- A classic road cycling tour from the heart of the Highlands to Scotland’s Capital.
- An amazing week of trip highlights showcasing the best of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage and warm hospitality.
- Full guiding, vehicle and logistical support leaving you to relax and enjoy the riding.
- 7 days professional guiding with lead guide plus assistant guide/support driver
- 6 nights accommodation in 3* and 4* hotels/ inns/guest houses on a B&B basis
- Most meals as stated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Vehicle transport throughout including ride support and luggage transfers
- Entrance and admission fees as stated in the itinerary
- Ride snacks, home-baking and drinks
Blue Graded Road Cycling Holidays 4-6
Our Blue grade trips are for people who regularly enjoy cycling and may have joined a multi-day cycle tour holiday before. On these trips you can expect rolling and sometimes hilly terrain. You are comfortable climbing and descending steep roads as long as there are plenty of stops for photos! On these trips, harder days in the saddle are usually followed by easier ones both in terms of distance and the amount of climbing. On most days these trips offer lots of opportunity for exploring the surrounding area and enjoying relaxed lunches.
Distances typically range from 30-50 miles each day with typically rolling terrain. On some days you can expect some testing climbs and exciting descents.
Before joining this trip, the questions you should be asking yourself are:
Are you happy being on your bike for around six hours each day for up to 6 days in a row?
Do you regularly ride a road bike most weeks or have you done a multi day tour recently?
Are you comfortable climbing and descending steep roads?
Accommodation
Our accommodation partners are carefully chosen according to a number of factors u2013 charming locations, very good facilities and a reputation for providing Highland hospitality. Wherever they are available, we will reserve ensuite rooms for you.
Single Room Supplement
There is no single person supplement charged to solo travellers however you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of £245 is charged if a single room is available.
You will be met by your guide at 09:00am on Day 1 of the trip at the Kingsmills Hotel. We will finish in Edinburgh Waverley train station around 3:00pm on Day 7.
Customer Kudos
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us.
Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That's why we read each of our client's reviews and although we don't respond to all of them, if it's glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
by Sandra Wiens 21/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Accurate tour prep notes regarding what to bring and such. Very prompt email responses to queries.
Trip Comments
I really enjoyed the cycling. It was a great balance of challenging terrain and more relaxed riding. The locations we road through were beautiful, even in the rain! I did think that navigation was an issue, however. The Garmins did not always work reliably and the printed maps were more about giving an overview of the day, but not something to use for accurate navigation. i personally prefer to be a bit more autonomous when riding. Meaning that I don't necessarily want to always be riding cheek to jowl with the group. I think that an accurate, readable paper map with routes marked for each day would give the backup needed for when the Garmins are affected by rain or gremlins and would give riders a better sense of where they are if something does happen. And riders could be a bit more independant in their navigation. However, this opinion is colored by the fact that I never used a Garmin before and am not familiar with all it's options.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Even though there was some guide re-shuffling and tag-teaming during our trip, Lucy, Henry and Craig did a great job. Positive, energetic and fun.
The Bottom Line
by Thorarinn Thorarinsson 12/06/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Prompt responses but had to chase for the payment info in the end but not a big deal and all sorted in the end.
Trip Comments
The guides were excellent, easy going and good knowledge of anything that came in our path... Beautiful country side for bike riding with some challenging climbs etc.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
No complaints, nice and entertainingt people.. did a good job handling different riding skills of the group.
The Bottom Line
by Anna Lerner 25/09/2016
Pre-Trip Service
It was all good: quick response to mails, useful pre-trip materials. I wasn't notified when my trip was canceled, but when I asked about it, I got all the info about my alternatives along with apologies.
Trip Comments
Man, we could feel you're very experienced. Everything was thought through and working like a Swiss watch. I felt like I'm in very good hands. It's not only that you did all the organization for us, but it was done very well, too. The hotels, the restaurants, the half-way picnics - I felt spoiled.
Accommodation and Food
The choice of the hotels was great. All the hotels were beautiful and had a special kick about them. The Auld Kirk - a very special experience, the beautiful Glenesk hotel, the charming Taypark - all are amazing. I didn't particularly like The Aberdour Hotel, as the room was small, the walls thin (I woke up in the middle of the night because people in the next room were talking) and their restaurant service was peculiar. Apart from this - everything was great. The restaurants were good, but I liked the best the picnics with the local food under the open skies.
Your Guide
The guides did a great job. Again, I felt like I was in very good hands. Tim and Paul were very helpful and caring. They were funny too. The dynamic between them was great and fun to watch.
The Bottom Line
It was one of my best trips EVER. First, it was a dream come true - a cycling vacation in Scotland, second - it was perfectly organized and carried through. My bike was great, the scenery was amazing, the company was good and the accommodations were comfortable. We visited many interesting places, had good food and drinks, made friends. There is nothing else I could wish for.
by Joan Dean 20/09/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
The Bottom Line
by Audrey Yank 19/09/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
The Bottom Line
by Ron Torok 12/09/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Was having trouble getting confirmation on the specs of the bike. All worked out in the end.
Trip Comments
Trip was great. I think logistics/routing/lunch planning on the 2nd to last day could be improved.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Very knowledgeable and engaging.
The Bottom Line
I would recommend Wilderness Scotland for anyone considering a cycling trip in Scotland. As much as I love Scotland, I cannot recommend it as a first choice destination for a European cycling trip given the unpredictability of the weather. We got very lucky!
by Kenneth Gould 23/08/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Very helpful and organized answering pre-trip q's. Made late switch to hybrid bike with no problems.
Trip Comments
The route is as advertised: Wonderful mix of scenery and terrain. Excellent inns along the way. Will and Alisdair are terrific group leaders: Helpful, knowledgeable.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Will and Alisdair go above and beyond. They're great at dealing with the varied pace of the group. They're knowledgeable about geography and history -- and a delight to talk to at dinner. They're interested, interesting and engaged.
The Bottom Line
Already have recommended them to a few friends and colleagues and will be back, myself, for the Inner or Outer Hebrides trip!
by Sophie Herscovici 22/08/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
The Bottom Line
by Tracy Bare 22/08/2016
Pre-Trip Service
My husband Steve did this part of the planning, so I have no specific comments.
Trip Comments
Alasdair and Will were SUCH great tour guides! They are both really interesting people and a lot of fun to talk to. They also both have a wealth of knowledge about biking, Scotland, food, geology, travel, and just about every other topic! The trip was very well planned out, with the two harder mountain climbing days spaced out with an easier 25 mile day in between. The accommodations were great, as were all the coffee shops and lunch stops. Will and Alasdair also pack a tasty picnic! I have no complaints whatsoever--I loved it!
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
As noted previously, these two guys are great! I would go on another tour with them any time.
The Bottom Line
I had never been to Scotland before. It is beautiful, particularly the first half of the trip in the Highlands which really is entirely different from any other place I've ever been. The mountains covered with heath and heather (and sheep) are really stunning. The guides are very knowledgeable, friendly and well-trained. They are ready for any contingency. The mountains on Day 2 and Day 4 were challenging, but definitely manageable for me as a weekend cyclist. I felt very proud when I got to the top of the Lecht! Overall, I had a great time and would recommend this trip highly. Great job Alasdair and Will and everyone at Wilderness Scotland!
by Jennifer Reese 20/07/2016
Pre-Trip Service
We wanted to join this tour riding our own bicycle. Questions were answered promptly and everyone was very accommodating of the tandem. The website and photo albums were very helpful and ensured that we packed the right gear.
Trip Comments
This may have been the best vacation I've ever had. The guides were amazing, the group of people we were riding with were lovely and compatible and the landscape was spectacular. Add to that great, challenging rides that allowed me to eat anything I wanted and what could be better. The attractions were wonderful but my favorite part was riding through the wild, imposing Scottish countryside.
Accommodation and Food
The picnics and snacks were great. Lucy and Craig went out of their way to adjust to our needs and preferences. The accommodations were quirky and interesting and mostly very comfortable. The bed in Edzell was the only exception but it made us eager to get back on the bike the next day. The Auld Kirk was terrific, as was the Taypark.
Your Guide
Lucy and Craig were fantastic. They were so organized and knowledgeable and really brought the group together. They knew so much about everything - flora, fauna, history, sports, politics... Anything they didn't know, they researched and got back to us on. They were flexible and provided options. Even the small glitches we had were handled in such a way that they became small adventures instead of problems.
The Bottom Line
I loved this trip and our Wilderness Scotland experience. The riding was challenging. I'd recommend training for hills. The weather was unpredictable, but with the right jacket (and rain gear) completely manageable. Most importantly, the company was wonderful and the country, spectacular.
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Trip Details
Our Grand Tour of Scotland is a classic road cycling tour connecting the Highland capital of Inverness to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
Riding some 230 miles (370km) on quiet and spectacularly scenic roads you will experience an incredible range of trip highlights.
From visiting the Royal Lochnagar Distillery to a guided tour of what’s know as ‘the most beautiful castle in Scotland’ this trip will leave you wanting for nothing.
Leave the car and tour bus behind, safe in the knowledge that our guides and vehicle support will take care of you. With great accommodation and food completing the itinerary, join us this year for a cycling adventure that is grand in every sense.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Inverness to Grantown on Spey
We meet in Inverness in the morning, where your guide will give you a trip briefing and bike fitting before we set off. Leaving behind the Highland capital of Inverness we head towards the historic battlefield of Culloden. From Culloden we head east on flat and fast roads, past Cawdor, where we stop for lunch at a great little tearoom and then into the Whisky Country of Speyside. A ancient military road dating from the 1700’s leads to our first overnight stop at Grantown on Spey (L, D)
Distance 37m/59km
Day 2 – The Cairngorms National Park
Named by National Geographic as one of the ’50 Must Visit Places on Earth’, we ride from west to east across the UK’s largest and most spectacular National Park. We reach our first stop at Tomintoul – the Highland’s highest village and home to one of Scotland’s best whisky shops. After lunch we make for the stiff climb over Lecht pass with the summit providing rewarding views over Royal Deeside. From here a long descent, one final climb and a 10km run downhill delivers us to the lovely village of Ballater and home for two nights. (B, L)
Distance 39m/63km
Day 3 – Riding on Royal Deeside
An easy day today with a short ride on Royal Deeside one of the most beautiful corners of Scotland. Riding along the River Dee and through the hills we come to Balmoral Castle and Lochnagar Distillery. We can visit the castle if the Queen’s not in and follow this up with a whisky tasting before a relaxed ride back to Ballater. (B, L)
Distance 20m/32km
Day 4 – Royal Deeside to Angus
Today we will continue east along the River Dee through the picturesque Forest of Birse. An early lunch sets us up for the climb over Cairn O’Mount with a stone cairn said to be more than 4000 years old. Here we get our first glimpse of the North Sea and Scotland’s East Coast. From here we have a superb 10 miles of downhill riding all the way to Edzell our home for the night. (B, L)
Distance 40m/64km
Day 5 – Glamis Castle & Dundee, the City of Discovery
Leaving the Cairngorm Mountains behind we head south through Kirriemuir onto Glamis Castle. We stop here for lunch and take a guided tour of what is said to be Scotland’s most beautiful castle. We continue our journey crossing the low-lying Sidlaw Hills before reaching our waterfront accommodation in the City of Dundee. (B, L)
Distance 40m/64km
Day 6 – St Andrews & The East Neuk of Fife
Today we’ll make an early start from Dundee, crossing the Tay Estuary and reach St Andrews with plenty of time to explore this ancient town. Following the coast along the east corner of Fife we enjoy added bonus of this being one of the sunniest parts of Scotland. Passing through several villages with plenty of lunch choices, our favourite being fish & chips at the Harbour in Anstruther. Finishing in Elie, with a pint by the harbour, we then make a short transfer to Aberdour for the night (B, L, D)
Distance 35m/56km
Day 7 – Scotland’s Capital, Edinburgh
The final day of our Grand Tour takes us across the spectacular Firth of Forth. We will round the city’s Grassmarket and climb the road up to Edinburgh Castle. After taking in the outstanding views across the city we freewheel down the full length of the famous and historic Royal Mile to the royal Palace of Holyrood. The trip ends with a celebration lunch and drinks. (B, L)
Distance 25m/40km
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