- 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
Blue graded trips are suitable for people with a good level of bike fitness, who regularly enjoy cycling and may have joined a multi-day cycle holiday before.
Distances each day will be between 35 – 45 miles, cycling at around 12/13mph. Each day will be rolling and hilly terrain and there will be notable climbs most days. Some of these will be more testing and some riders may opt to push or ride in the support vehicle. Some climbs are also followed by exciting descents. We will be in the saddle for 5 – 7 hours each day plus the odd longer day. There is also time each day for breaks and lunches, plus some visits to sites of interest.
4th May - 10th May 2019
Will Snow
Will has biked further than you can imagine! He's not saddle-sore yet. Read more here.1st Jun - 7th Jun 2019
Will Snow
Will has biked further than you can imagine! He's not saddle-sore yet. Read more here.6th Jul - 12th Jul 2019
Scott McCabe
Wilderness Scotland Guide Scott McCabe is a huge biking enthusiast. Find out more about his love for cycling in Scotland.20th Jul - 26th Jul 2019
Craig Tweedie
Globe-trotting, pedal-pounding Craig knows a thing or two about whisky too. Learn more here.7th Sep - 13th Sep 2019
Stuart Wallace
Meet our wilderness guide Stuart Wallace. Learn more about his passion for cycling and find out some interesting information about meat carving forks!ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
This trip features some of the best hotel and guest house accommodation and food along the route we travel. We use a variety of accommodations such as country inns, guesthouses and small hotels, all hand-picked by us. Accommodation is in a choice of double or twin rooms with ensuite facilities.
Lunch each day will be either a wilderness picnic or taken at a local cafe/restaurant. Drinks and snacks are provided throughout the day as you require. Evening meals are included on the first and final evenings, and on this itinerary and we have the flexibility to take evening meals in local restaurants or pubs. Based upon our knowledge and experience, we will visit the best places to eat along the route.
SINGLE ROOMS
There is no 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 £265 is charged if a single room is available.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Inverness Railway Station at 09:00am on Day 1 of your trip. The trip will conclude and you will be dropped off at Edinburgh Waverley Station for 3:00pm on the final day of the trip.
For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website: www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/
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.
Need a bike? See our bike hire page for details.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Inverness to Grantown-on-Spey
We meet this morning in Inverness and transfer to the nearby Culloden battlefield that provides ample space for us to welcome everyone with a trip briefing and bike fitting. If time allows we can also have a quick look round the battlefield before we set off. Our route quickly takes us out of the Highland capital and into the surrounding countryside, soon reaching 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: 58.5km/36miles Ascent: 638m/2,095ft
Day 2 – The Cairngorms National Park
Today we ride through the UK’s largest and highest National Park. There are a few hills to contend with today with challenging ascents but the exciting descents and superb views more than reward the effort required on the climbs. Our first stop is in the village of Tomintoul – the highest in the Highlands. It’s also home to one of Scotland’s best whisky shops which is well worth a visit. From Tomintoul it is a stiff climb over the Lecht pass. From the summit the views over Royal Deeside are simply superb on a clear day. From here a long descent, one final climb and then a 10km run downhill delivers us to the lovely village of Ballater and home for the next two nights. (B, L)
Distance: 63km/39 miles Ascent: 1050m/3,440ft
Day 3 – Riding on Royal Deeside
We take it easy today with a short ride on Royal Deeside. This is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, brimming with history and culture. Our route will take us on a loop beside the flowing River Dee, through the hills to Balmoral Castle and Lochnagar Distillery. We can visit the castle and grounds (unless the Queen is home!) and follow this up with a distillery visit and tasting. All that remains is a very relaxed ride back to Ballater and dinner at one of the village’s excellent restaurants. (B, L)
Distance: 32km/20 miles Ascent: 475m/1,565ft
Day 4 – Royal Deeside to Angus
Our journey continues east along the River Dee and then through the picturesque Forest of Birse on rolling and very scenic roads. An early lunch sets us up for the climb over the Cairn O’Mount. A stone cairn at the top of the pass is said to be more than 4000 years old. It’s a challenging climb but the vehicle is close by should you need it. There are commanding views from the summit and from here we get our first glimpse of the North Sea and Scotland’s east coast. It’s all downhill from here – a superb 10 miles of fast riding all the way to our overnight halt at Edzell. (B, L)
Distance: 67km/42 miles Ascent: 800m/2,620ft
Day 5 – Glamis Castle & Dundee
This morning we leave the Cairngorm Mountains behind and head south to Kirriemuir and then Glamis Castle – known as “the most beautiful castle in Scotland”. We park up the bikes here for a guided tour of the castle and it’s stories, tales and secrets. A relaxing lunch in the restaurant follows before we continue our journey traversing the low-lying Sidlaw Hills en route to our waterfront accommodation in the City of Dundee. (B, L)
Distance: 68km/42 miles Ascent: 610m/2,010ft
Day 6 – St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife
We’ll make an early start from Dundee, crossing the Tay Estuary and reaching the historic University town of St Andrews with plenty of time to explore the old town. Following the coast we pass through several villages in turn; this is the ‘East Neuk’ of Fife – an incredibly scenic group of old fishing villages with glorious sea views. We finish our ride in the village of Elie, where we will enjoy a pint in the inn by the harbour before a short transfer to our hotel in Aberdour. (B, L, D)
Distance: 56km/35 miles Ascent: 425m/1,400ft
Day 7 – Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital
The final day of our Grand Tour takes us from Fife, across the spectacular Firth of Forth and into the city limits. We will ride on cycleway right into the city centre. Here we will round the city’s Grassmarket and climb the road up to Edinburgh Castle for dramatic views across Edinburgh and the route we have followed over the past two days. All that remains is a ceremonial freewheel down the full length of the famous and historic Royal Mile, all the way to the Royal Palace of Holyrood. A fitting finish to a grand cycle tour of Scotland – feel free to adopt the royal wave for the crowds!
The trip ends with a celebration lunch and drinks at a nearby restaurant. Choose to depart the same day or, better still, stay on in the city to explore more of Scotland’s capital. (B, L)
Distance: 40km/25 miles Ascent: 340m/1,115ft
Prices and Dates
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2019 Trip Dates
Trip Reviews
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 Mark Hynes 19/09/2018
Accommodation and Food
The hotels used on the Arran/Islay/Jura trip were by and large better.
Your Guide
In their different, complementary ways, Sam and Dave were brilliant at organising and motivating us.
by Cameron Ramsay 17/09/2018
Trip Comments
Dave and Sam as guides were amazing and totally made the trip!! They had wonderful attitudes!
Accommodation and Food
They were great for where we were.
Your Guide
I was experiencing knee pain and only realized on the second to last day that it was due to the height of my bike and my shoes. I found this out by a Google search “knee pain while cycling” Wish this was realized or suggested earlier. Regardless I had a wonderful time and Sam and Dave were always so accommodating
The Bottom Line
Trip of a lifetime!
by Paul Triolo 24/07/2018
Trip Comments
The Lecht Pass and Cairn O'Mount days were excellent, challenging, but really good rides with a mix of terrain and scenery. The ride through Fife from Dundee via St Andrews was excellent and clearly a highlight. The stop at Glamis Castle was excellent and the lunch after spectacular. All the picnic lunches were superb, as was the lunch stop in Fife.
Accommodation and Food
The accomodations were all excellent, particularly the hotel in Edzell, which had a spectacular selection of single malts, a totally unexpected highlight!
Your Guide
The guides were excellent, we loved both Will and Simon and the skill and enthusiasm they brought to the job. Really made a big difference in the overall experience, well done!
The Bottom Line
This was super trip from beginning to end, and afforded an amazing look at the Scottish highlands terrain, as well as giving a feel for the east coast and Fife in particular. The food was great throughout, the guides were amazing, the rides challenging but never a grind, all in all a fantastic trip!!
by Lisa Dunshee 23/07/2018
Trip Comments
We enjoyed the guides Will and Simon were both great! The picnic lunches were amazing with high quality foods and treats! The bikes were better than expected and our group of eight were all so nice.
Accommodation and Food
Most of the places we stayed were great. One or two had smaller than desirable beds and most did not supply washcloths which were missed. Overall the accommodations were very nice!
Your Guide
A+
The Bottom Line
The trip being a level 5 was a little harder than expected. There were no flat road days and several of the days were terribly steep with climbs and descents of 14-20%. One day off mid tour with maybe just some mild hiking would be a suggestion and it was really nice to stay two nights in one place. Maybe a second two night stay would be a good idea. We loved Scotland and hope to return again!
