Mountain bike in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park
Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday in Scotland
The Cairngorms National Park boasts everything you could want from a mountain biking holiday in Scotland. Rolling, heather-clad hills; ancient glens; secluded lochs; abundant wildlife; great local food and drink; and fantastic mountain biking trails.
This is the UK’s largest National Park and hides a wealth of diverse ecosystems and landscapes, which we’ll share with you during this week-long mountain biking holiday in one of the most unspoilt and naturally beautiful areas of the Scottish Highlands.
You’ll also have a day’s canoeing on the River Spey, and some guided wildlife walks to spot some of the more elusive animals living in this part of the Scottish Highlands.
During your Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday you will have your own home-from-home in a traditional Highland guest house or country lodge in Aviemore, the outdoor capital of the Highlands.
Our mountain biking holiday in the Cairngorms, Scotland is for novice/ intermediate mountain bikers with level 2 fitness, and to find out what this means read the explanation of our skill and fitness levels.
Read our guide Kevin’s ‘poetry in motion’ diary of the Cairngorms Adventure in June 2012
Tour dates 2013
- 13 – 20 April 2013
- 13 – 20 July 2013
Please contact our expert tour team if you have different dates in mind for this Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.
Want to know more? Ask us a question about our Cairngorms mountain biking holiday, and read more about why you should choose H&I Adventures for your next adventure.
Cairngorms Adventure itinerary
Day 1 – Laggan Wolftrax
On the first day of your Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday you’ll meet your guide and driver in Inverness (airport or train station) at lunchtime and then we’ll head into the Cairngorms and our first adventure of the trip at Laggan Wolftrax trail centre.
Laggan Wolftrax is the north of Scotland’s best man-made trail centre, based in Strathmashie Forest, Laggan. With nearly 18km of mountain bike tracks ranging from the blue grade fun park to the extremely difficult black grade trail. We’ll spend the day enjoying the different trails, checking bikes and practising skills that will come in handy during the rest of your mountain biking holiday in the Cairngorms.
At the end of the day we’ll drive half an hour to your home-from-home for the week: a beautiful country lodge house in Aviemore.
Day 2 – Speyside Way and Loch Garten
On our day in the Loch Garten area we’ll pedal through Glenmore Forest, over the rocky Ryvoan pass and through Abernethy Forest towards Boat of Garten. On the way, we can stop at the Osprey Centre at Loch Garten to see if we can spot any of the resident birds. There are a couple of climbs ahead of us now, before joining the Speyside Way and heading back into Aviemore to some delicious home baking at the Mountain Café!
Day 3 – Pedal and paddle
Today we will have a short pedal to the banks of the river Spey where we will meet our open canoe guide who will be leading you down a stunning stretch of the famous salmon fishing river. Your guide will be on hand to talk you through all safety aspects and paddling techniques involved with river canoeing. During your trip along the river Spey your guide will find a picturesque spot on the banks for a picnic lunch of local food of outstanding quality.
Day 4 – Singletrack and single malt
This morning we will venture out to Kincraig, in the southern Cairngorms. There is a vast network of amazing natural mountain bike trails all over this area, with flowy, narrow trails and nice, steady climbs. Lots of reward, for not too much work! Then when we have had enough we will retire for lunch before heading to the Dalwhinnie distillery for an afternoon tour and whisky tasting session.
Day 5 – Wildlife walk
Today you will be guided around the Caledonian forest at the foot of the Cairngorms massif by a local wildlife expert who will endeavour to spot some of the local wildlife for you. In this area, if you are lucky, you could see deer, pine martin, birds of prey, and capercaillie. After your wildlife walk and lunch we will bike back to our accommodation and settle in for the night.
Day 6 – your day off
You’ll also have a day off the bike to try some of the other activities available in the area or to do a bit of sight-seeing – you decide. You could even come out mountain biking with our guide if you feel up to it!?
Day 7 – Loch Ness and Inverness
Today we will travel 45 minutes north to the Highland capital of Inverness, where we will cycle a four-hour route that will see us high above the banks of Loch Ness, before descending to lunch on the banks of the loch, and a spot of Nessie hunting. After our lunch we will cycle back towards Inverness city along the banks of the River Ness and into town for last minute gift buying, before returning to Aviemore for our last supper in a local restaurant to celebrate the end of an unforgettable adventure tour in Scotland!
Day 8 – Departure day
We will spend the morning packing, organising your luggage and transport you back to your Inverness airport or train station at lunchtime to say our farewells.
£970 / $1,552 USD per person (ex. flights, based on two people sharing a room)
A single supplement of £220/ $352 will be applicable should a single room be requested.
Price includes:
- All breakfasts
- Seven nights’ accommodation in a beautiful Highland country house
- The services of a fully qualified and experienced mountain bike guide for the duration of your trip
- One day guided canoe trip on the River Spey
- One day guided wildlife walk
- All group safety equipment
- Transportation around the Highlands
Price excludes:
- Transport to and from Inverness
- Travel and activity insurance
- Lunches and evening meals
- Personal safety and cycling equipment
- Bike hire – bike rental costs are: £240/ $384 USD for a good quality hardtail mountain bike
- Alcoholic/ non-alcoholic beverages
- Any other items not mentioned as included
Arrival and departure details
Your Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday will start and end in Inverness. Your guide and/or driver will meet you in the arrivals area of Inverness airport, or in the main concourse at Inverness train station. He/she will be holding an H&I Adventures sign and should be easy to see since neither the airport nor the train station are particularly large or crowded.
We generally ask guests to arrive as close to midday as possible on the first day of the tour, however we can collect you up until 4 p.m. on your day of arrival. If you think you will be arriving later, or you are travelling a long distance, we would recommend that you arrive the day before and book an overnight stay in Inverness.
On your departure day we will return you to Inverness airport or train station at around midday. If you have an earlier connection please let us know and we can discuss it with you.
Travelling to Inverness
Inverness is well connected to the rest of the UK by good rail, air, and coach links. We have compiled some useful information and links for travelling to Inverness and the start of your trip from London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
You must book your bike on to your flight in advance, otherwise you could face a heavy charge at the airport. Here are some handy hints and tips on travelling by air with your bike.
For more information and advice on traveling to Scotland by air or sea check out the VisitScotland website.
Preparing yourself and your bike for the Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday
Please read the full kit list before you start packing for your Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday, so that you have everything you need!
Our mountain biking holiday in the Cairngorms, Scotland is for novice/ intermediate mountain bikers with level 2 fitness, and to find out what this means read the explanation of our skill and fitness levels.
The ideal bike for the Cairngorm trails is a good quality hardtail (front suspension only) with around 100mm of travel in the forks.
To get the most out of your mountain biking holiday in Scotland you should plan some training in advance of your tour, and it is essential that, if you’re bringing your own bike, you ensure that it has been properly serviced before the trip.
We can arrange bike hire for you, and have the bike ready for your arrival, at a cost of £240/ $384 for a high quality hardtail mountain bike for the duration of your trip.
For more information on the Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday, and travelling in Scotland in general, read the full trip brochure.
A wonderful adventure
This is a long overdue note to say what a wonderful time we had with Euan in the Cairngorms National Park. Not only was the scenery spectacular, but it was such a special way to see the countryside. The planning and support throughout the trip were fantastic and we couldn't reccomend it more highly!
Cairngorms Adventure
A brilliant holiday! The trips out were amazing with beautiful scenery and challenging routes. Being in a small group was ideal as we all got a chance to get to know each other. Also meant that the holiday could be tweaked so it suited everyone. I would definately recommend this holiday... for the cycling, the beautiful Cairngorms and the holiday itself which felt personal and very relaxed. Thank you Euan and Catherine, I had an amazing time... and to Kev who arrived day one when the real work had been sorted but more than made up for it with his cooking!! I hope to get the chance to join you again...
Cairngorms Adventure
The Cairngorms Adventure was the perfect blend of breath-taking scenery, amazing singletrack, delicious meals, and new friendships. It's ideal if you're looking for exciting mountain biking, but also want to explore a bit of Scotland too.
Cairngorms June 2012
We wanted a trip which wasn't going to be too difficult for one of us, but challenging enough for the other. Euan was great in answering questions about this trip and assuring us this trip would "fit the bill". The trails were great, giving us a varied experience through out the week. Along with the great rides, we thoroughly enjoyed the evenings, spending time with the other riders and guides. H&I Adventures is definitely a first class operation!
Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for our Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday
- Q. How many people will be in the group?
A. We only run small group adventures to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will generally be a maximum of eight people in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run a trip is four.
Q. What’s the age range of people who come on this trip?
A. The Cairngorms Adventure caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old, but age is simply a state of mind, as they say, and we welcome anyone over the age of 18!
Q. What style of mountain biking tour is it?
A.The Cairngorms Adventure tour is a guided mountain biking holiday, ideal for beginner and intermediate mountain bikers, which includes other activities, such as a day of canoeing, wildlife watching, and a distillery tour. There’s a huge variety of beautiful, natural trails around the Cairngorms National Park, and we can tailor each day’s riding to the group’s needs.
Q. How far will we be mountain biking each day?
A. The distances we cover on each riding day will depend largely on the fitness and enthusiasm of the group, but will usually be between 15km and 30km per day. This can be easily increased or decreased as the group wishes. The terrain consists of double track, natural singletrack, and some minor roads, through forests and over low-level hill passes. Each evening your guide will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guide will be happy to discuss it with you.
Q. What if I come across a section of trail that I can’t ride?
A. Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills training during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your Cairngorms Adventure mountain biking holiday! It’s not a race or a competition, everyone is there to have a great time, take photos, and revel in the spectacular landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park.
Q. What level is the day of canoeing and is it compulsory?
A. The day of guided canoeing on the River Spey is beginner level and your guide will be on-hand to talk you through all the safety aspects and techniques involved. It is not compulsory, you can have a day off to explore Aviemore, however there is no reduction in price if you choose not to participate in the canoeing.
Q. Who will be guiding us?
A. Your mountain bike, canoe, and wildlife guides are all local, qualified, experienced professionals who have a real passion for their particular specialism and for the fabulous outdoor playground that is the Highlands of Scotland. Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of the tour. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip. You can meet your mountain bike guides on our ‘Why H&I Adventures page?’.
Q. What sort of accommodation will we be staying in?
A. On this Cairngorms Adventure tour you will be staying in a traditional country lodge in the Aviemore area, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. There are comfortable bedrooms and guest lounges so that the group can relax together in the evening and chat over their day’s adventures.
Q. Which meals are included in the tour?
A. All breakfasts are included in the price of the tour, and we will supply a range of delicious local ingredients for you to make breakfast at your group accommodation. Lunch and dinner are not included in the trip price. We will either shop in the morning for picnic supplies to take with us, or we will stop at a local cafe or pub for lunch. There are a number of restaurants in Aviemore for dinner. This means that everyone can choose exactly what they want for lunch and dinner and only pay for their own choices. You should allow around £15-£25 per day for lunches and dinners.
Q. What type of mountain bike is best for this trip?
A. A good quality hard tail (front suspension only) mountain bike with 120mm travel will be ideal for this mountain bike tour. The terrain you will be riding is not especially rough, so there isn’t a real need for a full suspension bike. We can arrange bike hire for you for the duration of your trip; please let us know if you would like to rent a bike in Scotland.
Q. What clothes and kit should I bring?
A. The weather in Scotland is changeable at any time of the year, so you must make sure that you have a waterproof jacket that you can ride/canoe in, and you should also bring plenty of layers of breathable clothing to ensure that you are always warm enough and can remove a layer if you get too hot. You should also bring cycling shorts/trousers, gloves, a warm jacket for the evenings, padded undershorts, and comfortable shoes for cycling and for walking. We would also ask you to bring a pair of binoculars for your day of wildlife spotting. Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your Cairngorms Adventure mountain bike tour in Scotland.
A wonderful adventure
This is a long overdue note to say what a wonderful time we had with Euan in the Cairngorms National ...
read more