Bike across Scotland

Transcription

1 CLASSICO PEDAL YOUR PASSION Detailed Itinerary Bike across Scotland A grand tour of the Scottish Highlands Overview When you ask most people to think of Scotland, they typically talk of whisky, tartan, castles and golf. What you don t hear is that Scotland is one of Europe s leading adventure destinations. It is home to some of the last wilderness areas in Europe and offers an incredible range of cycling. The wild character of the Scottish Highlands and Islands combined with its ancient cultural and natural history, offer the visitor a genuinely unique travel experience. is proud to offer a unique itinerary that showcases the Scottish Highlands in true Ciclismo fashion. Beginning in Inverness the route takes you alongside the mighty Loch Ness and via the Great Glen, a massive fissure carving through the Scottish Highlands. This geological marvel is over 400 million years old. Passing through this iconic area, we visit the ancient Urquhart Castle before heading north to Strathpeffer via Glen Ord - home to one of Scotland s oldest distilleries. From here we pedal west into increasingly rugged and wild scenery, aiming for the dramatic mountains of Torridon and Applecross. At Applecross an epic day of riding awaits over the UK s highest mountain pass awaits! The final push takes us to the lovely coastal village of Gairloch and journey s end on the shores of the Atlantic. Page 1

2 Trip Snapshot u Locally-sourced food u Ride along lochs, islands, forests, and mountains u Likely wildlife sightings, including dolphins and osprey u Tour of a 13th century castle u Discover local beer and whisky u Ride the highest pass in the United Kingdom What s Included u u Bike rental equipped with odometer, map case, handlebar and seat bags and bike pump Ciclismo jersey and water bottle u All accommodations, All breakfasts, 6 dinners and 2 picnics u 1 cooking demonstration u Shuttle at the end of tour u Visit at Urquhart Castle and Tour & whisky tasting at Glen Ord Distillery u Daily cycling coaching 2014 Dates u August 9 August 16 Check website for updated departure dates Tour Length u 8 days, 7 nights Tour Level u Intermediate (with lots of climbing) Summary of Daily Distances u Day 1: 30 miles u Day 2: 38 miles (extra loop available) u Day 3: 41 miles (extra loop available) u Day 4: 28 miles u Day 5: 35 miles u Day 6: 45 miles u Day 7: 37 miles u Day 8: Goodbye Price u $4,995 u Single Supplement: $900 Page 2

3 Daily Itinerary Day 1 Inverness & The Black Isle Ride: 30 miles Terrain: Relatively flat We will rendezvous at 1pm in our hotel in Inverness after lunch for introductions and bike fitting. Once we are good to go with the bikes, we will head out of the city for a leisurely ride on the scenic Black Isle. We cross over the Kessock Bridge which spans the Moray Firth and aim for Chanonry Point. This is the best place to see bottlenose dolphins in the UK and sightings are regularly possible from the shore. The roads on the Black Isle are relatively flat so this is a good route to get used to your bike and find your cycle legs. From Chanonry we head back west, across the bridge and into the city. Glenmoriston Town House Hotel (Inverness, 1 night) The Glenmoriston Town House Hotel, Inverness is a prestigious and award winning 4 star hotel situated in on the banks of the River Ness in the Scottish Highlands. The hotel is within 5 minutes walking distance of Inverness city centre shopping area and Inverness Train Station. The Glenmoriston Town House has an award winning French Restaurant Abstract, a riverside Brasserie Contrast, 30 luxuriously furnished bedrooms and a Piano bar with live music every Friday and Saturday. Arriving early? If you plan to spend an additional night or two at the same hotel, let us make the reservation for you! Just give us a call ( ). Day 2 Inverness to Fort Augustus Ride: 38 miles Riding out of Inverness we head south east into the hills above Loch Ness. The roads here are very quiet and offer a great introduction to Scotland with lovely scenery and many places of interest. We will make a short diversion to Loch Ruthven - a beautiful loch fringed by birch woods. It is a good place to see the spectacular Osprey hunting for fish on the loch. We can enjoy a picnic lunch here before continuing south above the vast waters of Loch Ness. World-famous for its monster, the south shore is far quieter with superb views down the length of the Great Glen. The Lovat (Fort Augustus, 1 night) The Lovat is a landmark Victorian Loch Ness hotel overlooking the loch-side village of Fort Augustus, situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. This exceptional Highland hotel accommodation is surrounded by stunning Scottish scenery as it sits at the southern tip of the mysterious deep waters of Loch Ness, Scotland. The Lovat is an award winning eco-conscious Loch Ness hotel, with a character & class of its own. Its grace & charm is complemented by natural décor, modernism & a genuine, warm hospitality offered by a devoted & passionate team. Page 3

4 Daily Itinerary Day 3 Fort Augustus to Strathpeffer Ride: 41 miles A novel start to the day as we board a boat on Loch Ness for a short journey to Castle Urquhart. The castle is spectacularly perched on the edge of the Loch and dates to the 1200 s. It has a long and fascinating history and after a short tour here we will rejoin the bikes for the ride to Strathpeffer. The route takes us west and into the Balmacaan Forest. At the Highland village of Cannich, we turn east to join a nice road alongside the River Glass. Its quiet roads all the way to Glen Ord Distillery. One of Scotland s oldest whiskies, we will arrange for a tour and tasting here. Coul House Hotel (Strathpfeffer, 1 night) Coul House is a beautiful family-owned and run country house secluded in the hills above Contin, Ross-shire. Centrally located in the Northern Highlands of Scotland, it is the perfect place to base oneself to rediscover all the romance and beauty of the area. The small village of Contin sits on the banks of the river Blackwater and is a fantastic spot for nature lovers with attractions including the Achilty forest with miles of bike and walking trails, Rogie waterfalls with salmon leaping throughout the summer, secluded lochs and abundant wildlife. Day 4 Strathpeffer to Achnasheen Ride: 28 miles An easier day today as we traverse from the East to the West Highlands. Starting beneath the dominant mountain of Ben Wyvis. Legend has it that the Clan Munro kept their lands here on the condition that they could provide the Crown with a snowball in midsummer. Fortunately for them, the high slopes of Ben Wyvis provided the solution. A short distance from Strathpeffer, we pass Rogie Falls which is well worth the short diversion. Ledgowan Lodge (Achnasheen, 1 night) Ledgowan is a beautiful Victorian country house hotel still boasting its shooting lodge heritage, and well over 100 years old it still proudly holds most of its original features, large spacious rooms, elegant restaurant, cosy drawing rooms complete with gold cornicing, wood paneled hall, large open staircase, candelabras and chandeliers dripping with the finest lead crystal. Day 5 Achnasheen to Shieldaig Ride: 35 miles From Achansheen we pass several lochs en route to Lochcarron. You will notice how the scenery becomes wilder and the mountains more dramatic - this is the North West Highlands at its best. Our lunchtime stop is in the lovely village of Lochcarron. After lunch we will arrange for a visit to Lochcarron Weavers where you can learn all about tartan production from spinning of the yarn to the finished article. From Lochcarron, a great stretch of road heads through the hills above Loch Kishorn. The Mountains of Applecross start to dominate the scene including the spectacular mountain pass we will tackle tomorrow. Tigh an Eilean Hotel (Shieldaig, 2 nights) In a beautiful, remote location with amazing scenery, this family-run small hotel is a converted 18 th -century house. Page 4

5 Daily Itinerary Day 6 The Applecross Loop Ride: 45 miles, with challenging climbs Day 7 Shieldaig to Gairloch Ride: 37 miles Today is a classic and arguably the best day ride in the UK. Over the full distance it is 45 miles, 6000ft of ascent and includes the highest road pass in the UK! Starting from Shieldaig, it s a short distance to the turn-off at Tornapress. Here starts the UK s biggest road climb, rising over 2000ft in just 6 miles. It s a seriously steep climb and there s no shame in choosing to ride the van to the top. At the summit, the Islands of Skye, Rasaay and Rona home into view and, further afield, the Outer Hebrides are often visible. The descent is fast, long and exciting all the way to the picturesque Applecross Bay. If that wasn t enough, in Applecross you will find one of the best pubs in Scotland serving amazingly fresh seafood. On a sunny day, we couldn t think of a better place for lunch. The second half of the route follows the coast, with stunning views that just keep coming. An absolutely epic day of road riding in a wild and remote corner of Scotland. For our final day on the road, we ride through Glen Torridon, beneath the mighty sandstone peaks. In our view, Torridon is one of the finest mountain areas in Europe. Here, the mountains meet the sea with ancient mountains (500 million years old) thrusting skywards. Pushing on we move into a wonderful mixture of lochs and lone mountains, perfect for pictures on our last day in the saddle. We arrive in Gairloch; a Highland village full of character and charm and then push on for the final leg of our journey. Our destination is the tiny village of Melvaig perched on Scotland s Atlantic Coast. Melvaig happens to be home to a charming inn the perfect place to celebrate the end of our Bike Across Scotland. The Old Inn (Gairloch, 1 night) The Old Inn, Gairloch, is a Traditional Highland Coaching Inn overlooking Gairloch harbour on the west coast of Scotland. The Old Inn is well known in Scotland and beyond for its friendly welcome and relaxed atmosphere whether guests are enjoying the accommodation, the outstanding seafood or the real ales that have won The Old Inn "pub of the year" awards. Specialising in local seafood, Highland game produce, real ales and 'live' folk music, the Inn maintains high standards of service at all times. Day 8 Return to Inverness After breakfast, at around 9am, we will drive south to Inverness and we ll shuttle you either to the center of the town and at the airport. We should arrive by 11:30am in the center of Inverness if you like to extend your stay in the area or around 12pm to the airport if you need to join return flight connections home. Page 5

6 Arriving and Departing: Bike across Scotland We Partner with They can help you with all aspects of getting to and departing from your Tour. Contact them at: Toll-Free Phone: Hours: 9am to 5m EST, Monday to Friday Getting to Inverness We will rendezvous at 1pm in our hotel in Inverness after lunch for introductions and bike fitting. Flying directly to Inverness You can fly directly to Inverness Dalcross International Airport (aiport code INV), via a connection in Dublin international airport (DUB), or any of several UK airports. Inverness is served by several low-cost airlines, which you may need to book independently of your international flights: Aer Arann operates a Summer service between Dublin and Inverness. EasyJet operates cheap flights from London Gatwick, Luton Airport (about 30 miles north of London) and Bristol. Flybe operates services between Inverness and Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Manchester, Southampton, Stornoway (Lewis), Kirkwall (Orkney) and Sumburgh (Shetland). Lufthansa may also operate a connecting flight to Inverness. Page 6

7 Private shuttles, taxis, and public transport all provide easy transportation into the city. Arriving by train from Edinburgh or Glasgow Trains from Edinburgh take about 4 hours, Glasgow is about 3 hours. Both cities are well-served by international flights and well worth a visit upon arrival while you stave off your jet lag! Arriving early? If you plan to spend an additional night or two at the same hotel, let us make the reservation for you! Just give us a call ( ). Departing from Inverness On Day 8 of the trip, after breakfast at around 9am, a shuttle will be provided to the center of Inverness (2.5hrs) and to the airport (3hrs). Be sure to visit Travel Planning on our website for tips: Page 7

8 Insurance, Terms & Conditions Insurance will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. We Partner with: Details as well as a quick quote can be found online here: Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. We strongly recommend travel insurance. Cancellation fees are determined as follows: Days before departure Cancellation fee 91+ $250 administrative fee Loss of the $500 deposit % of trip price % of trip price; you may apply 35% of payment to a future trip departing within one calendar year of cancellation date % of trip price; you may apply 15% of your payment to a future trip departing within one calendar year of cancellation date % of trip price Alterations to the Tour Itinerary We are proud to bring you the highest standard of quality on our tours. Sometimes this means modifications may be made to this itinerary. Naturally, we will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Page 8