Loch Ness and the Highlands Cycling

Expert Local Guides

Award Winning Adventures

Nature First Adventures

Support Local Communities

7 Days from

0 Days from

USD 2,279

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays, Short Breaks

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Trip Code :

C06LN

Few places stir the imagination like Loch Ness; a jewel in Scotland's crown and a window to its wild and wistful soul.

This is a magical place of undisputed natural beauty, shrouded in mystery and legend, where history and heritage are greatly revered. Take in the tranquil Caledonian Canal as it winds along through the rugged landscape up to picturesque Fort Augustus at the south edge of Loch Ness. Follow old military roads laid down by General Wade past glassy lochs and cascading waterfalls, stopping for a break in restful tearooms and country inns. Cycle on quiet roads across moorland and visit Cawdor, where Macbeth plotted his unnatural deeds on your way to Nairn. Visit the beaches and head to the eco-village of Findhorn before returning to the Highlands capital of Inverness via Fort George and Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie saw his hopes dashed.

Highlights

World-famous Loch Ness: wild, beautiful and slightly mysterious
Dramatic gorges, brooding lochs, tumbling waterfalls, breathtaking views at every turn
Superb bird-spotting: ospreys, red kites, peregrines, buzzards, magnificent golden eagles
Red squirrels, red deer, pine martens and even dolphin sightings!
Rich Scottish Highlands clan culture and history

Key Information

6 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies)
Luggage transfers between hotels

Countries visited: United Kingdom

What's Included

All breakfasts
GPS route directions and maps
High Quality Bikes

What's Not Included

Room upgrades
Travel insurance
Single supplement (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

4 Days of Cycling

Day 2

36 km / 22.4 miles

Day 3

31 km / 19.3 miles

Day 4

53 km / 32.9 miles

Day 5

63 km / 39.1 miles

Day 6

53 km / 32.9 miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Arrive in the waterside town of Inverness. Visit the castle with its 360 degree view over the Highland capital.

A transfer takes you to Gairlochy from where your route follows the Great Glen Way as it criss-crosses the Caledonian Canal and snakes effortlessly to Fort Augustus. En route you'll pass beautiful forest, peaceful rivers and brooding Loch Lochy whose sparkling waters and steep-forested hillsides give a fjord-like feel to the landscape. Your final stretch follows the foaming River Oich. You stay tonight in Fort Augustus at the southern tip of Loch Ness.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Spend the day at Fort Augustus, visit the Caledonian Canal Centre and watch the boats maneuvering the locks or head out on a cruise of Loch Ness to visit Urquhart Castle.

Meals Included: Breakfast

A transfer takes you along the Loch to Dores. Cycle quiet country roads between Lochs Ashie and Duntelchaig. Pedal past the impressive Nairn viaduct to visit 14th Century Cawdor Castle, the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth. Continue onto Nairn, known for its two championship golf courses and sandy beaches, where you stay for the next two nights.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today’s route is an out and back route allowing you to do as much, or little as you like. It mainly follows signposted NCN routes to the Findhorn which has a beautiful beach, harbour and small heritage centre. Findhorn is also home to the well-known spiritual and ecological community of The Findhorn Foundation. Along the way pass Brodie Castle to see how Scottish nobility lived from the 16th century onwards, the attractive town of Forres, home to the Benromach distillery. Close to Findhorn is the former air force base at Kinloss, once home to the RAF Nimrod anti-submarine squadron and mountain rescue operations. The small aviation museum “Morayvia” is highly recommended with many ex-airmen on hand to tell the story of the interactive exhibits.

Meals Included: Breakfast

There is a lot to fit in today so an early start would be wise. Starting along the shore head first to the spectacular historic barracks and Highlanders Museum at Fort George. The route then passes the pretty waterside hamlet of Loch Flemington then follows the south side of the Nairn valley and under the impressive masonry arches of the Culloden Viaduct, the largest stone bridge in Scotland. Visit the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Bulnuaran of Clava which have long been a source of wonder. Across the river and up the hill lies Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle fought on British soil in 1746. The excellent visitor centre shows the timeline of events before, during and after the battle in great detail. Ride on into Inverness for your final night.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends in Inverness

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Scotland

UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

Vaccination

United Kingdom

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Scotland

No vaccinations are obligatory.

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Self-Guided
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.

Loch Ness and the Highlands Cycling

Few places stir the imagination like Loch Ness; a jewel in Scotland's crown and a window to its wild and wistful soul.

4 Days of Cycling

Responsible Travel

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Scotland

Vaccination

United Kingdom

Scotland

Is this trip for you?

Hotels