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Self Led Tours - Lochs And Glens
Route: Down the spine of Scotland's national cycle network through the Cairngorms, Highland Perthshire and the Trosachs. On the whole the route is of moderate difficulty, but with a couple of very large climbs.
Duration: 5 cycling days, 4-6 nights
Total Cycling Distance: 148 miles (Average cycling distance is 30 miles per day.)
Departures: 2010 tours can begin every Thursday from April to October.
Price: From £260 per person sharing a double room. This is a base price which includes 4 nights accommodation and supply of the route in both hard copy and digital form. Numerous optional services include accommodation on the arrival day, accommodation on the final day, bike hire and GPS unit. Luggage transfer may be available depending upon group size.
Accommodation: Hotel accommodation (sharing a room), full breakfasts, bike hire (optional), cycle computer route navigation & luggage transfer (optional).
From Inverness, Capital of the Highlands to Callander in the Trossachs. This tour is based upon is Route 7 
of the UK's National Cycle Network and combines traffic-free paths and minor roads through the very heart of Scotland. The route is by no means mountainous, but does climb up to 450 meters at the Pass of Drumochter. A little under half of the route is on traffic-free paths.
Arrival Day*:
Arrival in the city of Inverness, with hotel accommodation in the city centre and very close to the start of the route.
*This tour can be booked without arrival day accommodation.
Accommodation: Columba Hotel , Inverness
Day 1: Inverness - Carrbridge (27 miles)
The first day tarts with a tough climb out of Inverness. and after a climb for the first four miles, its largely downhill to Inverness. The route passes Culloden Moor, where in 1746 the Jacobite forces led by Bonnie Prince Charlie were routed by the government army and then on through the distillery village of Tomatin. The final four miles are downhill to Carrbridge in the Cairngorms National Park.
Accommodation: Fairwinds Hotel , Carrbridge
Day 2: Carrbridge - Newtonmore (23 Miles)
You may have arrived in the Cairngorms and be close to Scotland's prime skiing area, but this stage is flatter than you might expect. A visit to the historic ruins of Ruthven Barracks offers one final diversion as you arrive in Kingussie. - the centre of the Scottish wintersports. The village of Aviemore is a one-mile deviation from the route, but is the most obvious opportunity for lunch. On leaving Aviemore, the route follows the River Spey through the Inshraich Forest towards the village of Kingussie and then on to nearby Newtonmore. Only 5 miles of this stage are traffic free, but the rest are on small roads.
Accommodation: Coig Na Shee Guest House , Newtonmore
Day 3: Kingussie - Pitlochry (40 miles)
Day Three is probably the hardest day of cycling. The traffic-free path through the pass runs parallel to the main road and passes through Newtonmore and then the distillery village of Dalwhinnie. The climb starts up to the Pass of Drumochter at 450m (quite literally the highpoint of the trip). This is a steady hill rather than anything exceptionally steep - but if you are at all nervous of this stage you will be reassured to find the cycle-friendly rail service running parallel to the entire route of Day Five. Blair Atholl, home to Blair Castle , is the next stop before the day comes to a close with the Pass of Killiecrankie, site of the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, which you can read about in the local visitor centre .
Accommodation: Craigatin House , Pitlochry
Day 4: Pitlochry - Loch Tay (22 miles)
Day Four is a slightly shorter, but with another nasty 'little' hill, with the 30 mile trip to the minor roads of rural Perthshire to Kenmore and then on, along on the shores of Loch Tay. Pitlochry, on the River Tummel is a small but busy holiday town that provides a gateway to the Highlands.
Accommodation: Fortingall Hotel , Loch Tay
Day 5: Loch Tay - Callander (45 miles)
Start the day with the remainder of Loch Tay on quiet road sitting beneath some of Perthshire's highest mountains to reach Killin. After Killin follows Lochearnhead and then Balquhidder, where you can visit the grave of ancient Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor. The spectacular cycle along the shores of Loch Lubnaig makes it easy to see why this is one of Scotland's most popular areas for a cycling day out.
Accommodation: Roman Camp Country House Hotel , Callander.
Arrival & Departure
Arrival in Inverness: Inverness has a direct rail link back to Glasgow (journey time of approximately 3 hours 20 mins). The city also has an international airport with scheduled flights to London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton.
Departure from Callander:
Callander is a short bus journey from Stirling. Stirling has a direct rail link back to Inverness and is within easy reach of Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. Alternatively you can cycle to Dunblane and catch a train from there. If you arrive by car, we can help you make parking arrangements for the duration of your trip. These services are optional and not included in the costs shown and our advice is always available free of charge.
Departure from Inverness:
You can find helpful practical information about all our cycling holidays in Frequently Asked Questions
