Holiday Ideas
Mountain Biking Holidays
Mountain biking, Road Biking or Family cycling in the National Cycle route of Scotland.
Just some of the best rides out and about. The tracks use a lot of the old railway lines and always have some great parking close to hand. Some of the coast routes are just amazing.
Loch Leven Heritage Trail, Perthshire
Lochleven Castle, Loch Leven, Kinross
Look out for the rich variety of wildlife (such as osprey, kingfishers and otters) on this flat, circular route around the banks of Loch Leven. Enjoy the views out to Lochleven Castle, which is situated on its own island in the middle of the loch, and stop for a tasty lunch at places such as Loch Leven's Larder.
- Departure/end point: various points on the banks of Loch Leven
- Terrain type: off-road path
- Distance: 12.12 miles/19.5 km
- Approximate time to cycle: 1 hr 20 minutes
Assynt Achiltibuie Circular, Highlands
Stac Pollaidh, Assynt
This stunning (but challenging) loop in the north west of Scotland travels through some of the country's wildest and most idyllic landscapes. See famous mountains such as Sula Bheinn, Cùl Mòr and Stac Pollaidh, as well as tranquil beaches and glittering lochs.Departure/end point: Achiltibuie.
- Terrain type: road
- Distance: 70.06 miles/112.55 km
- Approximate time to cycle: 7 hours
Isle of Bute
Ettrick Bay, Isle of Bute
Absorb magnificent sea views as you travel around this beautiful island on two wheels (bikes can be hired locally or you can take your own on the ferry). Challenge yourself to the 23 mile loop around the island or use pedal power to visit attractions such as Mount Stuart House and Ettrick Bay.
- Terrain type: road
- Distance: 23 miles (shorter sections available)
Ayrshire Coast Cycle Way
Kitesurfing at Troon Beach © Ayrshire & Arran Tourism, all rights reserved.
This beautiful linear route along the coast from Irvine to Ayr takes in some of Ayrshire's most picturesque scenery, from the glittering coastline with views out to the Isle of Arran to the thriving marshland and woodland of two Scottish wildlife reserves, Gailes Marsh and Shewalton Wood.
- Departure point: Irvine
- Finish: Ayr
- Terrain type: mostly off-road with some on-road sections
- Distance: 19 miles/30.58 km
- Approximate time to cycle: 2 hours
Glentress
This popular route is located near Peebles, around an hour's drive south from Edinburgh. The area is part of the 7stanes network of trails across Scotland, and has dedicated facilities as well as the natural beauty of the Tweed Valley. 75m of routes are offered, from blue and green for beginners to more challenging red for experienced bikers.
Forest of Ae
Five routes of varying difficulty, including the brilliantly-titled Shedder (clue's in the name in terms of how tricky that one is). The longest – the Ae Line Trail – is 24km, but there are shorter options too, such as the Ae Valley Route, which is a 9km winding wonder through glorious Dumfries.
Learnie Red Rocks
Learnie Red Rocks, in the Black Isle, will appeal to serious speed freaks as the forest is home to one of Scotland's trickiest routes. The Learnie Hill Trail is 3.6km and rated black thanks to a downhill rock feature and a swooping singletrack. To top it off the route is finished with a 10 foot drop down to the road.
Balblair
One of the most northerly sites in Scotland, Balblair offers just two trails but they're both what biking memories are made of. The hardest, a 7.2km black route, is jam-packed with rocks and down-hill segments, while the more moderate, a 3.2km blue, culminates in the smooth Ceilidh Trail.
Carron Valley
The beauty of the Carron Valley is that it's a rural spot but easily accessible from the big cities as it's located within the central belt. All the four routes are designed to let you practice your skills and nerves, and each works as a warm up to the next – if you've got the stamina.
Isle of Arran Explorer
Perfect for relaxed dry-trips, the 25km National Cycle Network 73 route from Brodick Harbour to Lochranza route can be accessed via the ferry from Ardrossan. A favourite with holidaymakers and locals alike, the scenery taken in around Arran – including Goatfell and Brodick Castle – is worth tremendous accolade.
Loch Ness
A classic – the 19km Loch Ness route follows cycle tracks and the Great Glen Way from Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit. Cruise slowly through Creag Nan Eun Forest and enjoy the unparalleled sight of Loch Ness in all its glory.
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park
Take in the aspects of beautiful Perth from Kinnoull Hill by following one of many woodland trails through this park. At 7.5km long starting from the car park at Corsiehill, the most popular route is just about the perfect length to incorporate it into a day trip and still have time for a pub tea.