Great Glen Cycleway

This tour is graded moderate-to-strenuous, due to some tough climbs and steep descents along the way. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade suggests.

You'll ride on a mix of canal path, singletrack, forestry road and minor roads, with some testing sections as the route climbs above the banks of Loch Ness. A mountain bike is required for this route, and you should be an experienced off-road rider comfortable with sustained climbs and descents, spending much of the day in the saddle.

Accommodation on this tour is in carefully selected 3 or 4-star B&Bs, guesthouses, country pubs and small hotels, with a delicious breakfast included every morning.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

A hearty breakfast is included every morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the options around you. Most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request, and dinner is usually available at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

This tour runs from April through to October, and you can start on any day. Early and late in the season tends to be cooler, and Scottish weather is changeable and can turn wet at any time of year.

The summer months are generally the best time to go, with more settled weather and longer daylight hours, though midges can be prevalent on still, overcast days during this period - they're less bothersome when it's windy, sunny, raining, or once you're indoors, so it's worth packing repellent just in case.

Daily door-to-door luggage transfer is included in the cost of your tour. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg/40lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

The Great Glen Cycle Way is very well waymarked, with pale blue posts marked with a thistle guiding your way throughout.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

This tour starts in Fort William and finishes in Inverness, with Glasgow and Inverness airports the most convenient gateways. From Inverness Airport, a Citylink bus takes around 2 hours to Fort William. From Glasgow Airport, take the shuttle bus into Glasgow city center, then a train (around 4 hours) or bus (around 3 hours) on to Fort William.

By rail, between 3 and 4 trains run daily from Glasgow to Fort William, taking around 4 hours - widely regarded as one of the world's great rail journeys, and a great way to start the tour, via ScotRail. If you'd like to bring your bike on the train, this is no problem, but you'll need to book in advance and let ScotRail know you're travelling with a bike so they can ensure there's space. The bike itself travels free, and you can arrange this online when you book your ticket.

By bus, Scottish Citylink runs up to 8 departures a day from Glasgow to Fort William (around 3 hours) and up to 8 buses a day from Inverness to Fort William (around 2 hours). Bikes aren't usually permitted on the buses, so if you do need to bring yours, it should be boxed - check with the bus operator for details.

By car, Fort William is around 100 miles (around 3 hours) north of Glasgow on the A82. Unsecured parking is available in Fort William, and you can sometimes leave your car at the properties we use there if you request this at the time of booking. For public transport planning, Traveline Scotland has a helpful journey planner.

At the end of the tour, Inverness has excellent transport links by road, rail, and air to destinations throughout Scotland and the UK.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

As this is a mountain biking route, bring your usual off-road gear, plus a few extra warm layers for cooler days on the trail.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

On this route, public transport and local taxis are also an option if you need to reach your next overnight stop.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem - please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hardtail mountain bike: Trek Marlin 6 or Merida Big Nine, a lightweight aluminium frame with hydraulic brakes and a wide gear range.

Full suspension mountain bike: Trek Slash or Trek Remedy.

E-bike hardtail: Trek Powerfly, with a Bosch Performance CX motor and a long-range battery.

E-bike full suspension: Trek Rail, also with a Bosch Performance CX motor.

We recommend you have experience riding a full-suspension bike for this tour, since it will make the downhill sections easier, though it offers less advantage on the flatter asphalt and forest-road sections. Gravel bikes and tandems aren't suitable for this tour, and brand and model may vary depending on availability. The minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

Please let us know your height for bike sizing, your head circumference if you'd like to hire a helmet, and whether you'd like SPD pedals or your own pedals fitted, along with any request for a pannier rack and bag (a small additional fee applies).

Bike hire includes a repair kit, a lock and, for e-bikes, a battery charger. Gravel and road bikes are only recommended for experienced cyclists comfortable with that riding position and the fitness it demands.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation