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EPIC Trans Scotland

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Overview Itinerary Climbs Dates & Prices Hotels What's Included Pick-up/Drop-off Info Gallery

EPIC Trans Scotland

Ride the breathtakingly beautiful Highlands of Scotland

An incredible journey from the magnificent Isle of Mull through Royal Deeside, Speyside, Loch Ness and the UK’s toughest climb, Bealach na Ba.

Featured Climbs

Bealach na Ba, The Lecht Road, Ben Lawers

Overview

Details

Next Departure

No Upcoming Departures

Duration

Non-Rider Friendly

No

Rental Bike

Not available

Ride Program

Total Distance

Total Elevation

Daily Av. Distance

Daily Av. Elevation

Overview

Our Company Founder, Peter Thomson, was brought up in Scotland and before taking up road-racing, he’d spend many a holiday cycle-touring around the Highlands of Scotland. 40 years later he returns to Scotland to share with you the best of these holiday routes.

The trip starts on Scotland’s west coast, a wild and remote place, blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll find anywhere in the world. You’ll ride around the magnificent Isle of Mull before heading inland towards the Highlands with stops in Inveraray and Pitlochry before tackling the climbs in the Cairngorm mountains. From the Cairngorms you’ll head north through Royal Deeside where the Royal Family have their summer residence in Balmoral, then into Speyside, famous for its single malt whiskies. The trip concludes with a stunning ride up the UK’s most challenging climb, the Bealach na Ba Pass.

Join Peter for this incredible opportunity to ride the Highlands of Scotland.

Banner Photo Credits: Visit Scotland/Paul Tomkins, Damian Shields, Kenny Lam & John Duncan North East 250/Damian Shields

Not advised for Non-Riders

The route for this trip was designed for optimal cycling. It traverses remote areas in order to offer the most challenging and spectacular experience for avid cyclists. We do not encourage non-riding companions to join this trip, as the focus is on the riding and there is not an abundance of non-riding activities. Non-riders, unless they have their own transportation, will spend most of their time in the support vans, following the cyclists from point to point.


Cycling helmet, sunglasses and shoes illustration

Itinerary

Day Description Distance Elevation Hotel
01 Welcome to Scotland Oban Bay Hotel
02 Isle of Mull Oban Bay Hotel
03 Loch Awe and Loch Fyne The Inveraray Inn
04 Kilchurn Castle and the Schiehallion Atholl Palace Hotel
05 Glenshee and Royal Deeside Balmoral Arms Hotel
06 The Lecht Road to Inverness Coul House Hotel
07 Bealach na Ba Pass Coul House Hotel
08 Haste ye back!
Daily Averages
Itinerary View Itinerary View
Map View Map View
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08

Itinerary Detail

Day 1

Distance

Elevation


Welcome to Scotland

Your trip starts at Edinburgh Airport where our staff will meet you before the short transfer to your hotel in Oban.

After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out for your first ride in Scotland through Glencrutten to Loch Nell then along the Atlantic Coast and back to the hotel in Oban. A really beautiful ride to open up your week in the Highlands, and a wee taste of things to come!

Day 2

Distance

Elevation


Isle of Mull

One of the most beautiful and picturesque islands in Scotland is the Isle of Mull and it’s one of Peter’s favorite places in the world to ride a bike!

You’ll start the morning with a 45 minute ferry ride across Loch Linnhe to Mull. The ferry sails into the port of Craignure which is where our 140km Tour of Mull starts.

The entire route is magnificent. You’ll ride around the bottom of Mull’s highest mountain, Ben More, then head through breathtaking coastline to the north of the island. After a series of short, steep climbs and a few switchbacks you’ll drop down to Tobermory, the largest town on the island, famous for its row of multi-coloured houses that featured in the children’s TV series Balamory. From Tobermory, it’s a short spin along the shores of the Sound of Mull to Craignure where the ferry will take you back to the mainland.

Day 3

Distance

Elevation


Loch Awe and Loch Fyne

A fabulous ride today from the West Coast to Inveraray, the ancestral seat of the chiefs of the Clan Campbell.

Majestic scenery awaits around every bend on this ride which features 30km along the shores of the beautiful Loch Awe, followed by 40km along the northern shore of sea loch, Loch Fyne. Keep your eyes open as you’re riding up Loch Fyne, the loch is rich in local wildlife including dolphins, porpoises, minke whales, seals, basking sharks and even the occasional orca.

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Map & Profile

Climb Distance Elevation Av. Grade Category
No major climbs today
Climb Distance Elevation Av. Grade Category
toggle arrow Glen More
from Inverlussa
2.5% 3
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
toggle arrow Allt Chreaga Dubha Waterfall
from Kilfinichen
3.2% 4
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
toggle arrow Tostary
from Killiemor
3.2% 4
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
toggle arrow Burg
from Kilninian
5.4% 3
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
toggle arrow Dervaig Hill
from Achnadrish
5.2% 4
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
toggle arrow Gualan Dubh
from Tobermory
2.4% 4
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
Climb Distance Elevation Av. Grade Category
No major climbs today

Climbs

Day 01
Day 02
Day 03
Day 04
Day 05
Day 06
Day 07

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Climbs

Category Climb Day Difficulty Length Ele. Gain Av. Grade
3 Glen More (from Inverlussa) 02 16 2.5%
4 Allt Chreaga Dubha Waterfall (from Kilfinichen) 02 17 3.2%
4 Tostary (from Killiemor) 02 16 3.2%
3 Burg (from Kilninian) 02 31 5.4%
4 Dervaig Hill (from Achnadrish) 02 29 5.2%
4 Gualan Dubh (from Tobermory) 02 13 2.4%
2 Ben Lawers (from Loch Tay) 04 46 6.4%
3 The Schiehallion (from Coshieville) 04 29 4.4%
3 Forest of Alyth (from Kilry) 05 22 3.6%
2 Glenshee (from Lair) 05 20 2.5%
2 Gairn Sheel (from Ballater) 06 21 2.6%
3 The Lecht Road (from Cockbridge) 06 46 6.7%
1 Bealach na Ba (from Tornapress) 07 70 6.8%
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Dates & Prices Illustration

Dates & Prices


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Date Booking Status Availability Price / Per Person Single Supplement Non-rider Discount
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    Trip Hotels

    Oban Bay Hotel

    View website arrow

    The Inveraray Inn

    View website arrow

    Atholl Palace Hotel

    View website arrow

    Balmoral Arms Hotel

    View website arrow

    Coul House Hotel

    View website arrow


    What's Included

    What's Included What's Not Included
      Accommodations & Meals arrow
    • 8 days / 7 nights fully accompanied trip
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • All dinners
    • 1 sit-down lunch (Day 1)
    • Picnic lunches during the rides
    • Transportation arrow
    • Pick up at Edinburgh Airport
    • Drop off at Inverness Airport or Edinburgh Airport
    • All transportation during the trip
    • All luggage & bike box transfers
    • Cycling Support arrow
    • 1 x Support Van & 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.)
    • Experienced bike mechanic
    • Park Tools Toolkit
    • Daily ride gpx files provided
    • Nutrition during the ride arrow
    • Energy bars, gels and sports drink
    • Variety of snacks and local specialties for picnic lunches
    • Bottled water
    • Post-ride recovery food
    • Airfare
    • Travel and personal insurance
    • Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
    • Staff gratuities
    What's Included
      Accommodations & Meals arrow
    • 8 days / 7 nights fully accompanied trip
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • All dinners
    • 1 sit-down lunch (Day 1)
    • Picnic lunches during the rides
    • Transportation arrow
    • Pick up at Edinburgh Airport
    • Drop off at Inverness Airport or Edinburgh Airport
    • All transportation during the trip
    • All luggage & bike box transfers
    • Cycling Support arrow
    • 1 x Support Van & 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.)
    • Experienced bike mechanic
    • Park Tools Toolkit
    • Daily ride gpx files provided
    • Nutrition during the ride arrow
    • Energy bars, gels and sports drink
    • Variety of snacks and local specialties for picnic lunches
    • Bottled water
    • Post-ride recovery food
    What's Not Included
    • Airfare
    • Travel and personal insurance
    • Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
    • Staff gratuities

    Travel details - airport departures

    Pick-up/Drop-off Info

    Arrival

    Pickup Location Time

    Edinburgh Airport

    9:00am

    OR

    Moxy Hotel Edinburgh Airport

    View website arrow

    9:00am

    Departure

    Drop Off Location Time

    Inverness Airport

    8:30am

    OR

    Edinburgh Airport

    12:00noon



    EPIC Trans Scotland

    Join Peter on this Epic ride across the Highlands of Scotland

    3 Ride Programs

    Our trip has 3 fully supported ride programs each day. Use the buttons highlighted at the top of the screen to switch between each rider level: Sport, Performance and Extreme.

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