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Mountain biking the Loch Ness Trail
The River Spey rises in the hills above Newtonmore in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. It’s the fastest river in Scotland and as it dashes northwards to the sea it plays a vital role in salmon fishing and Whisky production. This route follows much of the course of the Spey through a wide range of landscapes with many historical, natural and cultural experiences along the way. The route isn’t as easy as a gentle riverside path though, this is the Scottish Highlands after all, but the days are quite short and your luggage can be transported between accommodations. Start and finish in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. Inverness is a really great small city with fantastic pubs, cafes and restaurants, many situated along the banks of the river. Inverness also has a some great live music venues and the excellent Eden Court Theatre.
Inverness: this is a circular tour starting and finishing in Inverness. Inverness is around three hours by car from Edinburgh and Glasgow and a little less than that from Aberdeen. You can also reach Inverness by train from all major cities in the UK. The airport has direct flights from London, Amsterdam, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham and several other airports.
On-road. Mainly quiet country roads. The route is well signposted and uses waymarked National Cycle Network (NCN) Routes where possible. The terrain is not flat but the long hills aren’t too steep and the steep hills aren’t too long. See daily route profiles for the facts. There is usually a lunch stop at a cafe but refreshments and toilets may not be available at other points along the route. Mobile phone coverage is good but not complete on most networks.
7 days riding, 8 nights
Total: 183 miles / 295km
Average day: 31 miles / 50km
Longest day: 38 miles / 61km
Shortest day: 19 miles / 31km
Some attractions a short distance off route.
This trip is created using RideWithGPS which we have found to be the best service for smartphone navigation. We will provide a paper map of the route along with turn by turn directions. Files for GPS devices are also available to download.
Our core services are:
You can follow our suggested itinerary and navigation or use it as a starting point to plan your own trip and find your own way.
Most customers hire bikes and bags from us, carry their own luggage and book their own accommodation. Daily transfer of luggage between accommodation is available as an extra. It is also possible to book an all-inclusive package with accomodation and any other travel service you require through our local tour operator partner.
Whichever way you want to book please click the Booking button below and tell us what you have in mind. It is best to enquire early as availability can be an issue.
Bike hire is our specialism and we are confident that we have the best hire bike fleet around. We only use top brand equipment and replace bikes every year to ensure up to date specification and the highest standards of reliability and safety. Standard equipment includes:
Choosing the right bike depends on the terrain, your luggage and what type of bike you are used to riding. Hybrid Bikes are the most popular and offer a relaxed riding position. If you are used to drop handlebars and are travelling light then the Road Bikes may be more attractive.
Cycling is more enjoyable when you don't have a heavy load to carry. You can leave your suitcases with us and pack light in panniers. On popular routes like Speyside & Moray Coast, Loch Ness 360 or The Great Glen Way we can arrange daily baggage transfers.
