This spectacular 65-mile loop is an ideal two-day trip starting from the Highland town of Fort William, taking in breathtaking views along the way, some of which you might recognise from the silver screen. To give you some ideas, here are 7 multi-day routes for experienced riders that will set you on your Scottish bike-packing odyssey, using train and bike. The route connects other popular bikepacking routes and captures almost all Scotland has to offer, but a mountain bike, wide tires, and travelling light are essential. The YouTube channel of bikepackingscotland.com, the home of bikepacking and adventure cycling in Scotland. Work getting on top of you? Bikepacking benefits. The former is a 320km bikepacking route that traverses the Highlands, linking the cities of Inverness and Glasgow. The book divides into 24 pieces and features a network of paths, old roads, and paths that criss-cross the mountain country of Scotland, from the border of Caithness. He is a freelance marketing professional. Parts of the Cairngorms Loop, Central Belter, Badger Divide and Highland 550 - 395.1 km, +4316 m. Bike ride in Aviemore, Scotland His latest weekend adventure took him and his pals out to the Cairngorms for a two day trip. An enjoyable off-road journey steeped in history through a wide variety of Scottish landscapes and small market towns and villages, featuring the remote and scenic glens in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland’s longest river, Scotland’s smallest and oldest distillery, the last surviving oak tree from the wood that inspired Shakespeare’s Macbeth, waterfalls that heartened Robert Burns, Wade’s Military Roads, drove roads and some of the best gravel paths that the Highlands have to offer. Here are pictures from riding our own boundary in Edinburgh. The Reiver Raid is a 175 km weekend expedition in a wild part of Scotland. Looking to An Dun, Gaick Pass, Glen Tromie © Mike Dennison. Iconic Ben Nevis needs to be top of your Scottish to-do list. Had a great time touring around the Scottish highlands, tough conditions but worth it! The route is suitable for gravel, mountain and e-mountain bikes, and can be ridden in all seasons. As a starting point we would recommend this site here, which lists the long distance routes in Scotland in the Sustrans network. At Dalnacardoch, follow NCN7 – Lochs & Glens North – to Calvine and Blair Atholl. We caught up with Markus after the finish to discover more. We will publish new routes here regularly. Castle Island, Loch an Eilein, Cairngorms National Park. From there, the first day’s route heads through Ardverikie Estate and along lochs Laggan and na h-Earba via good forest trails and easy tracks, which you might recognise from BBC TVs ‘Monarch of the Glen’. It was planned to explore parts of the 655 km long Wild About Argyll Trail on a four-day Bikepacking Scotland trip. The route is split into five easy legs, but you can reduce or extend these depending on your fitness and how often you want to stop and admire the views! Andrew Cullen resides in Edinburgh and most weekends, hops on the train with his friends to get in some bikepacking trips. If you are looking for bikepacking routes in Scotland, look no further. The climb is well worth the effort though, as the views across Loch Muick, the Lochnagar massif and the Cairngorms National Park are breathtaking. Scottish Hill Tracks, Privacy, Web Use, Acceptable Use and Cookie Policy. Below Carn Liath, Beinn a’ Ghlo, Perthshire © Tony Wragg. Heritage Paths The Go East Lothian Trail At 63 km the Go East Lothian Trail is perfect for families, microadventures or a long day ride. 20 Jun 2017. One of the best ways to revitalise your senses is on a bike-packing break in Scotland, at a pace where you have time to absorb and appreciate your surroundings. 20 October 2020 – Red Bull – 10 of the best gravel routes in Scotland Very good fitness required. To celebrate its launch, trail creator, Bikepacking Scotland founder and Apidura Ambassador, Markus Stitz, held a mass start event in September that saw a group of bikepackers attempt the trail for the first time. Our next route is 146 miles long and starts from Tulloch Station near the small hamlet of Fersit. Station Lodge at Tulloch Station is a great overnight option before starting this epic. An avid adventurer and cyclist, but also a keen walker, Markus' longest bikepacking journey took almost a year to complete, circumnavigating the world on a singlespeed bike from September 2015 to August 2016. After cycling the world on a singlespeed bike Markus Stitz is based in Edinburgh. Follow this south for 17 miles, passing the Corran Ferry heading for Inversanda, then continue on through this quiet and wild part of Scotland making for Strontian. Before reaching Selkirk, follow the A708 for 3 miles, then take the B7039, signposted Ettrickbridge, to stunning Bowhill House, which is well worth a visit. The Capital Trail is a 251 km route starting and finishing on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, ideal for a long weekend expedition around Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders. © 2021 VisitScotland. Wild About Argyll Trail The historic former railway station in Ballater’s Station Square marks the start of the Deeside Way, NCN route 195. Developed in partnership with Hostelling Scotland, the West Island Trail is a 332 km loop in connecting the hostels in Oban, Lochranza, Port Charlotte and Lochranza in the west of Scotland. Highland Trail Two wheels, no rules: bikepacking across Scotland Where hiking can be a slog, cycling offers freedom. Alternatively take a train south from Kingussie to Blair Atholl and stations further south. 16 Jul 2020 – road.cc – Terrific video highlights gravel cycling routes on Scotland’s ancient drovers’ trails 16 Jul 2020 – Rough Ride Guide – Perthshire Gravel Website All rights reserved. Image 1 of 6. Expert mountain bike ride. To return to Tweedbank station, simply retrace the 16 miles back along NCN1, described earlier. Join Wilderness guide, Chris Mackie as he ventures into the wilds of Sutherland in Northern Scotland with his bike and camping gear and learn from him about BikePacking – How to bike and camp in the wild. The John Muir Way Never far from the River Dee, the route passes through Aboyne, Banchory and Drumoak, before ending at Duthie Park close to Aberdeen city centre – just a short ride from Aberdeen railway station, Tweedbank to Innerleithen to Yarrow to Peebles to Tweedbank, Ready for a relaxing day in the saddle © Abellio Scotrail. Next morning a 14-mile track follows the shores of magnificent Loch Shiel – well-known as the setting for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films – before arriving at Glenfinnan with its imposing monument, visitor centre and the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Bikepacking Scotland offers information about bikepacking in Scotland and guiding. The final day’s route leaves Blair Atholl and heads over moorland in the shadow of Beinn a’ Ghlo and through Gleann Fearnach. For more information click here. 1. Bikepacking Scotland will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates in form of frequent newsletters by email. The Highland capital of Inverness, with its modern and busy railway station, is a great place to start and finish, though there are station stops along Mark’s route up the east coast to Brora and between Strathcarron and Inverness in the west. The 516 mile circular route starts in Inverness and is usually completed in a clockwise direction with assistance from prevailing winds. If you are looking for bikepacking routes in Scotland, look no further. Day two starts on the flat and historic General Wade’s track through Glen Truim leading to Kingussie and the historic Ruthven Barracks – well worth a visit. The West Highland Rover Dunkeld & Birnam Station is a short cycle from Dunkeld. Road to Ullapool When I was 15 years old, I went to Scotland to study English in the city of Edinburgh. The trail then heads east for a steep ascent on forest tracks of Cademuir Hill near Peebles. The following routes have been designed and tested by Bikepacking Scotland. Bikepacking is the ultimate self-sufficient adventure, says Scotland. The Go East Lothian Trail Then escape the Rat Race and revive your spirit in Scotland’s celebrated landscape. Advanced riding skills necessary. Cycle Scottish Borders To maximise on bikepacking capacity I … This 35-mile route, starting in Blair Atholl, passes through wild and dramatic country and it’s well worth taking two days to enjoy. The Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland got round the world record holder Mark Beaumont & us thinking about where our local authority boundaries are. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. From Blair Atholl railway station, follow Lochs & Glens Route NCN route 7 for 11 miles to Dalnacardoch Lodge. to off-road touring. Then it’s south-east at the head of Loch Laggan, later following the River Pattack to Ben Alder Lodge on the shores of Loch Ericht. Isle of Lewis, Isle of Harris & Stornoway, 7 Epic Train Accessible Bike-packing Routes in Scotland, Mountain Biking Adventures: multi-day routes in northern Britain. NW 500 Scotland – Modern day Classic . Nowhere more so than in the Highlands, where wild camping is legal and bothies abound. Take Traquair Road out of the village, then at the 7stanes centre, head uphill to follow the steep cross-country trail over Minch Moor via the Southern Upland Way to eventually arrive at Selkirk. Then it’s through Enochdhu, following the waymarked Cateran Trail down the west bank of the River Ardle to Kirkmichael, before going west and south-west past Lochan Oisinneach Mor and Loch Ordie. We researched them, uploaded them on komoot and created a set of gravel routes close to the circumference of each local authority. The route heads north through the village and into Glen Hurich, then west alongside Loch Doilean and on to Polloch, for a wild camp overnight. The Badger Divide, We have also developed the Perthshire Gravel Trails Network, with plenty of inspiration for day rides and overnight trips. For more information click here. With such a vast wilderness around us, the toughest decision tonight will be deciding where we want to set up our bivvy. 25% off bike insurance with CycleSure; 15% off at Cotswold Outdoor; £10m third party insurance cover; 10% discount off cycle related products in Halfords stores; 15% off BikeRegister security marking kits Image 1 of 6. The Central Belter Gravel trails, ancient tracks, and amazing scenery combined with the freedom to roam make Scotland tough to beat for a bikepacking trip. There are many market-based buzz-words for it, from bikepacking to micro-adventure, S24O (Sub-24 Hour Overnight!) Mark and Si on their NC500 3-day epic © Mark Beaumont. Best bikepacking destinations in the UK and Europe. The following are also established bikepacking routes in Scotland: There are very few places in the world where access to land is so favourable as in Scotland. Patrick Linen/Getty images. The crossing only takes 10 minutes and drops you by the quiet A861. Turn right here and follow the road back into Innerleithen – it’s well worth visiting historic Traquair House (with its on-site brewery) here, which is just a small diversion off the route. One of Scotland’s Great Trails, the John Muir Way offers a unique coast to coast bikepacking journey through Scotland’s landscapes, history and heritage, passing through Scotland’s first national park, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, and offers a journey of contrasts and the chance to connect with nature, taking advantage of the green spaces that link coasts, villages, towns and even the capital city, Edinburgh. Via the Capel Mounth Heritage Path and the Deeside Way, Loch Muick and Lochnagar from the Capel Mounth track © Mike Dennison. Next day, head west along the A708 for less than a mile, then turn right to follow the Douglas Burn, eventually heading north-west over open moorland aiming to reach Manor Water. The following routes have been designed and tested by Bikepacking Scotland. John Muir Way Stage 1: Helensburgh to Auchinstarry, John Muir Way Stage 2: Auchinstarry to Edinburgh, John Muir Way Stage 3: Edinburgh to Dunbar, Go East Lothian Trail – North Berwick to Dunbar, Go East Lothian Trail – Dunbar Station to North Berwick, Wild About Argyll Trail – Helensburgh to Portavadie, Wild About Argyll Trail 2 – Tarbert to Oban, Wild About Argyll Trail 4 – Port Appin to Helensburgh, New cycle carriages for the West Highland Line, Der Wild About Argyll Trail und eine neue Reisereportage in der Bike Adventure. The Central Belter is our longest route at 1200 km, starting and finishing on Portobello Beach, connecting the Capital Trail, the Highland Trail 550, Cairngorms Loop and Deeside Trail. Cairngorms Loop From Taynuilt Station, follow quiet minor roads down Glen Lonan towards Oban, before turning north on traffic-free paths along the old Ballachulish Railway Line. Run by round the world cyclist Markus Stitz we also specialise on creating and marketing new bikepacking and cycling products for the tourism sector. The route then follows the busy A830 east for 4 miles before turning off on to the quieter A861, with the Camasnagaul Ferry 10 miles further on. Upon its completion earlier this year, the Central Belter became Scotland’s longest off-road bikepacking trail. The Borders Railway offers the ideal car-free solution to get to the trail head and back home. View the route and start making your plans. Why not stay in a castle, a lighthouse or on a working farm? The route then heads through Inshriach Forest and on to stunning Loch an Eilein with its 13th century island castle, before emerging onto the B970 at Inverdruie, where it’s a short cycle into Aviemore for an overnight. Continue north on the B955 into the heart of Glen Clova where you can ‘fuel up’ at the welcoming Glen Clova Hotel, before taking on the most challenging section of this route! Dunkeld Hermitage Loop Go through the town’s Kittlegairy Estate to pick up the B7062, which passes lovely Kailzie Gardens, before taking a right at Kirkburn and following trails around Wallace’s Hill to reach the B7062 again beside the River Tweed. ... drop the folks at Bikepacking Scotland a line and they’ll set you on the right track! Scotland’s Great Trails, Books This is an ideal route if you’re in Edinburgh and want to escape to the countryside for a few days. Andrew Cullen is our connoisseur for Scottish bikepacking routes, like this image from his Cairngorms weekender. To bring it to life, he partnered with Si Richardson from Global Cycling Network and made a captivating film about his 3-day trip. For more information click here. Scotland; Wales/Cymru; Northern Ireland; Join. Scottish hill tracks book is an excellent resource for finding new routes for bikepacking. Starting at recently refurbished Dundee Station, just over the road from the tall ship RRS Discovery and the iconic V&A Museum, head out of the city and north to Kirriemuir on any one of a number of quiet minor roads. There are many bike-packing options across Scotland and if you’re keen to get out there but are not sure where to start, drop the folks at Bikepacking Scotland a line and they’ll set you on the right track! Comments. Picking a route on the map and pitching your tent for the night is possible in the vast majority of places without problems, as long as you respect the rights of others and leave everything as you found it. Next, carefully cross the busy A9 where a great track heads through Dalnacardoch Wood up onto open land leading to Sronphadruig Lodge set in the shadow of the Corbetts An Dun and Maol Creag an Loch. Castle Stalker by Appin, Argyll & The Isles. There’s more information about cycling in Scotland on our website too. Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice. In fact, we’d recommend you take at least a week and enjoy the sights and sounds of this very special part of Scotland. Never far from the shores of Loch Linnhe, you will enjoy ferry crossings and stunning seascapes, as you cycle past iconic landmarks such as Castle Stalker. Return to Fort William via the ferry, or if you want to avoid the A830 section, take a minor road west through Glenfinnan for a mile to arrive at Glenfinnan Station, where you can catch a train back to Fort William. The Glenfinnan Viaduct and Loch Shiel, West Highlands. Check out perthshiregravel.com. The Sustrans National Cycle Network in Scotland offers great choices for bikepacking as well, especially the routes that include some stunning off-road sections. For more information click here. Video from bikepacking the North Coast 500 in Scotland last week. BikesEtc. Riding in Scotland in early March is always a … The area around Gaick Lodge and Loch an t-Seilich is a good overnight wild camping spot, though again, please observe SNH’s wild camping guidance. This diverse bikepacking route across the wild, western peninsulas of Scotland leads along crystal clear lakes and wild coastlines, over high, green peaks and adventurous trails. Experience the very best of Scotland. Markus Stitz is the founder of Bikepacking Scotland, through which he works with local partners to create new bikepacking routes in Scotland. Expert local knowledge, gifts and inspiration. The track from Loch Ordie into Dunkeld offers some nice descents and lovely views over Highland Perthshire. Rainspotting (Film) Rainspotting is a short film from Pannier and Brother Cycles that follows a group of six bikepackers on a wintry three-day ramble through the gloomy Grampian Mountains of Scotland. The top 10 bikepacking routes in Scotland. Join Cycling UK; Renew your membership; Gift Membership; Member benefits. At 63 km the Go East Lothian Trail is perfect for families, microadventures or a long day ride. Filmed on a 331-kilometer gravel bikepacking route in Scotland, Drovers tells the story of the ancient Scottish roads that are an integral part of the country’s history. The routes we rode and highlights we encountered like the bothies we stayed in are bundled in a special Komoot collection: ... going to be out and about for a longer period of time and without daily shopping possibilities and town like you see in Scotland. Ideal for beaches, islands and to sample a dram of whisky. At 655 km (407 miles) this is Bikepacking Scotland’s first long-distance trail on Scotland’s Adventure Coast that is suitable for gravel and mountain bikes alike. For more information click here. The Reiver Raid A plan is formed. Developed in partnership with Scotrail. Tired of busy city living? From Aviemore, head south west past lochs Alvie and Insh to arrive again at Kingussie, before heading down Glen Tromie and the Gaick Pass. More here. If you’re familiar with the periodic table, you’ll know the element Strontium (Sr) was discovered here in 1787 and is named after the village. I spent 7 days bikepacking in Scotland, pedaling from Aberdeen to Ullapool (390 km) and exploring the tastes of a new breed of Scottish breweries. He has designed a variety of different bikepacking routes that can be found here. Historic Traquair House, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders. In 2015, Scottish multiple record-breaking round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont rode the North Coast 500 in a superhuman 38 hours. Starting at Tweedbank Station, cycle along Tweedbank Drive to pick up route markers for NCN route 1 and head west for 16 miles to Innerleithen. 20 October 2020 – Red Bull – 10 of the best bikepacking routes in Scotland. 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