Mountain Biking - Coast to Coast

GRADING challenging

Choosing your trip - Our grading levels

Mountain Biking
The following information provides an overview on our grading of our Mountain Biking trips. Further information of a specific nature can be found in the relevant Trip Dossier. If you are in any doubt at all regarding your suitability for a trip, please contact us and we will be glad to talk about the trip in detail and provide you with a recommendation.

Grade - moderate

Mountain bike trips graded moderate are suitable for all people who enjoy cycling. These trips are equally suited to people new to mountain biking or intermediates looking for a new challenge and to develop their skills whilst enjoying some adventurous riding in a wild location.

You can expect up to six hours of riding over undulating terrain on some days. Trail conditions will vary from tarmac minor roads to dirt trails and non-technical single track.

Please note that we do not currently have any scheduled mountain biking holidays at this grade but we can organise trips at this grade for private groups. For a sample itinerary, click here.

Grade - challenging

Trips graded challenging are suitable for regular mountain bikers with a good level of fitness and technical riding skills. You may need to include some pre-trip preparation to build your stamina to cope with being in the saddle for consecutive days.

You can expect up to eight hours of riding over a wide range of terrain, including undulating and, at times, mountainous terrain. Trail conditions will be equally varied from minor road to dirt trails and technical single track.

Our Coast to Coast trip gains its grade mainly due to the physical challenge of completing the route, and there are also some technical sections. The Skye and the Outer Hebrides trip, however, involves technical riding over natural singletrack trails deep in the mountains, so is best suited to experienced riders who will enjoy the technical challenge of these trails.

Grade - moderate plus

Our "Moderate Plus" graded mountain biking holidays involve some superb riding on a range of natural singletrack trails. They are well-suited to intermediate or experienced riders who perhaps regularly visit some of the purpose-built mountain biking centres and are now looking to develop their skills and explore the challenge to be found on the wonderful backcountry singletrack trails of the Highlands.

You can expect to encounter a variety of technical challenges throughout the week and cover up to 55km each day, with a number of significant ascents during the week, so you need a good level of biking fitness.

You must have some experience of off-road mountain biking before you join these trips. Please contact our office if you have any queries about your suitability for these trips.