Road Cycling – Coast to Coast

Pre-Trip Service
If you think of a holiday in Scotland and look for ideas which way to explore the great landscape and which places to visit: the website offers a great variety of ideas!
I soon found my favourite: ride from the east to the west coast on a blcycle.

For your questions I recommend to phone the Wilderness Scotland office.
Every person I talked to was very very friendly and helpful.
If like in my case English is not your native language, do not hesitate to use your school English.
Be sure, the person on the Scottish end of the line will help you patiently.
I remember all my chats were quite a pleasure, despite of my bumpy English.

Also be sure: At the start of the trip, when you meet the other pepole of your team:
Anything that can be organized in advance will be done perfectly.
From the first moment I had the feeeling, that this would be a wonderful trip and
now I remember it was prepared as we say like a Swiss clockwork.

Trip Comments
Starting at one ocean (North Sea),crossing the country on a bicycle, ending at another ocean (Atlantic) is an idea that really appealed to me and after I have done it
I like it even more.
On a bike you have the advantage to cover quite a distance and see more places
than you would by walking and feel more part of the nature than by driving the same
route in a car.
In Aberdeenshire surroundings look quite similar to the countryside in the south of Germany, where I live, cycling westwards the cenery changes and with every mile
the landscape looks more and more like my (photography) idea of Scotland.
If I should shortly describe my experience, I would suggest:
„change and variety“
Forests, wetlands, heather covered hills, moutains, the light that shines on the
landscape changes as often as the weather does.
We had all kinds of weather and water: rivers and waterfalls, lochs and the sea,
fog and rain but also the brightest sunshine you can imagine.
What more variety can you expect?

We went through beautiful villages with some traffic and very stoic car drivers but
most of the route was pleasant and quiet.
There were remote places with only our cycling team on the way and miles I was
riding just for myself.

We passed castles -or even stayed overnight- visited distilleries to learn about the
art of whisky-making.

Loch Ness was the mid-tour highlight. Abroad you mostly hear about the monster.
If you are there, you enjoy one of the most beautiful sights possible and forget
about Nessie.

The route-planning kept my absolute favourite for the last day:
The mountain pass climb was really hard, the feeling after having done it and the
summit view to the Hebride Islands were more than a reward.
We had a beer garden lunch at the sea- front Applecross Inn warmed by bright
sunshine and such a peaceful boat trip on Loch Torridon in the afternoon until
sunset.

Accommodation and Food
The hotels in Grantown on Spey, Fort Augustus and Loch Torridon:
This is the kind of accommodation I would choose: Pretty, charming houses, nice
and well-kept en-suite rooms friendly staff, nothing to complain about at all.

Coul House Hotel in Contin, Kildrummy Castle Hotel in Alford:
What places to stay overnight for a group of cyclists.
These houses have a castle atmosphere of luxury but the staff isn’t snobbish at all.
I felt very welcome despite we entered in cycling clothes that some may think of
as not appropriate perhaps.
It was more than I expected, but I think all members of our group were fond of these
places.

From the noble dining room at Coul House to the other hotel´s restaurants, from the
sunny seaside terrace of the Applecross Inn to the warm atmosphere of the Whistle
Stop Cafe, that gave us wet cyclists shelter during heavy Scottish rain, not to forget
the picnic stops at beautiful spots in the midst of nature:
I enjoyed both the places and the dishes, every meal served at table tasted very
delicious.

Your Guide
Our guides by turns accompanied us on bike and support vehicle.
They offered detailed information for the for the part of the route ahead of us by means of map and accurate explanation.
Nevertheless on the road we sometimes took the wrong turn or the group split up
because of everyone’s individual speed.
David and Neil always managed to bring all of us to the next meeting point along
the way and everyone savely reached the destination in the evening.
Although they pedaled some extra mile to accompany the faster as well as the
slower ones of our group, both did this in a calm pleasant and very friendly way.

What Neil and David did for us was much more than just guiding, I would call it a
full week complete service.
- luggage service
We had lightweight bikes, for our guides this meant dragging lots of our heavy
bags to the van in the morning and to the hotel in the evening.
- technical service
to keep our bikes running
- food service
preparing our picnic and coffee stops (always in style with tablecloth)
- psychological service
When my legs lost power the last miles of the day, I appreciated the encouraging
words of Neil or David riding by my side.
- knowledge service
Due to our guides‘ detailed knowledge we learned a lot about the regions we
passed through.

Wilderness Scotland Promise: „ you can expect to be in friendly and safe hands“

I completely agree

The Bottom Line
If you love nature particularly the great scenery of Scotland, if you ride your bicycle
regularly, if you like remote places more than crowded cities -
this might be your trip!

However you should pay attention to the Wilderness Scotland trip grading.
It’s graded red 7!
My experience: they do not exaggerate, I sometimes felt my personal fitness limitations.
I ride my bike almost every day and of course expected more challenging ascents
on a highland route than on the smooth hills at home.
In fact sometimes during the trip I was really exhausted but as soon as we arrived
at the hotel weakness was gone and a wonderful feeling off satisfaction took over.

Would I do it again? Yes without hesitation but with more training in advance.

If the trip price makes you hesitate- I also considered twice.
It isn’t cheap as Scotland isn’t cheap in general.
But quality isn’t for free.
What I got back is a holiday beyond comparison.
There’s no regret about the money I have spent, it was more than worth it.

I recommend this trip confidentially and also Wilderness Scotland.
It was my second booking and both holidays were absolutely fascinating.




end of feedback survey some further information to Wilderness Scotland people,
hope you want to read a bit more.

You made me a happy client twice 2014 and 2017 and therefore I wanted to give
a positive reply.
Sorry for answering only now 5 months after the trip but I hope my feedback is
still useful for you.
I tried my best to find understandable words but there are language limitations.

These also occurred during the trip, since our team was from USA Canada and
the guides from Britain with me, the only not native English speaker from Bavaria.

All of them were so kind and patient that I felt absolutely welcome among this
wonderful international group of people and so the language wasn’t a big problem.

It was this international thing I looked for.

The others also were enthusiastic about the scenery in Scotland.
At viewpoints I heard them shouting „Oh my goodness“ or just „Wow“.
Indeed, the scenery is often overwhelming.
You are lucky to live there, aren’t you?

I was also lucky with our guides David and Neil.
It’s not an easy job I think, to handle a group of people who never met before.
Different nations, different characters, different ages, fitness levels, cycling speeds.
Somehow they managed to bring us together, maybe because David in his calm and nice way of talking and Neil with his unique talent of storytelling are the perfect
guiding team.

It’s a pity that we probably will not meet again, but there will always be a positive memory of all of these people in my mind.

Thank you Neil and David also for cycling by my side or picking me up for the last
miles in the evening.
You gave me the encouragement I needed in the last hour, my „hour of weakness“.

I found my personal rhythm with the ascents and descents and in the end and to my own surprise even climbed „Bealach na Ba“.
What a view there,I could even see the Isle of Eigg and remember our pleasant stay
there at Kildonan House in 2014.
You put the highlights at the end of a well organized trip.

Thanks and greetings to the office team, Rupert who was with us at the west coast,
Jane, David Russel, Chantal and a special one to Rachael who worked for me for
the second time.
Thank you all for your kindness!

I cannot afford a third one in the moment but I wish to return with my wife sometimes.
To keep the wish alive keep on sending emails, I will look at them.

My best wishes from Bavaria to all of you,

Günther

Pre-Trip Service
Once I was able to speak with someone we had wonderful service. I initially left a phone message that never was returned but did try again and was able to speak directly with someone.

Trip Comments
There were many special moments and really good laughs. It's hard to capture them in words. I will forever remember our group and the ribbing that began very early in the trip. I laughed hard, ate hard and biked hard. David's magical ability to make 10 km = 10 miles = 14 miles is also something I still haven't been able to figure out. I also now have great respect for 'Scottish flats'. Hills at home will never compare! Rainbows, waterfalls and sheep carried me over many a mountain.

Accommodation and Food
I really enjoyed the varied places that we stayed. It was a really nice mix of a bit more fancy to comfortable and relaxed. At each place the staff were lovely and very attentive to our needs.

Your Guide
David was just as he describes himself: organized, laid back & stoic. He was always quietly supporting us and so attentive to our needs. I really appreciated that he believed in our abilities and just always seemed to be there when we needed him. It felt like he was always one step ahead, adjusting and rearranging routes, timing, the schedule to ensure we had the most optimal experience. He made our trip extremely special.

The Bottom Line
Pre-trip: We received all the information necessary to be very ready for this trip. The staff were very helpful and kind with booking, payments, etc

Trip difficulty rating: It was bang on. You really need to have a strong base of riding for this trip and I'm so glad I did. To really enjoy the beauty of the route, being comfortable with a lot of hill climbing is essential.

Bikes: The bikes we rented were great. I was a bit concerned that riding an unknown bike for +420km might not be comfortable but they worked well, the frame sizes chosen for us were very accurate and our guides were very skilled in doing any adjustments or maintenance necessary.

Routing: We loved, loved, loved the routes (and detours) that made up this trip. Also our guides had such knowledge of the areas they were able adjust routes on the fly, sometimes because we were a directionally challenged bunch and took wrong turns (they knew if we could keep going and get to the same place or if they needed to turn us around) and sometimes to optimize quieter roads. The Garmins were not really that helpful but the guides more than made up for the lack of technology.

Scenery: Oh my! The scenery was magical. It was amazing how many different terrains and varied areas we experienced. Each ride, each corner turned brought on new and breathtaking experiences. I am still a bit surprised I didn't see a gnome wander out from the woods.

Boat tour: Changing the boat tour to the last night was a fabulous idea. The couple that did our tour was really lovely, very knowledgeable and it was a really meaningful to see the area in this way. It was also a really special way to top off a fabulous trip.

Food: All of the cafes and restaurants we ate at were wonderful. I really appreciated the wide variety of styles and the different 'feel' of each. They all were unique and special in their own way, some because of the food, some because of the atmosphere and some for both! The picnic lunches we had were also well done and the food was fabulous.

Overall: we had a fabulous time and the trip far exceeded our expectations!

Pre-Trip Service

Trip Comments
The guys did a great job! Lots of unexpected extras that made it better then expected. Best part was their ability to adjust to different tastes, weather, schedules, and situations.

Accommodation and Food
All the hotels were great. I enjoyed the variation in accommodations; some homey, some grand. All were comfortable and had great, personable staff. Food was great too. The roadside picnics were fun and different.

Your Guide
As noted, the guys accommodated everyone and every situation with grace, charm and humor.

The Bottom Line
Great job. Thanks for showing me a side of the UK that I never knew existed.

Pre-Trip Service
The people on the phone were great when I reached them. It would be very helpful for the answering message to list the hours when the phone is staffed. With an 8 hour time difference, it was hard to find the right time.

For the info form, please list a recommendation for bike type for each trip.

Trip Comments
I loved the single track roads. So scenic and quiet. My favorite ride was from granton on Spey to lunch. It was a long climb but well worth it.

The Garmin gps units did not work. They kept telling us to take detours or turn around. Paper or laminated directions would have been better. We made do with guides at the (few) intersections.

The only route that wasn't great was from fort Augustus to lochinewe. It would have been fine with either less traffic or without the wind and rain. With both, it didn't feel safe.

I'm glad we got to stop at 2 distilleries. I preferred the Glen of Ord tour (and whiskey!)

Accommodation and Food
I enjoyed the range of guesthouses. My favorite was Tigh An Eliann in Sheidag. Amazing views of the water, cozy and themed room, comfortable common spaces... and sunshine! I know the sunshine wasn't controlled but I got some fantastic photos of the sunrise. The restaurant there (or maybe the applecross inn) was also my favorite.

Your Guide
The guides were pretty good at making everyone was ok and accommodating a range of speeds and desires. I was often on my own for an hour at a time, but then I'd come around a corner and a guide would be waiting for me. I also appreciated their flexibility in adapting the schedule to the weather.

The Bottom Line
Great experience. Will definitely consider another trip with wilderness Scotland. A little more bike fitting at the start would be welcome -- it took 2 days to adjust my stem and 4 to adjust my seat height. It was raining and the ground was not level at the starting point, which made it harder. Once I got used to the bike, I really like it and would be happy to ride the same one again.

Pre-Trip Service
Any questions we asked were responded to promptly and the equipment list/pre-trip planning documents were very helpful. The only suggestion I would make is to add a note in the itinerary indicating that distances may vary from what is described. For example the itinerary stated that Day 1 would be 64km, while we actually rode 74km. This isn't a problem, it just might have been good to set us up to be flexible in our expectations of distance.

Trip Comments
The change in having the boat trip in Loch Torridon rather than Loch Ness was an excellent change. The Loch Torridon trip was relaxing and felt very genuine. The flexibility of our guides to change up the route or schedule a bit to suit group preferences (or the weather) was a big plus.

Accommodation and Food
I liked the variety of accommodation types throughout the trip. Staying in a range of accommodations gave us a more fulfilling experience. Everything was clean and comfortable.
The food on our trip was amazing. Period. I now have a sticky toffee pudding addiction.
The picnic/rest stop meals set up by David and Neil were great. Our only regret is that we can't get the same snacks here in Canada.

Your Guide
We felt very well taken care of by David and Neil.

The Bottom Line
I'm confident that we will travel with Wilderness Scotland again. This was our first cycling trip and your company made it an easy and enjoyable experience.

Pre-Trip Service
The email replies were timely and complete.

Trip Comments
Sure, the weather could have been better but the lodging was well varied and the meals great.

Accommodation and Food
Nothing was too posh. The castle and manor house balanced out with Shieldaig.

Your Guide
They were great guys who worked hard and were always super helpful. Dave helped with a flat in record time. Neal kept the conversation lively and was eager to help as well.

The Bottom Line
What a great introduction to the Scottish Highlands. The trip touches on the landscape, history, cuisine, and great cycling of Scotland.

Pre-Trip Service
The process was simple and clearly defined.

Trip Comments
I didn't want it to end. I mean, every ride, every day, was SO enjoyable, I really, seriously, didn't want them to finish. Literally after 1 or 2 days I felt that I had known our guides (Sam & Dave) for my entire life things were that natural and comfortable. The same can be said about the other people in our group: we were just instant friends and almost family right away. But that can almost be expected since what sort of people do these trips? People that are active, like adventure, and ALL of them have interesting life experiences they are willing to share.

In terms of our specific trip, pulling into the castle (yes, a REAL honest castle !-) for the first night's dinner and lodging set the stage for this unbelievable experience. The scenery, meals, and lodging were all top notch, but you just can't beat a pop up picnic with a great view on a gorgeous day....just writing this makes me want to go back !-).

If you are even half-considering this trip, do it! You won't regret it, I promise!

Accommodation and Food

Your Guide

The Bottom Line

Pre-Trip Service
We had a slight difficulty due to time zone differences making a phone payment for a second bike hire that could not be paid online.

Trip Comments
The guides were outstanding and complimented each other very well.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were quite nice, the best being the Coul House and Torridon inn. The least favorite of the week was the Garth Hotel. The food was very good as well. The highlights for dinner were the coul house, the shieldig bar and the torridon inn.

Your Guide
Sam and David went above and beyond and made sure everyone had a great trip. Just outstanding all the way around!!!

The Bottom Line
Exceeded all expectations!!

Pre-Trip Service

Trip Comments
The routes were lovely and we were lucky enough to have a couple of hot sunny days during our week. As a personal preference I would have liked to have a que sheet for each day since we were such a mixed ability group. The guys did a great job keeping us on route And respecting our capabilities.

Accommodation and Food
Coul House was my favorite, true hospitality and delicious food in a gorgeous setting. Loch Ness Guest House was second. The accommodations were wonderful. Food options in town weren't super but we had a nice evening in town. Torridon Inn was next, a very comfortable room and relaxed atmosphere in the pub. Kildrummy was a very unique experience and I enjoyed it very much. We weren't there very long since we had a late start. Room was comfortable and dinner and breakfast were good. The Garth was my least favorite. We had a small rather uncomfortable bed. Dinner/breakfast were good. The town was nice for a little afternoon stroll.

Your Guide
Sam and Dave were a great balanced team! I enjoyed riding and sharing meals with them both.

The Bottom Line
It was just the holiday we were hoping for!

Pre-Trip Service
A detailed map of the trip would be useful.
Otherwise informative and well organized.

Trip Comments

Accommodation and Food
best hotel was at Contin.
Alford was disappointing - noisy, dribbling shower, food average

Your Guide
very nice people (Jenny and Kelty)

The Bottom Line