Scotland Gravel Ride Tour - Highlands Adventure

To secure your place on the tour a 30% per person, booking deposit is required. Deposits are non-refundable and the full balance is due 8 weeks before you arrive in Scotland. You can make monthly flexible payments in your personal online booking portal. 

If you prefer your privacy or simply want to spread out and would like your own room there is a single occupancy option available. This depends on availability and is limited to a certain number of rooms per property per week. 

If this is of interest then please contact us for prices, your deposit will then be calculated at 30% of your total holiday cost. 

Prices range from £200 - £300 depending on the room available / required. 

Day 1 - Arrival and warm-up ride.

You can expect a 10-15 km warm-up ride this afternoon from Aviemore or Ballater depending on which side of the range your trip starts. This ride will be a shake-down to check ability, bikes and go over any tips and tricks for the days ahead. We will get to know each other and enjoy a post-ride beer and then welcome dinner. 

Day 2 - Fesshie loop - 80 km, 800 M.

This route takes you from Aviemore straight into the Caledonian Forest and around an iconic Loch with the remains of an island castle. We then head further into the forest on gravel roads and pathways passing Bothies. As we travel further into the mountains and more remote terrain the route takes us to a newly formed gravel road which descends into one of the most scenic parts of Scotland.

Day 3 - Burma Road - 66 km, 1100 M.

The Burma Road is a real challenge, some say the hardest gravel climb in Scotland, but with the right guidance any one can make it! Once over the top it descends onto some amazing gravel paths and roads in ancient forests which are some of the oldest in the area. There may be a few cafes along the way as well. This can also be increased to take in Nethy Bridge and the Ryvoan loop, becoming 75-80 km, with 11-1200m of climbing. Are your legs up to it? 

Day 4 - Cairngorms traverse - 75 km, 900 M.

A classic traverse of the Cairngorms from Royal Deeside to Aviemore through ever-changing scenery. This traverse forms part of the outer Cairngorm loop which is raced in May or a challenge for anyone to try. It has a variety of terrain with some fast-flowing sections as well as some short technical sections.

Day 5  - Nethy Loop - 80 km, 850 M.

A local classic with a few twists. This route takes us through a very changeable landscape. It takes in Caledonian Forests, epic views of the Cairngorms with the chance to see most of the valley from a high viewpoint. You will also travel past one of the top 10 lochs in Scotland and a very well-known Bothie before a cycle along a beach. A very memorable day with several cafe opportunities.

Add an additional night or head to the airport. 

Day 6 - Ride option coming soon

Day 7 - Ride option coming soon

Included in the price is all your travel whilst on the trip with us in Scotland, including collection and drop off from Aviemore train station. If you are planning to self-drive there is parking at the accommodation.

If you are flying into the UK and travelling to us by public transport there are great rain links from Aviemore to Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We can help with hotels for your arrival city also. 

Edinburgh - Aviemore

First jump on the bus or tram into the city for £5 then your train will depart from Edinburgh Waverley Station

• 12 trains per day
• £17.50 each way
• Average travel time 3h20m
• Fastest travel time 2h45m
• First train 06:48
• Last train 23:19
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/train-times/edinburgh-waverley-to-aviemore

Glasgow - Aviemore

Slightly more tricky, but jump on the bus for £7 and head to the city centre and Glasgow High Street Station

• 12 trains per day - none direct
• £23.10 each way
• Average travel time 3h24m
• Fastest travel time 2h44m
• First train 06:50
• Last train 23:11
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/train-times/high-street-glasgow-to-aviemore

By Rail

Virgin Trains East Coast - www.virgintrainseastcoast.com

ScotRail: www.scotrail.co.uk

Caledonian Sleeper - www.sleeper.scot - A very popular service with a late evening departure from London and and early morning arrival into Aviemore. Depart London 21:15 Arrive Aviemore 07:40 ready for coffee and bikes! £170 ish

Advised bike - Gravel or hardtail MTB

• Fitness - Good
• Skills and Technical ability - Competent rider
• Riding Style - All Natural / Spirit of Adventure
  
   

The riding standard and fitness level required to ride the Scotland Gravel Ride Tour - Highlands Adventure is of a high intermediate standard. This is not only for your enjoyment and personal safety, but it is also for the group as a whole. 

We need to do our bit! 7 bikers will be pretty conspicuous and we’ll have some impact on the landscape and other trail users. As a company, we’re 100% committed to minimising our impact in every way we can. We operate a strict ‘pack it out’ policy for all litter (including banana skins and orange peel), and we try to leave as little trace of our passing as possible.

While we’ll enjoy some epic descents and trails, please ride in control and at a speed that reflects your line of sight and abilities. We’ll certainly meet walkers and we want any interactions to be as positive as possible. It’s important to give mountain bikers a good name.

It is essential and a required part of your booking process that you have holiday insurance in place for your trip that covers medical and personal accidents and all the activities including gravel biking you will take part in. 

We have worked with Yellow Jersey Cycle Insurance for the past 3 years now and feel they offer the perfect Travel and Bike insurance package. All Atlas Ride Co clients also receive a 10% discount on their Bike and Travel policies. Your discount code will be in your booking confirmation. 

Yellow Jersey

Kit List - The weather can be very varied in Scotland so we need to be prepared. We’ll have a briefing every evening to give you an up-to-date weather forecast and plan the next day. We can share some of the kit to keep packs as light as possible, although on very remote days we need to cover all eventualities.

• Hydration pack big enough to carry everything in the list below – suggested size 15L to 20L • 
• Water and snacks – gels, energy bars, flapjacks, jelly babies 
• Lunch
• Dry bag to keep everything dry inside your pack 
• Mini pump for your valve type 
• 2 inner tubes plus spare ones in the minibus (even if you use tubeless) – Scotland is very rocky! 
• Tube patches (preferably self-adhesive) 
• Tubeless repair kit (if you use tubeless) 
• Tyre boot or patch 
• Tyre levers 
• 2 spare spokes that fit your wheels 
• Multi-tool 
• 1 set of spare brake pads 
• Rear gear hanger for your bike - essential 
• Cable ties
• Duct tape (we suggest wrapping 1m around your pump) 
• Power link for your chain type and speed 
• Mobile phone - in a waterproof case or plastic bag 
• Small personal first aid kit
• Insect repellent (we recommend Smidge) 
• Sunscreen 
• Any medication you need Recommended clothing 

Recommended Clothing

• Helmet 
• Cycling shorts and/or waterproof shorts (or trousers)
• Wicking base layers or cycling jerseys 
• Mid layer (fleece or soft shell) 
• Windproof jacket 
• Waterproof jacket 
• Insulated jacket or warm emergency layer 
• Woolly hat or buff 
• Riding glasses 
• Gloves (worth having a spare pair if it’s wet) 
• Waterproof socks 
• Cycling shoes (you must be able to walk in them!) For the minibus 
• Small ‘hand luggage’ bag for post-ride clothes 
• Plastic bags for wet and dirty kit 
• Chamois cream if you use it

Your guides will carry

• Pliers
• Chain splitter
• Emergency spokes
• Spoke key
• Adjustable spanner
• Cassette tool and chain wrench
• Shock pump
• Puncture and tubeless repair kits
• Small bottle of chain lube
• Spare chain links/joining pins
• Assorted nuts and bolts
• Emergency shelter
• Emergency blanket
• Warm insulated jacket
• First aid kit
• Maps
• Compass
• GPS
• Mobile phones
• VHF radio

Absolutely brilliant experience. The accommodation (Ravenscraig guest house) and food was spot on for both quality and the location. Bike security and facilities for wash and repair was excellent. Our guide, Mike Wilkes couldn't have done a better job of informing and including all the riders in our group. The routes ticked all the boxes and the trails and views will be memories to last a lifetime. Bought the ticket, had a great ride.

Gary T.

What an amazing few days riding!!!
This had everything from big mountain ascents, descents, and ridgelines to local hidden trails.
Secret bothys and river crossings all added to the experience.
The accommodation was fantastic and had everything you needed from bike storage, charging and cleaning facilities!! The rooms and particularly the breakfasts were amazing and left you fuelled up for the big rides ahead.
The guides were very knowledgeable, funny and helpful with particular sections of trails.
My eyes and neck also got a very good workout as the scenery is just unreal.
Highly recommended and would certainly be doing this again.

Mark S.

Brilliant holiday in the Cairngorms well planned, quality rides, guides and accommodation. If you've not done the Cairngorms with these guys your missing out. Premier League standard!!!

Greg R.