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United Kingdom

Scotland - Lochs and Glens

Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

5 days

Prices from

£635 P.P.

E-BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE

This holiday is well-suited to both normal bikes and pedal assist e-bikes and you can choose to hire either when you book your holiday with us. Confident cyclists will enjoy the boost from a battery for those cheeky climbs, and with less effort required on the bike, you’ll have more energy at the end of the day for off-the-bike activities.

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The Lochs and Glens is a fabulous self-guided cycling holiday in the UK, cycling across the Scottish Highlands from the River Clyde to the River Tay through the heart of magnificent mountain ranges and valleys. 
The route is part of the National Cycle Network and follows traffic-free paths and quiet roads with some sections on cinder trails and well surfaced off-road trails.
From Loch Lomond, this route winds its way through the beautiful hills of the Trossachs, along the shores of tranquil lochs, across open moorland, and continues north alongside the awe-inspiring Grampian Mountains, before turning south to the pristine city of Perth and the banks of The River Tay.
Along the route you will find historic sites of battles and ancient castles and there are also many opportunities to see wildlife including deer, eagles and osprey and not forgetting the must do visit to a whisky distillery.
Accommodation ranges from bed and breakfasts and small hotels allowing you to experience the customs and culture of Scotland. Visits to the local pubs for a wee dram of Highland malt will warm your heart ready for the next day’s ride.
This self-guided bike tour of Scotland is for a minimum of 2 people and accommodation, transfers, luggage transfers and emergency back up are all included. You will also have access to a navigation app. allowing you to do the route self-guided. Nothing could be simpler!
If you are interested in joining this holiday as a guided trip then you could look at our Scotland - Lochs and Glens guided cycling holiday.
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Holiday Highlights

  • Watching the sun burn away the mists from Loch Lomond
  • White pudding, Lorne sausage and tattie cakes for breakfast
  • Enjoying a dram at Scotland’s smallest distillery
  • Perth’s Georgian buildings
  • Miles of quiet winding loch-side roads
  • The spectacular mountain backdrop

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Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival into Balloch
Non Cycling Day

Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond, is where you will spend your first evening.

If you plan to arrive by air, the nearest airport is Glasgow which has direct transport links to Glasgow train station. For those arriving by train (40 minutes from Glasgow) your accommodation is a short walk from the station. If you decide to arrive into Balloch by car, limited parking is available near the accommodation for the duration of the trip. The evening can be spent strolling along the shoreline and sampling local dishes.

Day 2
Balloch to Callander
34 Miles / 54 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 800 Metres Approx.

Following a hearty Scottish breakfast, you will be met by our Skedaddle representative who will provide you with your rental bikes (if renting) and will talk you through how to use the navigation app.

From the accommodation you will follow a route via lochs and glens to Callander, your second night’s stop. The route takes you out into the solitude of the countryside from Loch Lomond to Loch Venacher via quiet country roads. After Aberfoyle you enter Achray Forest from where you will weave your way to Callander along the southern shore of Loch Venacher. Some climbing, with the inevitable descents, but plenty of time to enjoy the views, tranquillity and great cycling.

Day 3
Callander to Killin
25 Miles / 40 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.

The countryside is different to yesterday’s riding, with a gentler landscape of farmland and woodland. A real combination of surfaces today, quiet lanes, cycle paths and a disused railway line through the beautiful Glen Ogle. You are now close to the birthplace of folk hero and latter day Robin Hood, Rob Roy Macgregor, whose grave may be found in Balquhidder. The final stretch is to Killin (or nearby) where you stop for the night.

Day 4
Killin to Pitlochry
39 Miles / 62 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 690 Metres Approx.

The start of the day follows the 15 mile long Loch Tay to Aberfeldy the home to Dewars World of Whisky Distillery. All road today, as you pass through Aberfeldy and Strathay, before arriving at Pitlochry – watch out for those leaping salmon! An optional detour can be made from here to the Edradour Distillery (2.5 miles from Pitlochry) – you’ll need no persuasion to visit Scotland’s smallest distillery, established way back in 1825. The wide glens of the river Tay and river Tummel guide you to Pitlochry and your accommodation for the night.

Day 5
Pitlochry to Perth
33 Miles / 53 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.

Retracing your tracks to the Logierait Viaduct you now follow the river Tay on the National Cycle Network route 77, The Salmon Run. This route eventually brings you to Perth, the town that inspired Sir Walter Scott to pen ‘The Fair Maid of Perth’, which in turn inspired Bizet’s opera. On the way to this fair city, tucked away at the foot of thickly wooded hills, you will discover one of Perthshire’s gems – the cathedral town of Dunkeld. Resting on the opposite bank of the River Tay is the Victorian village of Birnam. Together, the beautifully restored buildings and rich heritage are an inspiration for lovers of history, the arts and the great green outdoors. At the end of the day you will be met by our representative and either whisked back to your car in Balloch or given your bags to catch a train in Perth.

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The Cycling

Terrain

The route follows traffic-free paths and quiet roads. There are forest trails with some roots and stones, and forestry roads with small sections of rough track with chunky, looser gravel. We recommend either a hybrid bike, or a mountain bike fitted with semi-slick tyres, as parts of this route are not suitable for a road bike.

If you’re wanting to spend more time exploring the sights along the way, then an e-bike is perfect to cover the miles a little quicker. Take advantage of the pedal assist on the climbs. Please note – E-bikes are normally heavier than standard hybrid bikes, so worth considering when handling the bike on rough tracks.

For more information about riding an electric bike on our holidays please click here

Lochs and Glens uses a part of the National Cycle Network, a route from the charity, Sustrans, who are working to make it easier for everyone to cycle in the UK. Skedaddle will donate to Sustrans for every mile that you and others ride on this route with us. If you fancy donating more to Sustrans, you can choose to make your own donation for the development of the National Cycle Network when you make a booking with us.

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Leisure Cycling Grade

1
2
3
4
5
Grade 3 : Moderate

Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day

For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness

May include some steeper, cheeky climbs and possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc)

Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!

For more information about our grading system click here.

Is this suitable for you?

Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 holiday to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.

For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.

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Dates & Prices

Daily departures available from April to mid October. Choose your own dates from:

2024 £635 per person

You either can make a booking online or over the phone. Once we have your details, we’ll be able to check availability.

Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit

Book now with a £100 deposit and nothing more to pay until 30 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.

Select a date to view prices and book
Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
Return Date
--/--/----
Duration
5 days
Price
£635.00

Whats Included Tick

A) Accommodation (shared twin rooms)

B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

C) Access to an app for holiday information and navigation

D) A printed map

E) Luggage transfer service

F) Local Skedaddle representative

G) Emergency tool kit, pump etc. (if renting your bike from Skedaddle)

H) Financial Protection through ABTOT

What's not Included Cross

A) Bike and helmet rental (available if required)

B) Travel or flight costs or charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)

C) Meals not stated in the itinerary

D) Single room (available if required)

E) Travel insurance

F) Personal clothing and equipment

G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)

H) Entrance fees to cultural or historical sites and visitor centres

I) Other optional activities

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The Essentials

Travel Options

If travelling by car your destination is Balloch where you will be able to leave your car near the accommodation for the duration of the trip. At the end of the ride in Perth we will collect you and return you to your car.

If travelling by train we ask that you arrive into Balloch train station and depart from Perth.

Please contact us for more detailed information on the specific schedules that we recommend for your holiday and please check with us before booking your travel so that we can ensure it fits with the trip schedule.

Accommodation

In the UK we use good quality 3 or 4 star hotels, B&Bs, inns and family-run guesthouses that are cycle friendly, located close to the cycling route and showcase the style and hospitality of the area you are visiting.

Where possible we prioritise locally owned businesses and those offering locally sourced food, drink and speciality products. This all promotes sustainability in-line with our responsible travel policy.

All our UK trips are operated on a double/twin-share basis. Single occupancy rooms can be provided for a supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Bike Hire

If you would like to rent a bike we have both hybrid and electric bikes available.

The hybrid bikes are generally Cube Touring Pro, equipped with a wide gear range, semi-slick tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and a relaxed riding position.

Our electric bikes are generally Cube Touring or Bergamont E-Horizon Wave pedal assist bikes, or equivalent. Both models will come with either a standard cross bar or step through frame. Please let us know if you have a preference.

Helmets and panniers are provided with all rental bikes along with an emergency repair kit including a spare innertube, multi-tool, bike pump, bike lock and bottle cages.

You are welcome to bring along your own saddle, or own pedals if renting a hybrid bike, but please let us know if advance if you plan to do so.

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