Detailed Route

Day 1 - London to Glasgow to Mallaig

We fly to Glasgow on Thursday evening and transfer by coach or train to Mallaig. 

Day 2 (Ride day 1) - Mallaig to Loch Carron via Skye  - 65 miles

The ride starts early on Friday am with a short ferry ride from Mallaig to Skye. 

After cycling on Skye with glimpses of the majestic Coullin Hills, we soon take a short ferry back to the mainland. 

We have views of the Five Sisters of Kintail, the epitome of the West Highland scene and the Castle of Eilean Donan – one of the great Highland landmarks (and often featured on the BBC) and then north to Loch Kishorn where we stay the night at the head of the Loch.

Day 3 (Ride Day 2) Loch Carron to Torridon - 60 miles

We continue along the north shore of Loch Carron through the town of the same name, then along Loch Kishorn after which commences the sensational climb through the red sandstone Applecross Mountains over the Bealach Na Ba pass at 2000ft -the highest tarmaced road pass in Scotland.

After a steep descent we reach the pretty coastal village of Applecross where we have lunch at its famous inn. We now follow the coast around the Applecross peninsular with grand views of Skye and the Inner Hebrides with eventual long distance views of the Outer Hebrides. We eventually reach the beginning of the most beatuiful of all sea lochs -Torridon, surrounded by the majestic Torridean mountains. If there is time we will climb the local Ben Damh or have the opportunity of cycling around the loch.

We will stay the night at the Loch Torridon Hotel -a converted castle.

Day 4 (Cycle Day 3) Torridon to Ullapool via Loch Maree and Gairloch - 86 miles

After commencing the Ride through a great glen with 3000ft plus mountains on eirther side we visit the 12 mile long Loch Maree, regarded as the loveliest freshwater loch in Scotland, across which there are uninterrupted views of the Great Wilderness, 300 sq miles with only one habitation.

We cycle though the small town of Gairloch and its bay where dolphins may be seen, and then onto to Loch Ewe and Inverewe Gardens, which are home to a profusion of tropical plants and trees, as a result of the influences of the Gulf Stream.

Then onto  Gruinard Bay, with one of the most beautiful untouched and remote sandy beaches,  a cycle climb to the northern edge of the Great Wilderness,  a view of high ravine waterfalls,  and a final run down along Loch Broom to Ullapool – the 'white village' of the Far North.

Here we shall stay 2 nights.

Day 5 (Ride day 4) - Assynt -The far North West - 79 miles

The 4th and last cycle day is a round trip through Assynt, an area of towering isolated mountains which loom up suddenly and steeply assuming weird and fantastic shapes amongst a landscape full of tiny lochens.

Beyond the fishing village of Lochinver, we will follow the Mad little Road of Sutherland just a single car width; a tortuous journey of ups & downs, ins and outs, tangled landscapes of low hillocks, rocky outcrops, peat bogs and small lochens, in an undisciplined maze of infinite beauty with surprises around every corner.

At Enard Bay, seals may be seen and the scenery is exquisite – out of this world.

Finally we reach Stac Polly – a mountain just 2000 ft high with a wonderfully serrated ridge rising out of the plains a porcupine in a state of extreme irascibility.

Dependent on time, weather and enthusiasm, there will be an opportunity to climb this steep mountain for unparalleled views of the Sutherland Wilderness.

The last evening will be spent in Ullapool celebrating our achievements.

Day 6 - Return to London via Glasgow or Inverness

The following morning, before leaving by coach back to Glasgow or Inverness  we may (weather permitting)  take a 2 hour boat ride to the Summer Isles as part of a final farewell to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

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