Ride the Caledonia Way
Near Fort William, see the impressive series of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal
Enjoy a wonderful tour taking you through a section of the glorious highlands
Take part in a wonderful exploration by bike
Enjoy the panoramic views on tour
Go on a group guided cycle tour of the Scottish countryside
Encounter unique wildlife on tour
Ride the Caledonia Way
Bike this well-maintained ride through Scotland
Settle in for a drink or two at the end of the day
Load up on scrumptious food between rides
Each day brings a new route and landscapes to enjoy
Embark on a bike tour of discovery in Scotland
Explore this rugged part of Scotland by bike
Ride through rural Scotland
Cycle tour Scotland and explore the heart

Scotland: Ride The Caledonia Way

Duration
8 days
Site savings
$50
From
$2,437 USD

Join a bike tour on the Caledonia Way - an incredible 234 mile cycling journey that slices through the iconic Highlands and takes you through some of Scotland’s most breathtaking countryside and picturesque scenery. Remote at times, the route combines quiet rural Scottish roads and flat canal-side meanders with forest trails and a smattering of gravel sections. Along the way, you’ll pass lochs and mountains before ending in the capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness. A top choice for adventurous cyclists looking for a challenge!

  • Category
    Adventurous
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    8 days
  • Culture Level
    Familiar
  • Skill Level
    3 - Intermediate
  • Activity Level
    3 - Active
  • Elevation
    3 - Intermediate
  • Terrain
    Mixed
  • Distance
    239.8 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    39.8 miles
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  • Where does the tour start and end?

    This tour starts in Campbeltown and finishes in Inverness.

    If you are driving your arrival destination is Balloch, parking is free of charge. You’ll need to be in Balloch at 11:30 for a 12:00 transfer to Campbeltown. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your car in Balloch.

    If you are taking the train then your arrival destination is Balloch and you’ll need to arrive prior to 11:30 for a 12:00 transfer to Campbeltown. At the end of your trip return trains can be booked from Inverness and there will be a scheduled transfer to the train station arriving at approx. 09:30. Outside of this it is a short walk to the station from the accommodation with taxis also regularly available. If traveling on to London you may want to consider the Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness to London Euston.

    Airport transfers are included in the cost of your holiday. To join the airport transfer on arrival, you’ll need to arrive into Glasgow airport (GLA) by 10:30 for a 11:00 transfer to Campbeltown via Balloch.  At the end of your trip, you can book your return flight from Inverness International Airport where you can be dropped off at approx. 10:00, or alternatively you can make your own way from Inverness by taxi.

  • How long is the tour? How many days cycling?

    The tour is 8 days long with 6 days of cycling.

  • What's the tour like?

    The route follows traffic-free cycle paths and quiet rural roads. There are forest trails with some roots and stones, and forestry roads with small sections of rough track with chunky, looser gravel. Notably on Day 6 where there is no alternative option.

    There will be ups and downs on most days, with very few flat sections. Most days have frequent but short climbs, however there are some longer hills dotted throughout. With this in mind, the tour operator recommends a decent level of fitness to enjoy the route.

    Is the tour suitable for you?
    You ride quite frequently at home and perhaps enjoy cycling as one of your forms of exercise. Weekends will occasionally see you spending the day in the saddle exploring routes which take in some steep climbs. These tours may also see you riding over varying terrain and so it’s preferable if you have some experience of riding on uneven / unpaved ground. It is expected that participants are fit and healthy, and ready to take on an achievable challenge.




  • What equipment is provided?

    A rack and two panniers, and one bottle cage are provided with the rental bikes, along with an emergency repair kit in a seat-post bag containing a puncture repair kit, a multi-tool, a spare innertube and a bike pump.

    The tour operator can provide helmets, if you’d like one to be provided, please request this at the time of booking.

    You are welcome to bring along your own saddles, or own pedals if renting a hybrid bike, but please let us know if advance if you plan to do so.

  • What sort of bikes are used or what kind of bike should I bring if I BYO?

    Either a hybrid bike, gravel bike or a mountain bike fitted with semi-slick tyres is recommended. Parts of this route are not suitable for a road bike so they are not recommended. It is possible to use an e-bike on this holiday, which would be particularly beneficial on this undulating route with its multiple short, steep climbs, if you’re after a bit of a boost. Please note, e-bikes are generally heavier than standard bikes, so it is worth considering when handling the bike over some of the rougher / uneven terrain.

Overall Rating:
5.0/5
Sarah and Richard, Kent
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

Our first guided trip with [the tour operator] after completing 2 previous self guided trips. We were a little anxious it might not be for us, but actually we enjoyed every minute of our holiday, and the whole week completely exceeded our expectations. For our guides, nothing was too much trouble – they fed and watered us, remained cheerful and helpful throughout the whole trip, looked after everybody’s needs within the group, and helped make the week an awful lot of fun. This was our first grade 4 holiday, but am pleased to say, there was plenty of enough challenge without any of it being overwhelming. The cycling we did felt a real achievement, but we also enjoyed the stunning scenery and quiet roads the Scottish Highlands has to offer in abundance. We can’t wait to return. Thank you [tour operator] for one of our best ever holidays.


Martin, Bristol
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

I enjoyed every day. The landscape unfolded day by day and I saw a lot of new places on the trip. Nice variety of road, trails, towpaths and single track. The guides were great. Nothing was too much trouble and they conducted themselves with professionalism and good humor. I’d say they went the extra mile all week. Having ridden the route a few weeks earlier, they knew all of the twists, turns, hazards, etc., which gave us all confidence.


Jim, Glasgow
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

       

    The Caledonia trip is an excellent route though wild Scotland with wildlife (Deer, Golden Eagle, Red Squirrel, Seals…) and added gravel! It’s amazing to have great access to 4000 year old burial chambers, standing stones on the route with public access and very quiet so you can get a great view. There is more to Scotland than huge bare mountains glens, this lets you get a good mix!

    I would normally ignore leisure rides but in this case I had a recommendation and chose to do it as it is rated as a grade 4 and is a really challenging ride.

    The guides were excellent. Both very friendly and supportive. This may be the best supporting guide team I have had on a [tour operator] trip.