Great Glen Cycleway
- Complete a Scottish coast to coast journey by bike
- Visit 13th century Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness
- Highland hospitality and cyclist friendly accommodation
- Ride the single track of Loch Lochy and Loch Oich
- Pedal the lush glen and hillsides of the Great Glen fault line
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Fort WilliamBegin your trip in the Fort William, easily accessible by rail and road links from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its position on the shores of the sea loch Loch Linnhe at the base of UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, means the town has become the self-styled outdoor capital of the Highlands.
A bustling town with a good selection of outdoor shops where you can pick-up last minute items for your trip. Get your Great Glen Way cycling holiday off to a good start by spending the evening enjoying a hearty meal accompanied by a local dram or two in a Highland pub before heading out with anticpation tomorrow morning.
Dora welcomes you with open arms to her lovely guest house, Myrtle Bank. Overlooking Loch Linnhe and just a short stroll from the town centre and its selection of shops, pubs and restaurants, this is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploration.
A warm welcome awaits you at Guisachan House, a family run private guest house. They are situated in an elevated position off the main road with views over Loch Linnhe and surrounding hills only 5 minutes walking distance from Fort William town centre. They have 17 bedrooms and a guest lounge and bar offering wine, beer, spirits and malt whiskey. Wireless Internet is available for the guests. There is some photography dotted around the guest house taken by Phil, one of the owners.
Located in a prime residential area overlooking Loch Linnhe, the guest house is only a 5-minute walk from the shops and restaurants in Fort William town centre. You are assured a warm welcome at this splendid property with ensuite bedrooms.
The first section of the trail is relatively easy-going and follows a traffic-free towpath along the Caledonian Canal. Get a close-up view of Neptune’s Staircase, the longest series of canal locks in the UK, perhaps pausing to watch boats navigate this engineering wonder. On reaching Gairlochy the trail leaves the canalside tow-path behind for single track riding. Continuing inland, ascend above the loch on good tracks/fire-roads through ancient forest to reach the village of Laggan. From here skirt the main road en route to Invergarry for the night.
Ascent/descent: 284 m / 231 m
Glengarry Castle Hotel is a comfortable country house hotel located on the shores of Loch Oich, between Loch Ness and Loch Lochy. All 26 bedrooms are individually furnished and have private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities and free Wi-Fi is available in all bedrooms, Library and Lounge.
Dating from 1885 and based at the seat of the Ancient Clan MacDonnell, the Hotel is steeped in history and character. This Famous Coaching Inn is a beautiful Highland retreat nestled in the village of Invergarry by the banks of River Garry. All rooms are en-suite and have telephone, TV, Wi-Fi, coffee & tea facilities.
A romantic Victorian country house nestled in a woodland forest. Rokeby Manor is an early Victorian House (1840) situated on the edge of the Highland Village of Invergarry. This late Georgian-early Victorian Manor oozes rustic elegance and has retained its character of a country home that was built with local materials and handmade techniques.
Today presents a greater challenge with hillier terrain from the beginning. Ascend steeply out of Invergarry, your reward at the top is an excellent section of single track through the forest leading down to Aberchalder. Rejoin the easy-going canal towpath until Fort Augustus, giving your legs a wee break. There is a short stretch of cycling on the busy A82 road before diverting again onto hilly forest trails. Glimpse Loch Ness through the trees and make the most of a thrilling descent into Invermoriston village. From here an undulating forest path stretches out before you for the next 24 km. However, the view over Loch Ness from the top and the inevitable descent into Drumnadrochit are worth it! Your hard day's cycle finishes in Drumnadrochit, home to "Nessie" displays as well as a host of pubs and restaurants where you can refuel and refresh.
Ascent/descent: 681 m / 732 m
Greenlea is a charming cottage situated on the Village Green in Drumnadrochit. Built in 1810, it was the first house on the green and as a listed building it maintains many traditional features. All rooms are equipped with TV, tea & coffee facilities, hairdryer and Wi-Fi access.
Situated just a little outside the village centre of Drumnadrochit the shores of Loch Ness, this peaceful haven gives you all the relaxation you need after day out on the Great Glen. All rooms are well appointed and the house is surrounded by well-kept gardens, with a relaxing lounge and bright and airy breakfast room. All rooms include complimentary upgraded Wi-Fi and tea and coffee making facilities.
Aslaich Bed & Breakfast is situated in the peaceful and picturesque village of Lewiston, adjoining the village of Drumnadrochit. This family run bed and breakfast offers peace, relaxation and beautiful views of the surrounding hills and countryside within Glenurquhart (the Great Glen). The Shores of Loch Ness (Urquhart Bay) is a short woodland walk away, and the house is situated 400 metres from the Great Glen Way. The house has a drying room for those wet walking days and has Wi-Fi available.
Today provides a different take on the Great Glen as you climb sharply out of Drumnadrochit and away from the lochs that you have so faithfully followed. Follow mostly minor country roads through beautiful scenery as you ride deeper into the hills and fields that surround the Great Glen. Pass charming Loch Laide and the Caiplich Prehistoric Settlement - worth checking out even if only for the view! Then return once more to the hills and enjoy a long descent into the Highland capital of Inverness.
Ascent/descent: 453 m / 479 m
Built in 1842, your accommodation is a well-appointed Victorian villa with stunning views over the River Ness and Cavell Gardens. All rooms have TV, hospitality tray, hairdryers and free wireless Internet. They also have available on request bathrobes, slippers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, iron and ironing board and DVD player.
This guesthouse features accommodations with a front garden, free car parking, motorcycle and bicycles parking garage, super speed Wifi guaranteed, and a true locally sourced Highland breakfast, along with a la carte Chef menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options too.
All rooms come with en-suite bathrooms.
The Glen Mhor Hotel is situated in a tranquil location on the south bank of the River Ness, a 3-minute walk from Inverness city centre. Accommodation is divided between 4 charming Victorian townhouses - many rooms have wonderful views across the river to the cathedral and Eden Court Theatre. Nico's Bistro and Bar offers an informal atmosphere and dining inspired by French cuisine. A range of drinks are served in the bar, including an extensive whiskey collection, and there are cosy log-burning fires. Laundry facilities are available (cost dependent upon load) but drying facilities are available at no extra cost.
After breakfast your cycling adventure on the Great Glen Way comes to an end. Inverness is well placed for onward travel with good rail and bus links to all major towns and cities in Scotland. The airport also provides links to various UK and European locations.
This trip has a carbon score of 6kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 6kg is equivalent to 4.5 ham and cheese sandwiches from the store. 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.
Other Information
Is it for me?Experiencing the Great Glen from the saddle of a bike is something that any mountain biker will enjoy. The long stretches of tow-path make for relaxed riding while the single track and fire road provide more of a challenge. With such stunning views and scenery, the challenge on the varied terrain is always a worthwhile one, and it's perfect for regular cyclists seeking an active holiday.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years
This tour is graded moderate to strenuous due to the tough climbs involved and steep descents. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. You'll ride on canal path, singletrack, forestry road and minor roads. The route is waymarked and there are some challenging sections where the route climbs high above the banks of Loch Ness. A mountain bike is required for this route.
This tour is for regular fit cyclists seeking an active holiday and who don't mind spending much of the day in the saddle. The cycleway does have some steep climbs and descents so you should have experience of this type of off road riding. The length of the daily rides varies between 31-49 km and the difference in daily elevation gain/loss lies between 284m/231m and 681m/732m.
You will stay in carefully selected 3 or 4 star B&B’s, guesthouses, country pubs and small hotels. A delicious breakfast is always included. You can see a list of some of the accommodations that we use for the trip by scrolling down the page.
Single Rooms
If you require single rooms within your party we will always try and accommodate you subject to availability. A single supplement is payable.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included. Most of your accommodation will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs or restaurants.
For navigation, you will use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App, simply follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. The Great Glen Cycleway is also very well waymarked, with pale blue posts marked with a thistle guiding your way.
- 4 Nights in 3*/4* B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
- Baggage transfers
- Information pack, and route notes
- Access to detailed maps, and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to Fort William / from Inverness
- Bike hire (mountain bike as standard). E-bike also available.
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights along the route
- Bike hire (mountain bike as standard). E-bike also available.
This trip is available to start on any day, from April through to October.
Weather and climate: This trip is available between April and October. The beginning and end of the season will be cooler, although the weather is changable and can be wet at any time in Scotland.
Fort William is easily accessed from Glasgow. There are several daily trains that run which you can check on the Scotrail website. Alternatively there are several buses that you can book on the Citylink website. Should you wish to drive, there are a couple of B&B’s that will allow you to leave your car with them while you cycle to Inverness.
From Glasgow there are frequent departures from either Queen Street Rail Station or Buchanan Bus Station. You can find further details for this section of the journey by going to City Link for buses or Scotrail for trains.
Again Inverness is well serviced by Scotrail and Citylink and both can be booked via their websites. Inverness also hosts an international airport with flights to many places in the UK. If you are returning to Fort William to collect your car this is easily done by travelling on a Citylink bus which takes around 2 hours.
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 18kg 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.
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.
Bike Hire
We currently hire the following type of mountain bike on this trip.
Brand |
Trek |
Bike Type |
Mountain |
Frame types |
Gents, ladies, unisex |
Sizes |
15, 17, 19, 21 in |
Front suspension |
yes |
Stand |
no |
Mud guards |
no |
Luggage rack Rear/Front |
no |
Paniers/rack |
no - available for an extra cost. Please book this in advance |
Handle bar Bag/ map holder |
no |
Bottle holder/Water bottle |
yes (available) |
Computer meter |
No |
Interchangeable pedals |
Yes - please tell us in advance otherwise the standard pedal set-up will be provided |
Front gear set |
2 |
Back gear set |
10 speed |
Brakes |
Hydraulic Disc |
Helmet included |
Yes |
Puncture repair kit |
Yes |
Spare inner tubes/ how many |
Yes/1 |
Pump |
Yes |
Lock |
Yes |
E-Bike Hire
For some battery-powered assistance on longer days, and to ease ascents, we recomend hiring an e-bike. We can arrange hire of high quality mountain E-bikes. The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to the top of hills or to your final destination with more energy in the tank for exploring. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request one at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.
Minimum age for ebike hire is 16yrs
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.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the Great Glen is extremely popular and most departures fill up several months before departure. You will find up to date availability on our website, and please give us a shout if you have a query.
The Great Glen Cycleway is a fairly tough trip because you are riding continuously day after day, but it is far from an endurance marathon. The itinerary is designed to be enjoyable for a regular rider. If you currently don’t enjoy that level of fitness, then regular mountain biking supplemented by cardiovascular exercise for at least six months before your trip is recommended. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved on to your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person.
You will need a good quality mountain bike and your normal mountain biking gear for a day ride with perhaps some extra warm layers if the weather is cold. You can download a full equipment list from our website downloads page.
Bikes of a certain price range are usually a good way to tell if your bike is going to last the pace. Anything from around £600 and up would generally do, but front suspension and hydraulic brakes are other good indicators. You will get away with a slightly less expensive bike as long as you have front suspension and it is well maintained. More expensive full suspension XC bikes are also perfect, but you should avoid downhill or "all mountain" bikes which tend to be a bit heavy and have too much travel.
Fort William is the gateway to the Highlands and is serviced by local train and bus services! With these services, you can connect easily to the start of the Great Glen Way trail with direct trains running from Glasgow city centre to Fort William (approx.. 4 hours). Getting back from Inverness is also easy and there are again train and bus services onwards to Glasgow and Edinburgh city centres. Please check our local journey planner Traveline Scotland for more information.
The summer months are best as the weather tend to be better and the daylight hours are longer.
Midges are small biting insects (much like North American gnats) which are prevalent in the summer months. They are particularly bad on still, overcast days but do not bother you if you are moving, the wind is blowing, the sun is shining, it’s raining, or you are inside. As long as you carry repellent for the odd occasion you may need it they shouldn’t have any impact on your experience.
You can use public transport or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.
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