Scottish End to End Route

Friday: Arrival Day
Our guides will arrive in Carlisle from approximately 13:00 onwards on your Arrival Day. Feel free to liaise with them to help facilitate your arrival into Train Station or at your Accommodation. Unfortunately, our guides won’t be able to assist with arrivals prior to 13:00 and check-in is not usually available until 15:00/16:00 depending on where you’re allocated accommodation. Everyone should aim to be in Carlisle by 18:30 in time for a Welcome Meal all together at 19:30 where you will meet the rest of the group and be given your initial brief which will include an overview of the tour logistics and what to expect. We recommend sparing time throughout the day to familiarise yourself with your bike setup to ensure it’s ready to ride the following morning.

Saturday: Carlisle to Sanquhar (72 miles/116km) Elevation: 2000ft / 600m
Leaving Carlisle we cross the Scottish border as we pass through Gretna, Annan and onto Dumfries and Sanquhar. Heading out through Rickerby park on out of Carlisle, those of you who have completed the LEJOG ride with us will began to recognise the border roads (they’ve still not re-surfaced them!). There are some long flat sections to get stuck into in the afternoon, and after making our way through Dumfries we take quiet, undulating country roads, eventually passing the impressive Drumlanrig Castle and on to sleepy Sanquhar.

Sunday: Sanquhar to Brodick (Arran) (51 miles/83km) Elevation: 2200ft / 700m
A moderate start today by quiet lanes next to gentle rivers gives way to cutting across the countryside in Ayrshire and then navigating on cycle paths, as we head to Ardrossan to catch the ferry to Brodick on the Isle of Arran. From here we begin the most exciting section of the trip as we continue northwards along the rugged, wild and untamed beauty of the West coast of Scotland.

Monday: Brodick (Arran) to Oban (75 miles/120km) Elevation: 4700ft / 1400m
A superb coastal road takes us northwards to Sannox Bay before cutting inland to the north coast of Arran where we will catch the ferry over to Kintyre. A cracking day with fantastic scenery takes us along Kintyre often hugging the coastline up to Oban.

Tuesday: Oban to Mallaig (75 miles/120km) Elevation: 6000ft / 1800m
We begin today with an early ferry onto Mull where we cycle across the island to pick up the 2nd ferry of the day across the Sound of Mull which takes us back onto the mainland. Here we cycle amongst some of the most spectacular scenery that our country has to offer, lets just hope the weather is on our side! We spend the night in the small coastal town of Mallaig, ready to catch the ferry in the morning.

Wednesday: Mallaig to Loch Maree (76 miles/122km) Elevation: 5500ft / 1700m
An early start and another spectacular day takes us across the Isle of Skye to cross the impressive Skye Bridge at the Kyle of Lochalsh and back to the mainland. We have an optional detour to the picture-postcard little village of Plockton which was used as the back drop for Hamish McBeth, The Wicker Man and The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries. The second half of this day is as fine a days cycling as you will encounter anywhere within the British Isles. **Accommodation in this area is limited and will be within either Kinlochewe, Gairloch (which is 18 miles further) or a split between the two. We will always request and allocate your preference where we can**

Thursday: Loch Maree to Ullapool (75 miles/120km) Elevation: 5200ft / 1600m
Inching ever closer to our goal we continue past the impressive mountains around Beinn Eighe and Kinlochewe. Cycling by the banks of Loch Maree we pass Loch Gairloch and Loch Ewe and pass the Isle of Ewe and also Gruinard Island before passing the Falls of Measach and onto the picturesque fishing village of Ullapool.

Friday: Ullapool to Durness (68 miles/109km) Elevation: 5000ft / 1500m
This will be our last day in the saddle as we head north from Ullapool, hugging the coastline as we go and taking in the stunning views from shores of Loch Assynt and heading across Kylesku Bridge before eventually meeting the southern tip of the Kyle of Durness just before we roll in, victorious, to our finishing point at Durness! After the absolutely obligatory victory conga and hugs all round, a coach transfer will return the group to Ullapool (approximately 2hr transfer) where we will have our final celebratory meal as a group.

Saturday: Transfer to Inverness and tour ends
You will be transferred from your accommodation in Ullapool to Inverness this morning (approximately 1hr 30min transfer) where there will be a drop at both Inverness train station and then Inverness airport.

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What’s Included?

The tour price includes 8 nights accommodation, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, snacks, tea, coffee, & hot chocolate, Ferry crossing tickets, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group, back-up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes with GPS files so that you can cycle at your own pace, certificate, a Peak Tours cycle shirt, luggage transfer each day, transfer from Carlisle Station to your hotel and transfer from Durness to Inverness at the end of the tour.

What’s Not Included?

Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), Garmin hire (available for a fee), transport to Carlisle, transport from Inverness.

What Happens At The Start of The Tour?

You can get to Carlisle by car, bus and train (or you could cycle).

Carlisle Train Station is fed by multiple different train providers, for train timetables or to book online you can visit www.nationalrail.co.uk. Most of our customers usually use this method of arrival.

If you are using a hire car there are plenty of car hire companies who have a depot at Carlisle. This is our second most common method of arrival used by our customers.

If you require assistance when you’re arriving in Carlisle, our guides will be available from approximately 14:00 to collect you (and your bike) from your arrival point in Carlisle and shuttle you to your hotel. Feel free to liaise with them on your Arrival Day so they know when/where to expect you.

It’s unlikely our guides will have arrived into Carlilse before 14:00 and therefore we can not guarantee we will be able to facilitate your arrival if it is before this time. You may be required to make your own transport arrangements to your hotel.

Check-in is not usually available until 15:00/16:00 depending on where you’re allocated accommodation, however it’s usually ok to stow your luggage with the Hotel should you arrive early.

After you arrive, we recommend sparing time throughout the day to familiarise yourself with your bike setup to ensure it’s ready to ride the following morning.

In the evening, we will have a Welcome Meal arranged for approximately 19:30 where you will meet the rest of the group and be given your initial brief which will include an overview of the tour logistics and what to expect.

What Happens At The End of The Tour?

We finish our journey in Durness on Friday. After the full fan-fare, magnificent firework display and a 21-gun salute we’ll transport you back to Ullapool by coach where we will stay for the final meal. The following morning, a coach will be arranged to collect the group to embark on the one-hour transfer to Inverness. Our first Inverness destination will be the train station (approximately 09:30) and then on to the airport (approximately 10:00).

If you are travelling back from Inverness with your bike we will transport your bike to Inverness for you and unload your bike off the van as you alight from the coach. If you have chosen for your bike to be returned to Glossop for you to collect at a later date, or if you have chosen your bike to be packaged and posted back to your chosen address (at an additional cost), we’ll take care of that for you after waving you off in Inverness.

How Difficult Is The Tour?

The first day of cycling across the Scottish borders is a fairly flat and easy start to the tour, breaking you in gently! As we start island hopping up the West coast of Scotland, a few early mornings (due to ferry schedules) and higher climbing profiles slightly increase the difficulty of the days. The climbs generally don’t exceed; 3-4 miles/5-7km in length and gradients greater than 7% for any significant duration – all very achievable with a less haste, more speed approach. Rest-assured, it’s usually the case; the longer the climb the gentler the gradient. Short stretches of route may reach double digit gradients, this wouldn’t typically be for longer than a 100 metres or so.

It’s no secret Scotland can often throw a generous serving of adverse weather in our way and temperatures can sometimes be slightly lower than what you’ll be used to riding in, both of which can make cycling a little more difficult if ill-prepared but both of which can be combated by carrying the appropriate clothing.

Why The Length of Scotland?

After the raving reviews we’ve received from our 13-Day Dover to Durness tour, we decided to make a week-long tour to focus specifically on the West Coast of Scotland which some have dubbed ‘the Mecca of Cycle-Touring’. Fewer consecutive days in the saddle are more achievable for newbie/recreational Cycle-Tourers and also are easier to squeeze-in around your work/life commitments at home.

A popular item on a lot of cycle touring bucket lists’ is cycling the Scottish Hebrides. It’s quite the logistical task to co-ordinate a group of up to 25 people, across three isles with five ferries, three guides and two vans but not once have we questioned if it’s worthwhile. The Isles of Arran, Mull and Skye, are some of the most spectacular, off-beat cycle-touring locations you can explore within Europe.

‘End to End’ tours always seem to add a sense of achievement that other circular or arbitrary routes could ever offer. An End to End route, half the length of our previous End to End routes, still comes with all the same bragging rights as the longer tours – it just means you can do twice as many within the same length of time!

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What happens when I arrive?

If you require assistance with your arrival into Carlisle, our guides will be available from 13:00 to help you. Feel free to liaise with them on your Arrival Day so they know when/where to expect you. Unfortunately, our guides won’t be able to assist with arrivals prior to 13:00 and check-in is not usually available until 15:00/16:00 depending on where you’re allocated accommodation. In the evening, we will have a Welcome Meal arranged for approximately 19:30 where you will meet the rest of the group and be given your initial brief which will include an overview of the tour logistics and what to expect. After you arrive, we recommend sparing time throughout the day to familiarise yourself with your bike setup to ensure it’s ready to ride the following morning.

How do I get to Carlisle?

You can get to Carlisle by car, bus and train (or you could cycle). We can pick you up at Carlisle when you arrive on Friday and transport you and your bike to our first nights accommodation. If you could let us know when you will be arriving and we will make arrangements to collect you if required.

To get to Carlisle:

By Car If you are using a hire car there are a quite a few car hire companies who have a depot at Carlisle. Just let us know when you want picking up and we can collect you once you have dropped off the car.

By Train There are frequent trains into Carlisle as it is on the West Coast Mainline.  For train timetables tel: 08457 48 49 50 or book online at www.nationalrail.co.uk

What happens at the end?

We arrive in Durness on Friday where we will stay for the final meal. The following morning, a coach will then take us to Inverness and you will then be dropped at either the airport or the train station in place for your onward travel.

If you are taking your bike back with you then we will transport your bike to Inverness for you or if you choose the ‘return transport’ option then your bikes will be packed & couriered back to your address for you.

What mechanical knowledge do I need?

We don’t expect you to be an expert bike mechanic but there are a few simple skills that will be a great benefit to you. The most important skill you need to know is how to fix a puncture. It is quite likely that at some point you will have a puncture or two so it is essential that you carry a puncture repair kit & a spare tube or two with you. It is also helpful if you know how to change your brake pads and adjust your brakes & gears however this isn’t essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs & adjustments en-route.

What are the lunches like?

We arrange a lunch at a pub or café each day. This will be a mixture of sandwiches, pasta salads, soup, quiche, salads etc and will be different at each place. There will always be enough to go round so don’t worry if you are at the back of the group. The lunch stops provide a good opportunity to re-group & catch up with others and compare notes.

Will I be left behind?

No, a tour leader cycles at the back of the group so that you won’t be left behind if you are worried about cycling too slowly. Throughout the group there will be a mix of abilities and cycling speeds so you will usually be able to cycle with others that cycle at a similar pace. Some people like to cycle fast whilst others prefer to take their time, stop for coffee and cake or stop to take photos etc so whether you are a ‘speed demon’ or more of a ‘tourer’ there will usually be someone to cycle with each day.

Do I need to be super fit?

No, you don’t need to be super fit but a good level of fitness is important as the Scottish End to End is a challenging ride. The fitter you are & the more training that you do beforehand will add to the enjoyment of your tour and improve your chances of succeeding the challenge. If you need any advice about fitness please contact us and we will be happy to discuss any questions & concerns that you may have.

What are the groups like?

Obviously each group is different but generally they are a fun, friendly, helpful and adventurous bunch. There will be people of all ages and from all walks of life. We tend to get quite a few older riders although there will always be a few younger riders as well. So far our youngest rider was 15 and the eldest 82. We think that a group of 15-25 is ideal as there will be plenty of people with similar interests and character without being such a big group that it becomes too much.

Generally the group will be split 50/50 between people travelling alone and people that travel as a pair such as two brothers, two friends, two partners. There will be plenty of people to socialise with throughout the day and in the evening.

How do I get my bike home at the end of the trip?

If you are flying then you will need to box your bike before you board the plane. If you choose to do this you will need to send your bike box or bag to the final destination at the hotel in Durness as we don’t have space in the back up van to carry bike boxes or bags for everyone (Exceptions of one or two foldable cases are sometimes made for overseas travellers). If you are travelling by train you will need to ensure that your bike is booked on each leg of your journey. We will transport your bike back to Inverness for you.

An easy alternative to transporting your bike yourself is to use the services of Ticket to Ride (www.johnogroatsbiketransport.co.uk). Whilst we don’t take any responsibility for any outside bike couriering services previous customers have used them and have reported that they offer an excellent service.

The way it works is that we will transport your bikes back to Inverness where a member of the Ticket to Ride staff will meet us at the airport/station & take any bikes that are to be posted or they will collect bikes from Durness. The bikes will then be boxed (this usually means that they will remove the front wheel, pedals, saddle & handlebars) and posted to your address. We will send out information abouth this service pre-tour.

What happens in the evenings?

Once you have arrived at your accommodation you should have chance for some time to relax, have a shower etc before the evening meal. We usually arrange somewhere to eat for the evening meal so that we can all get together and you won’t be left alone if you would like to eat with others. Quite often we will simply arrange a certain pub to meet up and just drift in when you are ready whilst at other places we have a set time to eat – it just depends on the location.

Does the support vehicle follow the group?

No, the back up van doesn’t drive behind the group at all times but the van shouldn’t be too far away if you require assistance. In the morning we have a group brief and set off cycling, meanwhile the backup driver will collect all the luggage from the various B&B’s and hostels. Once all of the luggage has been loaded, the support vehicle will leapfrog the group stopping when necessary. The backup driver will be at the lunch stop should you need anything from the van & in the afternoon will go on ahead to ensure that your luggage is in place before you arrive.

How much luggage can I take?

There is limited space in the back up van to store luggage. We therefore request that you try to keep your luggage size to a minimum & try not to bring too much with you. Washing clothes can be done en-route so you shouldn’t need to bring a clean set of clothes for every day. The ideal size for luggage is 70 x 50 x 30 cm and a weight of 15-18kg (or less).

What training should I do?

The more the better. We will provide a training guide for you so that you can build up your cycling strength and prepare for the ride in the correct way. It is important that you cycle two long days back to back whilst training & also that you cycle on some hills. We hold training weekends at the start of the season so that you can meet with others in the group, ask any questions you may have & also test yourselves amongst the hills of the Peak District.

What bike should I use?

The most suitable bike for this trip is a hybrid/touring bike or a road bike, however it is entirely up to you what type of bike you use. Some people may be riding mountain bikes, others hybrids & others on racing bikes.

Please ensure that your bike is fully serviced and in good working order before the start of the trip.

If you are riding a mountain bike then it is advisable to use slick tyres.  If you are using a lightweight racing bike it would be better to use a slightly wider tyre than 23mm if possible for touring long distances, for comfort and the different road surfaces you may encounter. Tyre inflation & rubber composition is important and a tyre width of 25mm or more is recommended for this tour. Please ensure that you have hard wearing tyres with plenty of tread.

You are going to cycle just under 500 miles so it is important that your bike won’t let you down. You may want to fit new brake blocks, tyres & inner tubes before you start the ride and also bring 3-4 spare inner tubes, pump, puncture repair kit and multi-tool to carry with you each day. It is essential that you are able to fix a puncture.

It is also advisable to have front and rear lights on your bikes and try to be a visible as possible.

Can I hire a bike from you?

It is advisable to use your own bike if possible, however we realise that it is not always possible to use your own steed so you may wish to hire one. We have 3 bikes available for hire for this tour. Details of these bikes can be found by clicking on the ‘Tour Extras’ tab.

All of our hire bikes come fitted with water bottle cage, bell, rear rack (for touring bikes only) and front and rear lights. We also provide a pannier (touring bikes) or seat post bag (road bikes) with a multi-tool, pump, puncture repair kit, spare tube and tyre levers at no extra cost. All bikes can have flat or SPD pedals so please let us know your preference or, if you would prefer to use your own (and maybe your own saddle) then please bring these along with you. We can also provide a helmet for you at no extra cost.

What gear should I take?

We provide a suggested kit list so please contact us if you would like a copy sending to you.

What is the male / female ratio?

This varies with each group. There are usually more guys than gals but an average would be about 1/3rd ladies & 2/3rds gents.

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