Tour itinerary description

Day 1: Inverness – Individual arrival

Inverness now a thriving modern town has historical links going back to Neolithic times. Many battles have been fought for control of this strategic site. A visit to the Garrison Castle Encounter will take you back to 1745 and the Jacobite Rebellion.

Evening: collect cycles and equipment, route briefing and instruction.

Day 2: Inverness – Drumnadrochit – 39 km / 24 miles

Leave Inverness following the river across moorland and quiet country roads alongside Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit. Visit the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre and ruined Urquhart Castle.

Day 3: Drumnadrochit – Fort Augustus – 37 km / 23 miles

Follow the Cycle Way of the Great Glen. Some steep hills are rewarded with beautiful views of Loch Ness and the mountains beyond. In the forest you may see deer or golden eagles before you reach the south end of the loch at Fort Augustus.

Day 4: Fort Augustus – Fort William – 55 km / 34 miles

The Caledonian Canal tow path and forest tracks keep you safe from traffic until you reach the locks of Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie. A short ride to the busy tourist town of Fort William in the shadow of mighty Ben Nevis.

Day 5: Rest Day at Fort William

Take a trip on the steam train of the scenic West Highland Railway to Mallaig, climb Ben Nevis or explore the many trails in Leanachan Forest.

Day 6: Fort William – Pitlochry – 60 km / 37 miles

LAvoid the busy roads with a scenic train journey across bleak and desolate Rannoch Moor to Rannoch station. Cycle along the quiet road along the beautiful south shore of Loch Rannoch to Tummel bridge. Continue by Loch Tummel to the delightful victorian town of Pitlochry.

Day 7: Rest Pitlochry – 22 km/45 km (14ml/28 ml)

Perhaps cycle to Blair Atholl and visit Blair castle, enjoying the magnificent display of arms and armour and the thirty-two fully furnished rooms. These display beautiful furniture, fine paintings china, lacc and embroidery. Or cycle to the historic cathedral town of Dunkeld, situated on the banks of river Tay. It has a peaceful character and charmingly restored eighteenth centry houses forming a small square. Cathedral street leads from there to the partly restored cathedral construction which began in 1318. At Pitlochry there is a change for some shopping, visit one of the two distilleries or the Dam and Fish ladder.

Day 8: Depart Pitlochry – End of tour or extension, indiviual departure

WHAT´S INCLUDED IN THE SELF-GUIDED TRIP?