8 Days & 7 Nights

4.7

Cycle Scotland's Lochs & Glens

Lochs, glens and bens of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park
Easy cycling on quiet roads and cycle paths
Castles, whisky and history at almost every turn of the road
Charming accommodation in authentic Scottish B&B’s, guesthouses and country inns

Explore Scotland’s lochs and glens by bike, soaking in the unique landscape of the Scottish Highlands whilst savouring the clean, fresh Scottish air. Immerse yourself in rich clan history as you cycle past castles through the rugged Trossachs hills and then into Highland Perthshire. Great cycling complimented by welcoming Scottish hospitality, world class whisky and the produce from Scotland’s natural larder. Your cycling adventure begins in the bustling holiday town of Callander, known as the gateway to the highlands, which lies beneath wooded crags. Learn the story of Rob Roy at the visitor centre before you pedal east to Loch Katrine. Here you can enjoy a fine cycle along the tranquil Loch Katrine and perhaps a trip on the 100 year old Sir Walter Scott steamship. Your route continues north past Loch Lubnaig and through Glen Ogle to the village of Killin, which lies at the southern end of Loch Tay and is bisected by The Falls Of Dochart. The scenery just gets even better with every turn of the pedals as you follow the southern shore of Loch Tay past the Scottish Crannog Centre, Dewar’s World of Whisky and Taymouth Castle. Aberfeldy is next, famous for the ‘Birks of Aberfeldy’ a poem by Robert Burns. The Victorian spa town of Pitlochry is your base for the final three nights. Choose from several routes which visit Dunkeld Cathedral, Blair Castle, Queen’s View, Moulin, Killiecranckie as they wind Big Tree Country.

From £959.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive In Callander

Callander sits on the eastern edge of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and is a good starting point for the Scotland’s Lochs & Glens Cycle Tour. Arriving in Callander allows you to brush up on your knowledge of Scottish History with a visit to the Rob Roy visitor centre. Callander is easily reached by car from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, the town is also served by a frequent rail service.

Overnight Callander

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Waverley Hotel | 3 Star | Inn

A traditional Scottish theme is featured in The Waverley's bar and restaurant with various claymores, swords and targes hanging on the walls and the floor covered with the old favourite tartan carpet. The restaurant offers an appetising menu based on locally sourced food and includes some of Scotland's favourite and classic meals. The guest rooms are appointed to a modern standard.

Lubnaig Guest House | Guest House

Lubnaig Guest House is located within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park within walking distance of the centre of Callander. All bedrooms have modern, en-suite facilities, hospitality tray, luxury toiletries and hairdryers. Wrap yourself in Egyptian cotton linen along with feather and down duvets which will ensure a comfy night's sleep.

Day 2 Callander to Loch Katrine 30 miles / 49 km

A pleasant day's cycling alongside the southern shore of Loch Venacher to the Trossachs Pier at Loch Katrine. Situated in the heart of Rob Roy country lies the pristine Loch Katrine, famous following the success of Sir Walter Scott’s narrative poem Lady of the Lake and novel Rob Roy. On arrival at the pier you have the option to step aboard the 100 year old steamer boat for the morning sailing to Stronachlachar, (booking in advance essential). You will enjoy the gentle cycle back along quiet forest tracks and lochside paths, with commanding views across the peaceful loch and Queen Elizabeth Forests and of course not forgetting a stop at Glen Ogle at the head of the loch, birth place of the notorious 18th century outlaw, Rob Roy.

Cycle: 49 - 69 km (optional loop around Loch Katrine)

Overnight Callander

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Waverley Hotel | 3 Star | Inn

Lubnaig Guest House | Guest House

Day 3 Callander to Killin 25 miles / 41 km

Your journey today continues deeper into the southern highlands where you will be surrounded by stunning scenery. Your cycle will mainly be on cycle tracks and quiet roads passing by the impressive Falls of Leny, Loch Lubnaig and Loch Oich. A stop in the village of Balqhuidder at the head of Loch Voil will bring you to the final resting place of folk hero Rob Roy. Your final leg of today’s cycling, a gentle climb over Glen Ogle which offers rewarding views back over Loch Earn, then a pleasant descent to reach the charming village of Killin nestled beneath Tarmachan Ridge, where you will be greeted by the grandeur of ‘The Falls of Dochart’.

Overnight Killin

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Dall Lodge Country House | Country House

Dall Lodge is an old Victorian country house offering excellent B&B accommodation. Their Guest House has 10 en suite rooms including singles, doubles, twins and one family room. The rooms are traditionally decorated to a high standard and have wonderful views to the mountains or the adjacent park and garden. All rooms have free Wifi, a TV with DVD player and tea/coffee-making facilities.

Lochleven B&B | Bed and breakfast

Small bed and breakfast facility situated in the beautiful village of Killin in the historic area of Breadalbane within the boundaries of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. They have a dedicated guest wing with one double bedroom with ensuite bathroom containing a Jacuzzi bath and one twin bedded room with its own dedicated bathroom. Both rooms have their own basin and are provided with complimentary refreshments. The guest wing also has a small sitting room with television for the use of all visitors.

Killin Hotel | Hotel

The Killin Hotel has established its fine reputation on a friendly smile, relaxed service, great Scottish food and comfortable bedrooms. The Killin Hotel boasts a choice of food venues and serves food from 12 noon until 10pm daily. The fabulous Tartan room with all its splendour overlooking the picturesque river Lochay and the Munro’s beyond, with a dining menu that boasts some fantastic dishes, expertly created by their renowned chefs, using the finest local ingredients.

Day 4 Killin to Aberfeldy 25 miles / 40 km

Your companions for much of today's journey will be the mighty Loch Tay and Ben Lawers as you travel eastwards towards Aberfeldy. Pedal along shadowed by idyllic trees before approaching a prehistoric loch dwelling known as a Crannog. Step back in time and experience the authentic recreation of ‘Iron Age Life’ on the Loch. Enjoy the remainder of your cycle to Aberfeldy following the River Tay stopping at the pretty 16th century conservation village of Kenmore, nestled on the banks of the Tay. An optional 3.4 mile (one way) detour to the village of Fortingall, at the entrance of Glen Lyon, is worth a visit to admire the Fortingall Yew, an ancient Yew, known as the oldest tree in Europe.

Cycle: 40 - 55 km (optional loop to Fortingall)

Overnight Aberfeldy

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Balnearn House | Hotel

Balnearn is a Victorian style family-owned B&B. It is set int he beautiful Tay Valley and surrounded by its own beautiful garden. There's a spacious sitting room in which guests can relax and on colder days a roaring log fire will keep you cosy. The rooms all have comfy beds, so you can be assured of a great night's sleep.

Tigh N Eilean | 4 Star | Guest House

Tigh ‘n Eilean is a stunning Edwardian house overlooking the River Tay and is a perfect place to relax after a day’s walking. Each bedroom has been individually decorated in its own unique style, whilst still maintaining the character of this traditional Edwardian house. To help you prepare for the day ahead you can look forward to a hearty Scottish breakfast served in their stunning dining room or conservatory overlooking the garden.

Ailean Chraggan Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

The Ailean Chraggan Hotel and Restaurant is all about Scottish hospitality in the heart of Highland Perthshire. Each of the five spacious en-suite rooms has been tastefully refurbished to make your stay as relaxing and comfortable as possible. Their restaurant has a reputation for consistently high quality traditional food, they use the freshest fish and shellfish, seasonal game and local produce.

Day 5 Aberfeldy to Pitlochry 15 miles / 24 km

A splendid cycle towards the Victorian town of Pitlochry where you will spend the remaining three nights. Meander by the quaint hamlet of Strathtay towards the Logierat Bridge, a listed railway viaduct where you will commence a steep climb, saying goodbye to the Tay whilst welcoming the River Tummel. A final run to the heart of Scotland will bring you to Pitlochry allowing you to spend the remainder of the day discovering the abundance of attractions that this enchanting holiday town has to offer.

Cycle: 24 - 54 km (optional detour to Dunkeld)

Overnight Pitlochry

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Craigatin House & Courtyard | 4 Star | Guest House

Tucked away in secluded wooded grounds in the Highland Perthshire town of Pitlochry, this beautiful early Victorian house has now been transformed into a 14-bedroom boutique B&B, providing a unique blend of the traditional with the luxury of contemporary design. The individually designed spacious deluxe rooms all have comfortable six foot wide beds and are decorated with stylish fabrics and furnishings.

Acarsaid Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

The Acarsaid is a small family-run 3* hotel in the heart of Pitlochry. Enjoy a great night's stay in one of their 19 warm and welcoming bedrooms. The hotel also has a cosy bar with a great range of whisky.

Dunmurray Lodge | 4 Star | Guest House

A warm welcome awaits you at this splendid 4 star Victorian Guesthouse. Conveniently situated in the beautiful Perthshire town of Pitlochry, our reputation for providing excellent Bed and Breakfast accommodation is confirmed by our recommendations in the prestigious Michelin Guide, Karen Brown's Travel Guide and the Rough Guide to Scotland. Our Bed and Breakfast accommodation is located just a few minutes walk from Pitlochry town centre. After an evening stroll around our Highland town you can tuck yourself up in a comfy bed and look forward to the scrumptious breakfast in the morning.

Day 6 Loch Tummel Circuit 28 miles / 45 km

A truly unforgettable ride through Highland Perthshire's ‘Big Tree Country’ awaits you. Follow the Loch Tummel loop from Pitlochry to experience Scotland’s most majestic and prestigious scenery. Set high above Loch Tummel enjoy the panoramic view from Queens View (named after Queen Isabel, first wife of Robert the Bruce), with the seasonal woodland colours, combined with the tranquillity of Loch Tummel it is easy to understand why it is voted Scotland’s most outstanding beauty spot!

Overnight Pitlochry

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Craigatin House & Courtyard | 4 Star | Guest House

Acarsaid Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

Dunmurray Lodge | 4 Star | Guest House

Day 7 By the River Garry to Blair Castle 16 miles / 26 km

Set off for a relaxed and delightful ride by the River Garry as you head towards the 13th century Blair Atholl Castle, the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Today's cycle will be combined with two historic attractions. As you leave from Pitlochry you will cycle towards the dramatic pass of Killicranckie, a beautiful gorge steeped in history before spending the day at Blair Atholl Estate exploring the fascinating castle and wildness of the countryside. Cycle back to Pitlochry and what better way to complete your trip than the charm and intimacy of Scotland’s smallest whisky distillery, Edradour. Enjoy the smooth, creamy texture of this malt known as the jewel in the Highland Crown whilst reflecting on your weeks' adventure through Scotland's Lochs and Glens.

Overnight Pitlochry

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Craigatin House & Courtyard | 4 Star | Guest House

Acarsaid Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

Dunmurray Lodge | 4 Star | Guest House

Day 8 Depart Pitlochry

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me? Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

7 Nights in hand-picked B&B's and guesthouses
7 Breakfasts
Baggage transfers
Information pack and access to maps & GPX tracks on the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office

Excluded

Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
Boat crossing of Loch Katrine
Travel insurance (required)
Personal equipment

Extras

Bike hire
Extra nights before, after or during your cycle

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

Callander is located on the A84, which is accessible by car from both Glasgow (50 minutes) and Edinburgh (1 hour 10 minutes). If you do plan to leave your car then Callander offers several free car parking options (which are subject to availability).

Scotrail offers direct trains from Glasgow (30 minutes) and Edinburgh (50 minutes) to Stirling where you can catch the bus to Callander. The journey time is 45 minutes and is operated by First Buses. Timetables can be viewed at First Group.

Getting from the End

Pitlochry is located close to the A9 which is accessible by car from Glasgow (1 hour 40 minutes) and Edinburgh (1 hour 26 minutes)

Scotrail offers direct trains from Pitlochry to both Glasgow and Edinburgh (both 1 hour 50 minutes).

Rail tickets can be purchased directly with Scotrail Scot Rail. If you are taking your own bike then reservations must be made in advance with Scotrail on 08457 550033.

For detailed public transport, information see Traveline Scotland.

Baggage Transfer

Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in the cost of your holiday. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Equipment

We offer bike hire for this holiday. Collect your bike from Callander. We organise the collection from Pitlochry to return your bikes. Our bike hire partner provides excellent quality Trek or Scott hybrid bikes with a rear pannier rack, repair kit, pump and lock.

An e-bike upgrade is also possible on this tour.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.