Loch Ness and the Highlands Cycling
Loch Ness and the Highlands Cycling
Loch Ness and the Highlands Cycling
7 Days Starting and ending in Inverness
Visiting: Inverness, Gairlochy, Fort Augustus, Dores, Nairn, Findhorn
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C06LN
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Physical rating:
Medium, Low, Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
18 to 99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Take in the tranquil Caledonian Canal as it winds along through the rugged landscape up to picturesque Fort Augustus at the south edge of Loch Ness. Follow old military roads laid down by General Wade past glassy lochs and cascading waterfalls, stopping for a break in restful tearooms and country inns. Cycle on quiet roads across moorland and visit Cawdor, where Macbeth plotted his unnatural deeds on your way to Nairn. Visit the beaches and head to the eco-village of Findhorn before returning to the Highlands capital of Inverness via Fort George and Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie saw his hopes dashed.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Inverness
Location: Inverness
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive in the waterside town of Inverness. Visit the castle with its 360
degree view over the Highland capital.
Day 2 : Gairlochy To Fort Augustus
Location: Gairlochy, Fort Augustus
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Fort Augustus
Meals Included: Breakfast
A transfer takes you to Gairlochy from where your route follows the Great
Glen Way as it criss-crosses the Caledonian Canal and snakes effortlessly to
Fort Augustus. En route you'll pass beautiful forest, peaceful rivers and
brooding Loch Lochy whose sparkling waters and steep-forested hillsides give
a fjord-like feel to the landscape. Your final stretch follows the foaming
River Oich.
Day 3 : At Fort Augustus
Location: Fort Augustus
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend the day at Fort Augustus, visit the Caledonian Canal Centre and watch
the boats maneuvering the locks or head out on a cruise of Loch Ness to visit
Urquhart Castle.
Day 4 : Fort Augustus (Dores) To Nairn
Location: Dores
Meals Included: Breakfast
A transfer takes you along the Loch to Dores. Cycle quiet country roads
between Lochs Ashie and Duntelchaig. Pedal past the impressive Nairn viaduct
to visit 14th Century Cawdor Castle, the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Continue onto Nairn, known for its two championship golf courses and sandy
beaches, where you stay for the next two nights.
Day 5 : Nairn To Findhorn
Location: Nairn, Findhorn
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today’s route is an out and back route allowing you to do as much, or
little as you like. It mainly follows signposted NCN routes to the Findhorn
which has a beautiful beach, harbour and small heritage centre. Findhorn is
also home to the well-known spiritual and ecological community of The
Findhorn Foundation. Along the way pass Brodie Castle to see how Scottish
nobility lived from the 16th century onwards, the attractive town of Forres,
home to the Benromach distillery. Close to Findhorn is the former air force
base at Kinloss, once home to the RAF Nimrod anti-submarine squadron and
mountain rescue operations. The small aviation museum “Morayvia” is
highly recommended with many ex-airmen on hand to tell the story of the
interactive exhibits.
Day 6 : Nairn To Inverness
Location: Nairn, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast
There is a lot to fit in today so an early start would be wise. Starting
along the shore head first to the spectacular historic barracks and
Highlanders Museum at Fort George. The route then passes the pretty waterside
hamlet of Loch Flemington then follows the south side of the Nairn valley and
under the impressive masonry arches of the Culloden Viaduct, the largest
stone bridge in Scotland. Visit the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Bulnuaran of
Clava which have long been a source of wonder. Across the river and up the
hill lies Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle fought on British
soil in 1746. The excellent visitor centre shows the timeline of events
before, during and after the battle in great detail. Ride on into Inverness
for your final night.
Day 7 : Leave Inverness
Location: Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leave Inverness
What's Included
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All breakfasts
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All luggage transfers
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GPS route directions and maps
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Bike hire
What's Not Included
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E-bikes (available on request at a supplement)
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Room upgrades
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Travel insurance
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Single supplement
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Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Accommodation
You will stay in 3 and 4 star hotels including a hotel in Inverness which is 5 minutes walk from the city centre and offers a swimming pool, leisure club, spa and free WiFi.
Food
Check out our Q&As
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
3 and 4 star hotels
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
No vaccinations are obligatory.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Luggage transfers between hotels
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.