Email: info@velodays.com
Self Led Tours - Loch Ness And The Cairngorms
Route: A journey to the heart of the Cairngorms National Park and back... so there are 2 or 3 days with considerable climbing.
Duration: 6 cycling days, 5-7 nights
Total Cycling Distance: 183 miles (Average cycling distance is 30.5 miles per day.)
Departures: 2010 tours can begin every Thursday from April to October
Price: From £343 per person sharing a double room. This is a base price which includes 5 nights accommodation and supply of the route in both hard copy and digital form. Numerous optional services include accommodation on the final day, bike hire, supply of and luggage transfer.
Accommodation: 3-4 star Hotels
*This tour can be booked without arrival day accommodation.
This 7 day, circular route takes in Loch Ness, Inverness and some of the best scenery in both the Highlands and Perthshire. A large section of the route follows the National Cycle Network as well as minor roads alongside some of Scotland's most beautiful lochs.
Arrival Day*:
Arrival in Inverness. Once settled in your overnight accommodation, we will deliver bikes and equipment to you.
Accommodation: Columba Hotel 
, Inverness.
Day 1: Inverness - Fort Augustus (34 miles)
The route largely follows minor roads on the eastern side of Loch Ness. There are plenty opportunities to look for the famous Loch Ness Monster, but we suggest that diverting your eyes to the wonderful Highland scenery will be more rewarding ...but you never know.
Accommodation:
Inch Hotel , Fort Augustus
Day 2: Fort Augustus - Carrbidge (39 miles)
After leaving the 'Great Glen' there is a fair bit of climbing to the distillery village of Tomatin followed closely by the Slochd Summit at a height of 406m. The last few miles are predominantly downhill as you arrive in the village of Carrbridge.
Accommodation: Fairwinds Hotel , Carrbridge.
Day 3: Carrbridge - Tomintoul (25 miles)
Hold onto your hats... as day three heads over the roller-coaster that is the road to Tomintoul (the highest village in the Highlands - but we can gloss over that if you prefer). A short day, but with the opportunity to visit Loch Garten RSPB reserve (famous for its breeding Ospreys), Nethy Bridge and to cycle one of the steepest hills Scotland can throw at you! The climbing doesn't last too long but it is severe.
Accommodation: Argyle Guest House , Tomintoul.
Day 4: Tomintoul - Archiestown (25 miles)
The Grampian Highlands can be somewhat neglected in favour of destinations to the west, but for cyclists this is wonderful terrain - with rolling hills, castles and miles of empty minor roads. The route heads north again, into the very heart of malt whisky country and takes in Glenlivet on the way to Aberlour and ending in the pretty speyside village of Archiestown.
Accommodation: Archiestown Hotel
Day 5: Archiestown - Forres (25 miles)
Day five is another fairly short day, leaving the hills of Speyside down to the pretty town of Forres. The route passes Cardhu distillery and Pluscarden Abbey .
Accommodation: Cluny Bank Hotel , Forres.
Day 6: Forres - Inverness (35 miles)
A reasonably gentle final day follows the deserted roads through the Darnaway Forest on the way to Cawdor Castle . Then it's on towards the historic Culloden Battlefield before dropping down back into Inverness.
Accommodation: Columba Hotel , Inverness.
Arrival & Departure
This is circular trip begins and ends in Inverness. The city is served by rail service and by air to Inverness airport . If you arrive with your own transport, we can help you make parking arrangements for the duration of your trip.
You can find helpful practical information about all our cycling holidays in Frequently Asked Questions
