Coast-to-coast Scotland mountain biking holiday
The ultimate coast-to-coast Scotland mountain biking vacation
Our all-mountain coast-to-coast mountain biking holiday is the culmination of years of research and riding to find the ultimate point-to-point mountain bike ride on the British Isles.
This week-long mountain bike adventure will see you riding nearly 250km, 95% off-road, from the east coast town of Bonar Bridge and ending your week at the stunning fishing village of Applecross, and the 2012 Scottish Pub of the Year, the Applecross Inn on the rugged west coast of Scotland.
This is the most technically challenging coast-to-coast mountain biking holiday in the UK, but your guides will be on-hand to give you advice and support on your technique every step of the way to ensure that you have a fantastic adventure and improve your mountain biking skills.
During this epic mountain biking holiday you will ride the best trails that Scotland has to offer, from the high plateaux of Torridon to the coastal splendour of Applecross.
Your luggage will be transferred to your next great B&B each day, leaving you free to make the most of this fantastic coast-to-coast mountain bike adventure and take in the beauty of the Highlands of Scotland.
Our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain biking holiday is for intermediate/ advanced mountain bikers with level 4 fitness, and to find out what this means read the explanation of our skill and fitness levels.
Read our guide Kevin’s poetic account of our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain bike tour.
Tour dates 2013
- 4 – 11 May 2013
- 15 – 22nd June 2013 ONLY 2 PLACES REMAINING!
- 27 July – 3 August 2013 TRIP FULL
- 8 – 15 September 2013 TRIP FULL
- 10 – 17 May 2014
- 28 June – 5 July 2014
- 23 – 30 August 2014
- 6 – 13 September 2014
Please contact our expert tour team if you have different dates in mind for our coast-to-coast Scotland and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.
Want to know more? Ask us a question about our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain biking holiday, and read more about why you should choose H&I Adventures for your next adventure.
Coast-to-coast Scotland itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival day and bike preparation
On the first day of your coast-to-coast Scotland mountain biking holiday you’ll be welcomed by our mountain bike guides at Inverness airport (or train station) at around noon, and then transferred north, along the east coast, to the Highland village of Bonar Bridge and your top quality B&B for the night. Once we’ve settled in we’ll set up the bikes and go for a short pedal before dinner.
Day 2 – Bonar Bridge to Ullapool
We’ll pedal straight out from our accommodation on the first day of our coast-to-coast Scotland adventure, on our westerly bearing through classic Scottish glens with their ever-changing colours.
We’ll have a snack stop at a mountain refuge (bothy) and make friends with the local wild horses, before hitting some fast, flowy singletrack that descends into Ullapool, and our stop for the night.
Ullapool is a fishing town and the gateway to the north end of the Outer Hebrides archipelago, and we’ll enjoy an evening of good local food and drink, including freshly-caught seafood.
Distance: 60km (approx. 8 hours riding)
Climbing: 1000m
Day 3 – Ullapool to Poolewe
We will start today with a rapid boat crossing over Loch Broom on our way to some of the most mouth-watering singletrack in Scotland, if not Europe.
Once we turn westwards again our coast-to-coast trail starts to open up in front of you, snaking through the ancient landscape, over river crossings and then climbing up and over to Dundonnel forest. By the time we reach Poolewe your cheeks will hurt from grinning!
Distance: 60km (approx. 8 – 10 hours riding)
Climbing: 1500m
Day 4 – Poolewe to Kinlochewe
Today we will mountain bike off-road straight from Poolewe on a fantastic section of singletrack that rises high above the head of Loch Maree before descending to the banks of the loch itself and our own private section of singletrack.
Loch Maree is often cited as the most beautiful loch in Scotland, with its five large islands and 25 smaller islets. It’s also the only loch/ lake in the UK that contains an island that itself contains an islet with a lochan in it (are you still following?!).
Depending on time, there is the chance for us to ride a 15km extra loop at the end of Loch Maree.
Distance: 40km (approx. 4 – 6 hours riding)
Climbing: 850m
Day 5 – Kinlochewe to Annat
Riding from Kinlochewe to Annat through the mountains of Torridon is our favourite part of the coast-to-coast Scotland mountain bike tour. Each day of our trip increases slightly in technical difficulty, and riding the rocky trails that carve their way through the majestic Torridon mountains is the most technically challenging day, but also hugely rewarding.
This is one of the most ancient landscapes in the whole of the UK, and it has everything that you can possibly want from a mountain bike tour in Scotland, from stunning views, technical climbs, long, sweeping descents and grin-inducing singletrack!
Distance: 35km (approx. 7 hours riding)
Climbing: 1500m
Day 6 – Rest day
Today is your rest day, where you can explore the local area, read a book in the bar or join the guide for a half day’s mountain biking up a local hill, it’s your choice!
Day 7 – Shieldaig to Applecross
We’ll ride a lovely low-level singletrack alongside a stunning inland loch that will lead us straight to the fishing village of Shieldaig.
After admiring the view, we will move further along Loch Torridon, then cut through the middle of the Applecross peninsula on some of the most remote and unused singletrack we’ve been on all week. This leads us straight to Applecross bay and the end of our coast-to coast Scotland.
We’ll enjoy a celebratory meal of world-class seafood, whisky and real ale in the Applecross Inn and re-live the week’s adventures on our all-mountain coast-to-coast mountain bike tour in Scotland.
Our final night will be spent in Inverness, where we’ll enjoy our last dinner together and relax after our coast-to-coast mountain bike challenge.
Distance: 40km (approx. 6 hours riding)
Climbing: 1000m
Day 8 – Departure day
We will spend the morning packing the bikes, organising your luggage and transport you back to Inverness in time for early afternoon flights/ trains to say our goodbyes.
£975 / $1,560 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
- 7 nights’ accommodation
- The services of a fully-qualified, expert mountain bike guide for the duration of the trip
- Transportation from the meeting point in Inverness around the Highlands and Islands of Scotland during the week, and then back again to Inverness at the end of the trip
- Support driver/ guide throughout the week
- All group safety equipment
Price excludes:
- Transport to and from the pre-arranged meeting point
- Travel insurance
- Personal safety and cycling equipment
- Bike hire – bike rental costs are: £240/ $384 for a good quality hardtail bike; or £320/ $512 for a good quality full suspension bike for the duration of the trip
- Lunches and evening meals
- Alcoholic drinks
- Any other items not mentioned as included
Read more about the costs involved in our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain bike tour
Arrival and departure details
Your coast-to-coast mountain bike adventure 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 trip
Please read our full kit list before you start packing for your trip, so that you have everything you need!
Our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain biking holiday is for intermediate/ advanced mountain bikers with level 4 fitness, and to find out what this means read the explanation of our skill and fitness levels.
The ideal bike for the coast-to-coast Scotland is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with around 150mm of travel front and rear.
To get the most out of your mountain bike 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 £320/ $512 USD for a high quality full-suspension mountain bike for the duration of your trip.
For more information on the coast-to-coast mountain bike tour, and travelling in Scotland in general, read the full trip brochure.
Coast-to-coast Scotland
…epic, challenging, awesome. A few words to describe our recent holiday with H&I Adventures. This was our first experience with H&I Adventures and we’re already trying to figure out when we can holiday with them again. We were impressed with the resources available to allow, as in our case, eleven individuals of varying abilities to maximize their experience over the course of the week. The skill level rating and description for this tour reflects the scope and scale of all that the Coast-to-Coast Scotland has to offer. Thanks again Euan & Catherine for a great holiday.
Coast-to-coast Scotland
Leg busting climbs and thrilling descents! I'd travel to the ends of the earth with H&I Adventures, dedicated as they are to providing adventure and comfort while safety and competence lead the way.
Coast-to-coast Oct 2012
We highly recommend the Coast to Coast trip. This was our second time traveling with H&I Adventures and it won't be our last. Euan, Catherine and the H&I Adventures guides are great to work with from pre-trip planning through trip follow up. The riding in the Highlands is amazing and the accommodations and food are fabulous.
Coast-to-coast Scotland Sept 2012
A fantastic MTB trip all round. Awesome scenery on our own back door combined with challenging MTB trails under the leadership of very professional and attentive guides. I have travelled to numerous places over the world on similar types of trips and this is equal to the best of them. The quality of the guiding was the best I have experienced and if this is anything to go by I would highly recommend a H&I Adventures trip to anyone looking for a bit of adventure on a bike!
Coast-to-coast Scotland Oct 2012
What a great trip to explore what Scotland has to offer in the Highlands area! H&I Adventures team led by Euan and Catherine were great to work with and guide us before and during the trip. The team was able to swiftly adapt to the weather changes and any other challenges put in front of our group. The routes chosen were a great mix of double & single track as well as road. Euan's knowledge of the weather and course were top notch! Evenings were relaxing with great places to stay and delicious food! I highly suggest leveraging H&I Adventures for any of your holiday biking trips!
Coast-to-coast, July 2012
The coast-to-coast was the perfect match for us, loving to travel, wanting to discover Scotland and being passionate about mountain biking. Alex and Kevin took us to some of the most remote places in the Highlands where astonishing views and rocking descents made us immediately forget about strenuous climbs or struggling legs. Even though at the start and the end of each day there was a nice and comfortable B&B, it felt like miles away after only five minutes of pedalling and we had a great outdoor experience with our most memorable part being that river crossing! Many thanks to H&I Adventures and the whole group for this amazing trip!
Coast-to-coast Scotland
First of all a big thank you to the guides who made this adventure just perfect. Riding the most fantastic singletrails was a big part of a day. We definitely enjoyed the second part too where we were hanging out together in the nicest places sharing funny moments. Still bunny hopping through our dreams; we already miss Scotland.
Coast-to-coast, May 2012
This is a fantastic tour through some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland with some of the best riding we have experienced. Even coming from Scotland, it was great doing this guided tour as all of the thinking was done for us (where to ride, navigation, accommodation, where to eat etc). Euan and Kevin sorted everything out so all we had to do was enjoy the riding and the spectacular scenery.
Great riding in the Highlands, coast-to-coast
My wife and I had been reading about the great mountain biking in the Scottish Highlands. We found H & I while researching our Scotland trip and were really glad we hooked up with them. Euan knows where to ride and how to do it in style. Riding across the Highlands on great mountain bike trails everyday and staying in very comfortable accommodations at night was THE way to do it. The trails were varied with lots of technical, single track fun and the scenery was spectacular. I really felt like I earned that Guinness at the end of each day! We realized that if we'd tried to put together a ride like that on our own we'd have missed out entirely. A little advice for anyone getting ready for this trip: while training for the riding, don't forget to work on your grin muscles or your face is going to hurt after a few days!
Coast-to-coast adventure
I was really impressed with the way Euan and Alex accommodated our group and tailored the route along the way when it was needed. Having the opportunity to bike across the Highlands, in all its rugged glory, was truly an exhilarating and rewarding experience. Riding cross-country allowed a completely unique perspective of Scotland. It was an adventure that will not soon be forgotten! Thanks again!
Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain bike tour
- 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 be a maximum of seven 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 coast-to-coast Scotland 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! As long as you have a good level of physical fitness you will enjoy this mountain bike tour no matter what your age.
Q. What style of mountain biking tour is it?
A.The coast-to-coast is a guided, point-to-point mountain bike tour, ideal for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers. You’ll ride nearly 250km, 95% off-road, from the east coast of the Scottish Highlands to the west. It is a great mountain biking challenge, but it’s not a race to see who can finish each day the quickest. It’s about everyone making it to the finish line together, and your guides will be there to support and encourage you the whole way.
Q. How far will we be mountain biking each day?
A. The distances we cover each day range from 35km to 60km, in accordance with the technical difficulty of the trails: the easier stages of the route are longer. The technical difficulty of the trails increases each day, so you can practice your technique and increase your confidence as you progress through the tour. Each evening your guides 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 guides will be happy to discuss it with you.
Q. Do we have to carry all our gear with us?
A. No, you only need to carry a day pack with you whilst riding. We have a support vehicle and driver who will transfer your luggage to your next B&B each day, and have it ready and waiting in your room when you arrive.
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 coast-to-coast adventure. If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!
Q. I’m anxious about being too slow and holding everyone up, is this likely?
A. There will be two guides with you for most of each day of the trip, so if there are faster or slower people in the group then we can split up and one guide will accompany each group. No one need feel pressurised about going faster or slower, everyone can enjoy it at their own pace. If you don’t feel like riding on a particular day, you can catch a ride in the support vehicle to our next night stop and just relax for the day.
Q. Who will be guiding us?
A. Your mountain bike guides are local, qualified, experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking 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 coast-to-coast Scotland mountain bike tour you will be staying in 3- and 4-star B&Bs, guest houses and small hotels. We use the best quality accommodation in each area, and favour small, family-run establishments over large chain hotels. You’ll often be staying in family homes, which gives you the chance to get to know the local people of the Highlands of Scotland.
Q. Which meals are included in the tour?
A. All breakfasts are included in the price of the tour, and you’ll enjoy fantastic breakfasts at each accommodation which will set you up well for each day in the saddle. Lunch and dinner are not included in the trip price. Each morning we will pick up our own provisions for lunch, or put in our orders for our driver to collect on his way, before meeting us at our lunch stop. We can cater for most dietary requirements. We’ll have dinner in a local pub, café or restaurant in the evening. 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 full suspension mountain bike with 120mm travel front and rear will be ideal for this mountain bike tour. The terrain you will be riding is rough in places and you will feel more comfortable on a full suspension bike for the duration of the trip. It is possible to ride every day on a hard tail, so if this is your preference, then feel free to come with your hard tail. 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 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 specific shoes for cycling. Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your coast-to-coast Scotland trip.
Coast-to-coast Scotland
…epic, challenging, awesome. A few words to describe our recent holiday with H&I Adventures. This ...
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