Cycling holidays in Scotland

How fit do I need to be?
Scotland is a mountainous country, and although our holidays here are suitable for any active, regular cyclist, a few weeks of preparation won’t go amiss. On long-distance point-to-point routes such as the Great Glen Way or the North Coast 500, you can expect to be in the saddle for around six-to-seven hours each day, and to encounter a fair few challenging climbs. So a bit of practice beforehand to get the kinks out of your muscles and joints is advisable.

Tailor made or small group tours?
One of the best things about our small group cycling holidays in Scotland (apart from the fact you have a brilliant guide leading the way so you can just relax and enjoy the riding) is how motivational they are. When you’re in a hilly country like Scotland, and the weather is so changeable, there’s a lot to be said for having others cheering you on.

But not everyone is content with a set itinerary that has to be stuck to, and for those who prefer more freedom in their schedules, a tailor made trip offers just that. With our self guided Scotland cycling holidays you set your own pace, choose where to stop for lunch, and can feel free to add in an extra day to rest or take a diversion whenever you please. You’ll need to get around by yourselves but with full support provided, including GPS, maps and route notes detailing recommended stop-offs and local cafes, that’s no hardship at all.

Point to point riding or centre based?
In Scotland you have the option of either point-to-point cycling, where you’ll stay somewhere different every night and therefore need to travel light, or centre-based trips where you’re lodging in one place for the duration of your tour making it easier to settle. There are also trips where over the course of a week you might stay in two or three places, which gives you the best of both worlds.

For point-to-point routes, luggage transfers between accommodation will usually be included so you can ride with just a daypack. However we do also have some great bikepacking tours, where you’ll carry everything with you. In the Hebrides, we also have island-hopping cycle-and-boat tours, where you can explore and stay on a number of different islands over the course of a week or so.

Are electric bikes available?
Our electric bike cycling tours in Scotland are ideal for those wanting great exercise in beautiful locations, but would prefer a bit of assistance when it comes to the uphills. In places like Orkney and the Outer Hebrides we have e-bike tours, while in other locations you may have the option of using an e-bike at a supplement. These would be subject to availability so do ensure you mention early on that you would like to go electric.