Inspiring Adventures in the Wild Places of Scotland

ROAD CYCLINGCOAST TO COAST

£1,495 7 days/6 nights

27 May - 2 June, 24 - 30 June, 22 - 28 July, 16 - 22 September 2017

TRIP GRADE: RED 7

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ROAD CYCLING COAST TO COAST

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride right across Highland Scotland from the east to the west coast

• Quiet roads, testing climbs and superb descents through the UK’s most spectacular landscapes

• Visit the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, atmospheric Loch Ness and the mighty mountains of Torridon

INTRODUCTION

On this journey will see you cycle the width of Scotland’s Highlands - from Aberdeen in the east to Applecross in the west. We will pedal over 262 Miles/419km and climb over 17,000 feet/5,180 metres, including the UK’s highest (and in our opinion most challenging) road climb.

Riding through the Highlands, you will be treated to stunning scenery each day, along with a huge array of cultural experiences, as we visit castles, a distillery and enjoy a fantastic boat trip trip along Loch Ness. Throw in some excellent Scottish cuisine, from freshly caught fish at the Applecross Inn (Scotland’s Pub of the year in 2012) to local locally reared venison and beef at our hand-picked restaurants, and you can ensure that the food is as much a highlight as the riding! Our expert guides will be on hand to support you every turn of the pedal. We look forward to riding beside you on this new adventure as we traverse the Scottish Highlands from coast to coast.

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PLANNED ITINERARY

DAY 1 - ABERDEEN TO ALFORD

This morning, we meet at Aberdeen Train Station, as we begin our journey across Scotland. A short van transfer takes us to our start point, on the shores of the North Sea. After a welcome, a bike fitting session and a briefing for the day, we set off, leaving the city of Aberdeen behind us as we roll along the quiet South Deeside roads.

A riverside lunch awaits us in the picturesque village of Banchory. After refuelling, we continue along the River Dee before turning north, where a short climb awaits, leading us the village of Alford and the end of our ride. (L, D)

Distance: 40 miles/ 64km Ascent: 2,189ft

DAY 2 ‐ CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

We start the day with a relaxed breakfast before continuing our journey west on quiet and scenic roads. Our first major climb of the trip follows soon thereafter - a steady rise across the wild expanse of the Cabrach moor. Our descent on the other side leads us to the Speyside village of Dufftown. The village is well known for whisky being its bloodline, with a number of nearby distilleries including the famous names of Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, so there will be the opportunity to stop and sample a dram!

After lunch, we cross the River Spey and then ride on a superb road which flows alongside the river. We pedal into the village of Grantown on Spey in the Cairngorms National Park, where we can perhaps take a short walk to explore the village before dinner. (B, L).

Distance: 58 miles/ 93km Ascent: 4,405ft

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DAY 3 ‐ GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY TO FORT AUGUSTUS

Today’s ride takes us right off the beaten track onto rarely visited and virtually traffic free roads. The day starts easily with a pleasant ride through the villages of Dulnain Bridge and Carrbridge before we strike west up the remote Findhorn Valley. Following a fantastic country road, we climb over the challenging Garbole where the views of the majestic North Highlands really open up.

If the weather allows, we can enjoy a spectacular high-altitude picnic by the roadside. The route then descends to the village of Farr and then follows quiet backroads high above the shores of Loch Ness. A fantastic 5 mile descent awaits as the finish to the day, dropping us down to the shores of Loch Ness and our overnight accommodation in the village of Fort Augustus. (B, L)

Distance: 55miles/ 88km Ascent: 3,312 ft

DAY 4 ‐ LOCH NESS AND URQUHART CASTLE

Now midway through the trip, we enjoy a relaxed morning in the village of Fort Augustus. The system of canal locks outside the hotel are well worth exploring - this is the Caledonian Canal, built by Thomas Telford in the early nineteenth century. Mid-morning, we board a zodiac for a high speed trip on Loch Ness, passing beautiful Urquhart Castle on the way, its ruins perched right on the edge of the loch. Back on land, we bypass a short but busy section of road and start riding again from near the castle - we’re now back on two wheels for the remainder of the day.

Our route from the brilliantly-named Drumnadrochit rises west, passing the Balmacaan Forest, and follows a lovely road alongside the River Glass towards the small village of Beauly. The last few miles wind through attractive countryside to our accommodation - a family-owned and run country house hotel secluded in the hills above Contin. (B, L)

Distance: 41miles/ 65km Ascent: 1,950 ft

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DAY 5 - TO THE WEST HIGHLANDS

From the tiny village of Contin, we continue on our journey west, passing through Garve and Achnasheen. Here you will notice some dramatic changes as the landscape becomes more mountainous around us with each passing mile. This is Scotland at its wild best and the views are a great motivation for the afternoon climb away from the shores of Loch a’Chroisg. At the top of the pass you are rewarded with one of the finest views you will find anywhere - right down the length of the spectacular Loch Maree with the rocky ramparts of the Torridon mountains forming the backdrop.

The descent is an absolute blast on a perfect road surface and before long we will find ourselves at the head of Glen Torridon. We pass by the Whistle Stop Cafe which is a must-visit for its superb range of cyclist-friendly coffee and cakes! The final section of the day passes through the dramatic Glen Torridon. The scenery here is hard to beat with the majestic mountains of Liathach and Beinn Eighe thrusting skywards. As we gently climb across the watershed, we get our first glimpse of the west coast. A fast end to the day is guaranteed as we cruise alongside the River Torridon to overnight in the village of Torridon itself. (B, L)

Distance: 43 miles/ 69km Ascent: 1,958 ft

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DAY 6 ‐ THE APPLECROSS PENINSULA

For our final day, a true test awaits - the famously spectacular and challenging Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle). Built in the 1960’s, the road is truly alpine in nature starting from sea level and rising through a series of ramps, hairpins and switchbacks to the summit at 626m (2,054ft) over the 6 mile climb. If that wasn’t enough, the road reaches gradients of up to 20% in places! However, take courage in the previous 5 days which have prepared you for the climb and the fact that once at the top, it’s downhill all the way to the coast and journeys end!

We have all day to tackle the climb so we’ll take it easy, first warming up on the awesome coastal road from Torridon to Shieldaig. If, at any point, you need some ‘gravity assistance’ the Wilderness vehicle will be with you to provide whatever support you need. The final section to the top is the most spectacular of all - winding its way through the sandstone cliffs which rise on both sides.

At the summit, you will be greeted with a view which (on a clear day) can only be described as breathtaking - the Skye Cuillin Mountains, the Small Isles and the Outer Hebrides stretch out before you in a coastal feast for the eyes. The descent is simply superb, leading to the village of Applecross, where we meet the Atlantic, marking the end of our amazing coast to coast journey. All that remains is a celebratory lunch at the Applecross Inn, renowned for their fresh seafood and recently voted the best seafood pub in Britain. Look out for the squat lobsters, langoustines and scallops - an amazing way to end the trip! (B, D)

Distance: 25miles/ 40km Ascent: 3,193 ft *

* For those of you wishing to cycle a little more, you can have the option of riding around the peninsula back to Torridon, adding an additional 24 miles and 2,073 feet of ascent.

DAY 7 - RETURN TO INVERNESS

This morning we will have a leisurely breakfast before transferring back to Inverness. The journey takes us around 1.5 hours, arriving into the city around 12 noon, allowing you plenty time to connect with onward transport. (B)

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATIONThis section is designed to provide you with all the information you need to know pre-booking. Once you have made a booking with us we will send you a comprehensive

Trip Document including full joining instructions and equipment list.

TRIP PRICING

The trip price is £1,495 per person based upon a group size of up to 8 clients. This includes the following:

• 6 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

• Meals 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

BIKE HIRE

Most of our clients choose to hire bikes but you are more than welcome to bring your own. We are confident in saying that our hire fleet is the best in Scotland with a range of models and sizes to suit each rider. The bikes we use are brand new each season and maintained to the highest standards. You can choose between:

•Road Bikes: Merida Ride 400

•Hybrid: Merida Shaper 400

Hire costs £175 per bike. ach bike comes equipped with a Garmin Bike Computer loaded with the ride information and mapping for your trip, compact handlebar bag (with map case) to carry your daily essentials e.g.

camera, snacks, waterproofs plus a saddle bag with spare tube and tyre levers.

On each trip we carry a wide range of spares to customise your bike to your requirements and to keep it running smoothly during the trip

EQUIPMENT

For this trip you will need to bring suitable gear for a 6 day road cycling trip. A full equipment list will be sent to you on booking.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY

You will be met by your guide at 1100 on Day 1 of the trip at Aberdeen train station. We will finish in Inverness train station around 1200 on Day 7. Full details on how to get to and from Inverness, please see our Recommended Travel.

OUR TRIP STYLE

Our approach to road cycling holidays balances great guiding and insights when you would like it, alongside the freedom to explore at your pace.

At breakfast each day, you will receive a guide briefing. Depending upon your preference, you can choose to ride with your guide or simply follow the route notes and re-group at designated points along the way. Typically our clients really enjoy the insights our guides are able to provide into the nature, history and culture of Scotland.

Throughout the day your second guide and support vehicle will always be close to hand to provide drinks, snacks and a friendly ride should you need it. The support vehicle will take care of all of your luggage transferring it from hotel to hotel each day.

Lunches are a combination of our renowned wilderness picnics which feature the best of local produce such as breads, cheeses and meats and visits to local cafes and relaxed restaurants.

On arrival at your overnight accommodation, we will take care of the storage and maintenance of your bikes - making sure they are in prime condition to ride the next day. Dinner is typically taken together as a group but you are, of course, more than welcome to do your own thing at any point during the trip.

YOUR GUIDE

Our clients say that this is what makes the difference with a Wilderness Scotland trip. Over 90% of our guides achieve the highest possible score in our client feedback. Passionate and knowledgeable about Scotland you can expect to be in friendly and safe hands throughout. For full details on our guiding team please see our Guide Pages.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD

This trip features some of the best hotel and guest house accommodation and food in the areas that we visit. As outlined above, each day lunch is either a wilderness picnic or taken at a local cafe/restaurant. Drinks and snacks are provided throughout the day as you require. Some evening meals are included on this itinerary. For the other nights, 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

We do not charge single person supplements to solo travellers, however you will be expected to share a room with another person of the same sex.

Due to the limited range of accommodations in the regions we visit, we can accommodate a maximum of 2 single rooms on this trip. The single supplement charge for this trip is £225 but please note that this is subject to availability.

Single rooms should be requested at the time of booking but all single room requests are subject to availability.

TRIP GRADING

This trip is graded RED 7. Our red graded cycle holidays are designed for committed cyclists who love cycling and spend many weekends each year riding their bike. You will enjoy the challenge of longer days and grin at the prospect of testing climbs and fast descents.

These trips may involve several challenging days in a row with a significant amount of climbing, sometimes exposed to the elements.

Distances typically range for 40-70 miles each day through hilly and often mountainous terrain. These trips also include some of the most testing climbs in the UK.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the relevant fitness and required experience to join our trips. Please refer to the video grading section on our website for more details.

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HOW TO BOOKWe accept bookings online, by email, over the phone or by post - whichever method you prefer. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking with the balance payable 56 days before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment is required. We accept payment by credit card, debit card, bank transfer or cheque.

YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTIONYou can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected.

Wilderness Scotland Ltd is licensed and bonded tour operator. For trips that do not include air travel, your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA.

INSURANCEIf travelling from a European country outside the UK it is a condition of booking that you take out relevant insurance to cover you for your trip which should include medical cover, curtailment, sickness & injury cancellation prior to the trip and personal accident cover. We also strongly recommend you have cover for other travel and personal effects.

If travelling from within the UK, we recommend you are insured for personal sickness & injury cancellation prior to the trip and any travel insurance you feel appropriate to your needs

Wilderness Scotland Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine

Ltd whose policies are specially designed for adventure holidays. For full details please see our Insurance Page or ask us to email the relevant details to you.

If travelling from further afield, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc it is best to research insurance locally to cover all your travel and medical needs

TRIP QUESTIONS

If you have any questions or queries regarding the trip, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 44 (0)1479 420 020 (UK & Europe) or 1-866-740-3890 (US & Canada).

We look forward to welcoming you to the Highlands!

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Guaranteed departuresWe make the commitment to run all of our holidays based

on two people booking onto each trip. The benefits to you are:advance travel bookings

peace of mind100% certainty

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