Guided Scotland Lochs and Glens

The tour is 7 days long with 5 days of cycling.

The Scotland Lochs and Glens holiday takes place on a stunningly beautiful route that follows the Sustrans National Cycle Network, travelling through two National Parks from Balloch at Loch Lomond all the way to Inverness at the Moray Firth. With diverse surroundings you will find yourself cycling in The Trossachs National Park alongside picturesque lochs one moment and bustling tourist towns the next, followed by ancient pine forests and views over some of Scotland’s highest mountains.

The tour is graded 3-4.

Grade 3
For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness. May include some steeper, cheeky climbs and possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc). Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day.

Grade 4
For those who cycle frequently. Will include some long and / or steep climbs, often over varying terrain (some sections may see you cycling over uneven, unpaved or loose ground). Distances generally between 30 – 50 miles per day / 48 – 80 kms per day.

The route is part of the National Cycle Network and follows traffic-free paths and quiet roads. There are forest trails with some roots and stones, and forestry roads with small sections of rough track with chunky, looser gravel. We recommend either a hybrid bike, or a mountain bike fitted with semi-slick tyres, as parts of this route are not suitable for a road bike.

The tour operator provides everything except a bike (although you are able to hire these), personal equipment and clothing. If you are taking your own bike, it is imperative that it is in good mechanical order. If you are not mechanically minded, you are advised to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service.

At strategic points (where access allows), you have the security of our support vehicle. In the vehicle there will be some space for tired bikers, allowing the chance of a well-earned break if needed.

You will also be able to leave extra gear or spare kit here during the day meaning there is no need to carry any equipment other than that carried on your normal day ride.

When cycling in the UK it’s best to come prepared for sun and rain, warm and cold all in the same day – spring, summer and autumn.

Although there can be wide variations, the monthly average temperature in the UK ranges from 9-12°C (48-54 Fahrenheit) in April, up to 17-20°C (63-68 Fahrenheit) in July, and then 11-14 °C (52-57 Fahrenheit) in October.

At the beginning and end of the season (in March and late October) the weather can be a little less predictable and there could be some cooler / rainier days. In the summer months, temperatures can rise up into the thirties. This can differ from year to year.

It’s highly recommended that you carry layers and a light waterproof with you along the way, (and sun cream in the summer months!) just in case the UK’s weather catches you unawares!

Your allowable baggage is one main piece of luggage per person other than your bike. This bag should be preferably a rucksack, duffle bag or soft-sided case so as to assist in transportation, and weighing no more than 15kgs/30lbs.

In addition you may wish to bring a small daypack for carrying your additional outer-layer clothing and snacks while cycling. This will also be useful as your ‘travel’ bag for such items as your phone, cameras, sun cream etc.

This particular trip includes both breakfast and lunch. The accommodation that we use usually offers a choice between a cooked breakfast, cereals and lighter options to fuel a day in the saddle.

We take our lunches out on the route, with our guides preparing great buffet-style picnics made up of plenty of locally sourced produce. Although we don’t include evening meals in the price, we do reserve a table for the group for dinner allowing for a post-ride get together.

Vegetarians and people with specific dietary requirements can be catered for – please indicate at the time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

Book with confidence

With travel restrictions and changing government guidance still present in our lives, the Tour Operator is are committed to doing everything they can to help more of you to enjoy fun on two wheels in the most enjoyable and responsible way possible.

To help you better plan ahead with peace of mind, they want to reassure you that your holiday is financially protected and that you will be well looked after by them, no matter what happens. 

Our promise to you…
- If the Tour Operator has to cancel a tour because of COVID-19, you will have the option of a full refund. They will only run tours in destinations that are safe and will always follow the most up-to-date government guidance. They will cancel any tours where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel.
- Your money is protected by ABTOT, whether as a payment for a specific holiday or as a credit note. This means if you are entitled to a refund this is guaranteed, no matter the circumstances.

In addition, it’s essential that you…
- Have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your tour (whether in the UK or overseas), you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip or any extra costs you might incur. Please contact our team if you need some advice. In doing so, the Tour Operator can ensure the local communities are impacted as little as possible and can continue to deliver the excellent holidays we know you love. This extended team are predominantly small businesses and the aim is to honour our commitments to them, so we can all rebuild after COVID-19.
- Keep up to date with local requirements in your chosen destination. This might relate to testing or vaccination requirements for entering your destination or using facilities such as hotels and restaurants while you are there. These requirements can change often and the Tour Operator will do their best to keep you up to date, you need to ensure you are aware of, and can comply with, any requirements which might be in place at the time you travel. Depending on the circumstances the Tour Operator may not be able to offer a refund if you can’t comply with these kinds of requirements. For UK based travellers, the best source of information is the Government’s foreign travel advice.

Social distancing, enhanced hygiene and face coverings
For the safety of everyone, the Tour Operator will be ensuring the cycle tours comply with local guidelines. In reality, you’ll be out on your bikes most of the day enjoying the great outdoors, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax and unwind.
- The group tours are limited to small groups – on average 10 people (maximum 16 people) as we believe this is the most responsible – and enjoyable – way to travel.
- Face coverings should be worn in compliance with local guidelines, which in many destinations includes when using public transport, in shops and certain attractions, and whenever social distancing cannot be observed. Please be aware of face covering requirements for travel to your destination and contact us if you have any questions. In the absence of any legal requirements, we ask you to respect the wishes of any private businesses you might visit such as cafes or hotels. Please let us know at the point of booking if you are unable to wear a face covering.
- Our team continues to observe good hygiene practice, including regular handwashing and sanitising, and request that customers do the same. Depending on where you travel, you may not be able to purchase supplies locally, so best to come with adequate supplies of hand sanitiser for use throughout your holiday.

If you display symptoms or test positive
For the benefit of yourself, the people you are travelling with and our team, please let us know as soon as possible if you test positive for COVID-19 or display any symptoms.
- We recommend testing before joining any of our trips.
- It is essential that you are in good health when embarking on your holiday. Under certain circumstances, we may ask you to take a test or provide proof of having had the vaccines. In the rare event you fall ill before or during your tour, it is essential you follow the guidelines provided by us in your pre-departure information.
- If you are symptomatic or if you test positive this is likely to mean you are unable to join your trip.
- If you test positive whilst on the holiday then we will assist you in reporting the illness and making appropriate arrangements, whether that be to quarantine or return home. In most circumstances, this will mean your participation in the tour will have to come to an end.

Vaccination status
In many destinations, you may need to be fully vaccinated to be able to join our trips.
- If you are travelling to another country you may need to be fully vaccinated to enter, or to use facilities such as cafes or hotels. Some destinations may allow testing in place of vaccination, but the nature of our trips means this often isn’t a practical option.
- There may be some situations where social distancing isn’t possible or where you will come in contact with people who aren’t part of our group or team, such as hotel and restaurant staff. Because of this, we recommend being fully vaccinated to make sure you are as safe as possible.
- Some destinations we visit have less developed public health facilities which can impact local residents’ ability to access the same protections we might enjoy. In such cases, we strive to weigh up entry requirements and recommendations from our local partners to establish a responsible company policy on vaccinations that protects our customers, local teams and the communities we visit as much as possible.
- Please let us know as early as possible if you aren’t fully vaccinated so we can discuss any implications, including if you are able to join the trip.

Bikes, vehicles and equipment
We know you love the extra support we offer on tour and so we’ve made sure you continue to have access to all these essential holiday components.
- Our team will guide you through any relevant protocols when using bikes, equipment and vehicles on your trip.
- All transfer staff will be adhering to recognised local hygiene guidelines and these vehicles will be regularly deep cleaned, with extra attention paid to regular touchpoints.

Food and accommodation
Amazing food and lovely places to stay are a big part of the tour experience. All accommodation providers are following relevant local guidelines relating to COVID-19. The impact of new measures should be minimal and may vary from place to place, however, these will always be clearly communicated to you by our team on the ground.
- You may notice increased and enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices, in guest rooms and communal areas.
- In some places, temperature checks will be conducted upon entering.
- Measures promoting social distancing may be in place and you may be asked to avoid communal areas and touchpoints.
- We will offer our usual high-quality lunches and snacks but you may notice a few changes to how these are delivered to allow for any local guidance.

Updated: 27 Jan 2023