventure east from Ullapool, through Glen Achall and Glen Einig to Bonar Bridge in Sutherland, where we will spend a night in a good quality B&B.
• Day 3
  The third day of our travels takes us back along the route of the previous day, back to Ullapool, and gives you the chance to capture any photo opportunities that you may have missed first time round. And all those steep climbs of yesterday are now fabulous descents!
• Day 4
  After another comfortable night and hearty breakfast we will head off on one of a choice of fantastic, yet relatively easy-going, rides around the Lochinver area, where no matter which direction we choose we will be spoiled by wonderful scenery. After our ride, we will drive to the Isle of Skye where we will spend the next two days.
• Day 5
  This full day on Skye will see us tackling the challenging 50km loop from Sligachan. The route carves its way between the Cuillin mountains with a mouth-watering combination of technical climbs and hair-raising descents.
• Day 6
  Today is our well-earned rest day. We’ll travel through Armadale in the south of Skye, then catch the ferry over to Màllaig. Here we will have time to relax and explore the white sandy beaches, mysterious lochs and spot some wildlife. We will spend our penultimate night in a welcoming B&B in Màllaig.
• Day 7
  Our last day will see us passing through some of North West Scotland’s signature scenery, including Glenfinnan, where we’ll see the bridge made famous by the Harry Potter films, on our drive to Laggan Wolftrax. Here we will ride one of Scotland’s most exciting and challenging man-made mountain bike trails that snakes through this lovely Scots pine forest.

*This is a sample itinerary and can be tailored to suit your needs. 

 

Download pdf of full itinerary

Skill Level

Mostly red with some challenging sections; can be tailored to suit your skill level

Accomodation

Good quality B&Bs and guest houses

Meals

Breakfast and lunches included each day

Dates of Holiday

7th - 14th June 2008 Full

6th - 13th July 2008 Full

23rd - 30th August 2008

 

Contact us if you require alternative dates

Price

£650 pp

Skills List

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Green grade

Green grade trails are suitable for: beginners or novice cyclists.
• Bike required: mountain bikes are suitable.
• Skills needed: basic bike skills are required for this grade.
• Trail and surface types: these will be relatively flat and wide. Trail surface might be loose, uneven or muddy at times. Might include short flowing singletrack-style sections.
• Gradients and technical trail features: climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features.
• Suggested fitness level: suitable for most people in good health.

 

 

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Blue grade

Blue grade trails are suitable for: intermediate mountain bikers with basic off-road riding skills.
• Bike required: Front suspension mountain bike.
• Skills needed: basic off-road riding skills to cope with uneven surfaces and small obstacles.
• Trail and surface types: as above, plus specially constructed singletrack trails. Trail surface might include small obstacles of root and rock.
• Gradients and technical trail features: most gradients are moderate but might include short steep sections. Technical features such as roots and rock might be present.
• Suggested fitness level: a good standard of fitness can help as some trails have short climbs.

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Red grade

Red grade trails are suitable for: proficient mountain bikers with good off-roading skills.
• Bike required: suitable for better off-road quality mountain bikes.
• Skills needed: good off-roading skills and techniques to cope with technical trail features.
• Trail and surface types: as above but steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect variable surface types.
• Gradients or technical trail features: a wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers and water crossings.
• Suggested fitness level: a higher level of fitness and stamina is required to deal with technical features and longer distances.

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Black grade

Black grade trails are suitable for: expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes.
• Bike required: a good quality full suspension mountain bike is recommended.
• Skills needed: advanced level off-roading skills and technical ability.
• Trail and surface types: as above, but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty.
• Gradients or technical trail features: expect large, committing and unavoidable obstacles and technical features. Sections will be challenging and variable. Might also feature 'downhill' style sections.
• Suggested fitness level: suitable for very active people used to prolonged exercise.

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Kit List

• Helmet
• Gloves (appropriate to the time of year)
• Glasses
• Cycle shorts/trousers
• Waterproofs
• Hat and spare gloves
• Bike in good working order (this will be checked before we set off)
• Pump
• Inner tubes
• Puncture repair kit
• Tyre levers
• Multi tool
• Allen keys 2,2.5,3,4,5,6,8,10mm
• Brake blocks or pads to suit your bike
• Shock pump if required
• Chain tool and joining pieces to suit your chain
• Water system (water bottle or Camelbak)
• Personal energy bars
• Any medication you require (you must inform your guide about this prior to the tour)
• Suitable day sack to hold all of the above