Highlights: Welcome to Scotland

We will rendezvous at 10AM in Edinburgh to shuttle to our starting point in Aberdeen. Come a few days early to explore the old historic town of Edinburgh, including the Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Carlton Hill, and the underground walkways of the old medieval city. We'll shuttle to Aberdeen where we'll begin our bicycle journey across Scotland. Aberdeen is a classic North Sea industrial city famous for its bustling oil and gas industry as well as its fishing industry. We'll fit bikes late this afternoon before a special dinner tonight signals the beginning of our culinary exploration and bicycle adventure across Scotland. Distance: Test ride.

Lodging: Mary Culter House Hotel

Highlights: Bicycling on quiet lanes, visit small villages, salmon leaping

We depart Aberdeen this morning to make our way through quiet country lanes along the River Dee through the area known as Royal Deeside. Our route follows the old railway line used by Queen Victoria in the 19th century. We'll touch upon small Scottish villages like Banchory, where you might want to have a lunch break. Or, stop at the Bridge of Feugh Tearoom where salmon are often leaping up the falls as they migrate up the Water of Feugh to spawn. Continuing alongside tree-lined roads bordering the River Dee, we'll reach the friendly town of Ballater this evening. Dinner is on your own tonight. Distance: 40 miles (65 km).

Lodging: Glen Lui Hotel

Highlights: Royal Lochnagar Whisky distillery, small lanes in Scotland

We have a leisurely day today as we spend two nights in Ballater, so you can take a nice loop ride into the Scottish greens or spend time in town, perhaps taking lunch at the local cafe with the locals. We recommend riding out along the River Dee to the Royal Residence of Balmoral, where the royal family still resides occasionally (meaning the castle is not always open to the public). If the royal family is not around, you can visit the grounds and the impressive ballroom in the castle. Regardless of the royal presence, you can visit nearby Crathie church, where Queen Elizabeth attends church services during her stays in the Scottish highlands. We'll regroup this afternoon for a lunch and a visit to the Royal Lochnagar whisky distillery--learn all there is to know about whisky. Dinner tonight is on your own. Distance: 0-30 miles (50km)

Lodging: Glen Lui Hotel

Highlights: Wildlife, Cairngorms National Park, Lecht Pass, Corgarff Castle

We'll leave the flats on the North Sea side today and climb straight up into the heart of the Cairngorms National Park today. Pedal through pine forests into a striking landscape of heather moorland. Wildlife abounds here (keep your eyes open for the famed red grouse, mountain hares and deer) as we climb high into the classic Scottish Highlands. Along the way, we'll pass the spectacular Corgarff Castle, stop in for a visit if you'd like before heading onto our biggest alpine-style climb of the trip -- the Lecht Pass. Anybody wanting to shuttle this short but testing climb is welcome to hop in the van. The views are superb as the road winds to the top. From the summit at 637 meters (2038'), enjoy a long downhill glide into Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands and the heart of serious Highland whisky (you know it's very serious when it is spelled without an "e"), distillery country. We'll split up and stay in small B&B's tonight, enjoying the best of Scottish hospitality. Dinner is together. Distance: 44 miles (71 km).

Lodging: Argyle Guest House or Glentorets Bed & Breakfast

Highlights: Cairngorms National Park, salmon smokehouse, Loch an Eilean

Without a doubt, a favorite day of the trip featuring one of the best rides in Scotland as we pedal through the Cairngorms National Park skirting the mighty Cairngorms massif and losing altitude to return to greener lush country. We'll pedal by a salmon smokehouse, smoking fish since the 1800's and providing a wonderful glimpse into traditional and modern smoking techniques. Once off the Cairngorm plateau, we'll ride through an ancient Caledonian pine forest. We're on the Rothiemurchus Estate, one of the land management systems in Scotland, where land is privately owned and managed (for private and public use) in "estates" that can possibly cover up to hundreds of square miles. Rothiemurchus is exemplary in its recreational use management for the public. This is regularly voted one of the most scenic spots in the UK and we'll also learn more about the area from one of the rangers. From Loch an Eilean, a quiet back road takes us along the River Spey to the village of Newtonmore, overlooked by the ancient Ruthven barracks. These 18th century barracks are well worth a visit before the final descent into the village. Dinner is on your own tonight. Distance: 34 miles (65 km).

Lodging: Craigerne Hotel

Highlights: Bicycle along the River Spey and along the Loch Laggan

Following the River Spey towards its source today we push on towards the divide between the East and West Highlands and from here on we will be riding almost directly west all the way to the Atlantic. A fine day on good roads which run alongside the beautiful Loch Laggan and Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve. The final section takes us into Spean Bridge where you can visit the woolen mill and shop before heading past the WWII Commando Memorial to our forested lodge. We'll enjoy a special home-cooked meal this evening at our family run lodge. Distance: 39 miles (63 km).

Lodging: Old Pines Hotel

Highlights: Ferry across Loch Linnhe, Bicycle through Bonnie Prince Charlie country!

We pedal quiet roads along the Caledonian canal (built along the Great Glen geologic fault line that dramatically cuts through the Highlands and connects 4 lochs, or lakes, to create a 60 mile water way that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea) to reach Fort William, the capital of the West Highlands. With a quirky twist, we board a short passenger ferry to cross the deep and wide Loch Linnhe. Disembarking on the west side, we join the Ardnamurchan Peninsula for our final push to the Atlantic. The area is of great historic interest; this is where Bonnie Prince Charlie led the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745 against the British Crown. Enjoy the spectacular views, as we ride past the rocky ramparts of Garbh Bheinn ("The Rough Mountain"). Our destination is Strontian on the shores of Loch Sunart. Dinner is together tonight. Distance: 39 miles (63 km).

Lodging: Strontian Hotel

Highlights: Ardnamurchan Point and lighthouse

Our morning begins with a ride along the lovely Loch Sunart to the village of Salen. We'll have time for a coffee here (or an early ale!) for the ride west to "the point". Climbing and descending along the undulating road the views get better all the time with the Island of Mull and the Small Isles coming into range. The route actually follows the edge of an ancient volcano which adds another dimension to the ride. We'll continue through the town of Kilchoan and finally Ardnamurchan Point which is situated on the cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean with a magnificent vista of the mountainous west coast and Hebridean Islands. If you wish, climb the 152 steps of the lighthouse. We will be return to Strontian by vehicle for dinner. Distance: 33 miles (54km).

Lodging: Strontian Hotel

Highlights: Shuttle back to Edinburgh

We'll shuttle back to Edinburgh this morning after breakfast, departing around 9:00AM and arriving at a approximately lunch time.

***Extend this bicycle trip 3 more days. Click here to review our Bicycling Scotland's Highlands Coast to Coast Plus! the Isle of Skye tour details page.***