Gravel
Scotland Highlands

Gravel Scotland Highlands

Scotland and gravel riding is a marriage made in heaven!

Our route has been devised by Ed Shoote, author of the book “Gravel Rides Scotland”. He’s ridden 1000s of miles of Scottish gravel and has hand-picked the very best for this unique tour.

Overview

Details

Next Departure

May 26th 2024

From

USD $4,795

Duration

7 days / 6 nights

Non-Rider Friendly

No

Rental Bike

USD $550

Ride Program

Total Distance

Total Elevation

Daily Av. Distance

Daily Av. Elevation

Overview

With stunning landscapes and some of the most remote wilderness areas in Europe, Scotland is a paradise for gravel riding. Our route, designed by Ed Shoote, Scottish gravel expert and author of the book Gravel Rides Scotland follows a magnificent journey from “Gravelfoyle” the mecca of Scottish gravel riding through the best of the Highlands to the royal estate near Braemer.

The route starts in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park, truly the heart of Scotland. It then stretches north across the romantic isolation of Rannoch moor and under the high peaks of the Central Highlands  Heading east the route flies along the smooth white quartz gravel tracks of the Cairngorms National Park. Each track we ride was built for a reason and it has a story to tell, from the 118th Century military roads of General Wade to the well-trodden ‘drove roads’ that cattle traders took south to markets as far away as London.

Gravel not only shapes Scotland’s cultural history but takes us deep into its breathtaking wild and remote landscapes.  This trip has just enough challenges to feel like a real adventure as it crosses rivers,  climbs mountains but all the time tries to stick to well-surfaced gravel tracks and quiet lanes.

Trip Technical Difficulty

1
2
3
Technical, advanced gravel, where classic gravel and paved roads will be combined with some rocky fast descents, technical steep climbs and random mountain challenges.

Ride Surfaces

Grade 1
20%
Grade 2
15%
Grade 3
25%
Grade 4
25%
Grade 5
15%

Bike Setup Recommendations

Recommended Tires

700×40

A minimum 700×40, but feel free to use more rubber for more comfort and grip if your bike has extra tire clearance.

Recommended Gearing

38T × 11-42

We recommend a minimum gear ratio of 0.90 using a 38T chainring × 42 rear cog (or equivalent). Check your gear ratios at www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios.


Gravel Explained

Read below for a brief description of our gravel definitions. We have classed the surfaces into five categories, from tarmac to boulders, to give an indication of the amount and level of rough stuff on each trip.

Click below to see Cycling Tips’ great explainer video on gravel surfaces.
GRADE 1
Bad roads, cobbles and rough paved surfaces. You’d find this rideable on a standard road bike.
GRADE 2
Well-made, hard-packed dirt roads offering a road-like experience but without the traffic. Some rutting and looseness of stones.
GRADE 3
Reasonably smooth gravel. Discernible small rocks over a hard-packed surface.
GRADE 4
Rough gravel with conditions that may include shale, larger gravel and rocks. Tubeless tyres and big clearance are the most practical choice.
GRADE 5
Borderline MTB terrain, at the rougher end of the spectrum for the capabilities of most gravel bikes.

Cycling helmet, sunglasses and shoes illustration

Itinerary

Day Description Distance Elevation Hotel
01 Aberfoyle Forest Hills Hotel, Macdonalds
02 Aberfoyle to Crieff Crieff Hydro Hotel
03 Crieff to Loch Rannoch Loch Rannoch Hotel
04 Kinloch Rannoch to Kingussie Duke of Gordon
05 Kingussie to Grantown on Spey The Speyside Hotel
06 Grantown on Spey to Ballater Cambus O May hotel
07 Haste ye back!
Daily Averages
Itinerary View Itinerary View
Map View Map View
01
02
03
04
05
06
07

Itinerary Detail

Day 1

Distance

Elevation


Aberfoyle

After lunch and getting your bike set up, where else could a gravel tour of Scotland start but the town which calls itself Gravelfoyle, aka Aberfoyle, in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. From the idyllically set Forest Hills Hotel and Spa its a short distance to get off road and onto the area’s famous gravel tracks within the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.  The most photogenic section of the day might be the gravel track snaking under victorian stone aqueducts that send fresh water almost 100 miles to the city of Glasgow, but then again it could be the sweeping forested vista over the waters of Loch Ard and Ben Lomond.

Afterwards you’ll enjoy getting back to stay in this exclusive hotel and enjoy the spa. Given the week of adventure lying ahead you’ll appreciate a soak of the legs and enjoy a hearty dinner to prepare.

Day 2

Distance

Elevation


Aberfoyle to Crieff

Enjoy a short spin along the shores of Loch Ard before you leave Aberfoyle behind and tackle a tough off-road climb up to Dukes Pass. At the pass itself awaits a fast, flowy gravel descent on the 3 Lochs Forest Drive. If three lochs wasn’t enough, a detour takes you on a small climb up to Loch Katrine, a peaceful loch nestled in verdant native forests.  Callander is often called the gateway to the Highlands and appropriately has the second big climb of the day from the town. It starts on tarmac before fading into a rugged, wild and remote gravel hill track.

You next reach the town of Comrie where an avenue of giant redwood trees mark the start of the final climb, this has some very short technical sections early on and a push or two might be needed, while skilled riders might clean it all.

If that sounds rewarding but exhausting you’re in luck because the destination – Crieff Hydro, is one of Scotland’s premier hotels and perfect for rest and relaxation. It has a spa, seven restaurants serving quality Scottish ingredients and five bars to grab a whisky and share stories from the first full day of riding. If time allows, the route passes the GlenTurret Distillery in Crieff, Scotland’s oldest working distillery.

Day 3

Distance

Elevation


Crieff to Loch Rannoch

From Crieff the route delivers a real highland adventure. You will start out with a climb back out of Crieff, which rewards with a wonderful but slightly more challenging gravel descent. This takes you down towards Glen Almond which is classic Scottish gravel riding on estate tracks. To add to the sense of adventure there’s a very short hike at the head of the glen to join the next track back down towards Loch Tay and the River Tay, Scotland’s longest river. There is a welcome section on quiet back roads, this suits a gravel bike as it meanders along under tunnels of trees with a lack of any real traffic.

The road breaks out of the woods and into stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains. Not long after this the next big climb begins. A gravel track heads for a pass between the peaks and marks the watershed between the vast Lochs of Tay and Rannoch.

The gravel descent to Loch Rannoch is a perfect way to end the day, great views, great riding and yet another comfy, quality Loch Rannoch Hotel and Spa to welcome you.

Map & Profile

Read our Gravel Explainer for a full description of our gravel definitions.

Grade 1
30%
Grade 2
40%
Grade 3
30%
Grade 4
0%
Grade 5
0%

Read our Gravel Explainer for a full description of our gravel definitions.

Grade 1
30%
Grade 2
40%
Grade 3
15%
Grade 4
5%
Grade 5
5%

Read our Gravel Explainer for a full description of our gravel definitions.

Grade 1
30%
Grade 2
25%
Grade 3
30%
Grade 4
10%
Grade 5
5%

Surface Details

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

Dates & Prices Illustration

Dates & Prices



Date Booking Status Availability Price / Per Person Single Supplement Non-rider Discount
2024
May 26 - 1
Taking Bookings
Places Available
USD $4,795
USD $950
USD $900
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    Trip Hotels

    Forest Hills Hotel, Macdonalds

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    Crieff Hydro Hotel

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    Loch Rannoch Hotel

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    Duke of Gordon

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    The Speyside Hotel

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    Cambus O May hotel

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    What's Included

    What's Included What's Not Included
      Accommodations & Meals arrow
    • 7 days / 6 nights fully accompanied trip
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • All dinners
    • Lunch on the 1st day
    • Transportation arrow
    • Pick-up and Drop-Off at Edinburgh Airport
    • All transportation during the trip
    • All luggage & bike box transfers
    • Cycling Support arrow
    • 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.)
    • 1 x Support Van & 4WD vehicle
    • 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
    • Bottled water
    • Airfare
    • Travel and personal insurance
    • Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
    • Staff gratuities
    What's Included
      Accommodations & Meals arrow
    • 7 days / 6 nights fully accompanied trip
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • All dinners
    • Lunch on the 1st day
    • Transportation arrow
    • Pick-up and Drop-Off at Edinburgh Airport
    • All transportation during the trip
    • All luggage & bike box transfers
    • Cycling Support arrow
    • 1 x Ride Leader per 8 guests (approx.)
    • 1 x Support Van & 4WD vehicle
    • 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
    • Bottled water
    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

    Hilton Hotel Edinburgh Airport

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    9:00am

    Departure

    Drop Off Location Time

    Edinburgh Airport

    11:00am


    Rental Bikes

    Frame

    Felt Breed 20

    Groupset

    SRAM Force 1

    Weight

    9.35kg (size 54)

    Wheels

    Devox Wheels RDS.A0 GXA | 30/21

    Chainrings

    36 or 38 (depending on trip)

    Cassette

    11-42

    Sizes

    47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61

    Price

    USD $550

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    Gravel Scotland Highlands


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