Scottish Highlands
Bike Tour
About our Scottish Highlands Cycle Route
The best of cycling the Scottish Highlands.
Building on our experience of delivering anti-clockwise North Coast 500 trips since 2021, our “clockwise express” Scottish Highlands Bike Tour route takes you through the best cycling destination in the UK. With tweaks to the traditional NC500 route, taking in even better riding on the quiet roads of Caithness, this has become the best destination ride to cycle in the UK.
Featuring the Bealach na Ba climb from the famous Eastern side, as featured in Simon Warren’s “100 Greatest Cycling Climbs”, the climb to the Crask Inn through the heart of the Highlands, the “Wee Mad Road” ducking and diving along the Western cliffs, and the spectacular road across the North Coast of Great Britain. Rising and falling from cove to moorland as the waves crash against the rocks below on Britain’s best kept road cycling secret.
This trip will be based around hotel, hostel and B&B accommodation, rather than our traditional camping adventures. With 6 spectacular cycling days, we will be riding a few days quicker than our full North Coast 500 ride on our lap of the Highlands, making it the perfect week getaway.
September 14 - 19th 2025
Starting and Ending in Inverness
475 Miles
6 Days
Van Supported
Hotel Accommodation
Ready. Set. Pedal.
Are you ready to tackle the Scottish Highlands? Here’s a couple of pointers of what to expect.
Trip Cost & Fundraising
Our Scottish Highlands tour has two options:
1. Fundraising Cyclist – initial £750 registration to cover accommodation plus £950 (£2 per mile) of fundraising to be raised prior to the ride.
2. Self Funded Cyclist – £1580 total cost with £750 paid at registration and the remainder due 2 months prior to the adventure.
If you’re looking for a more rustic and lower cost Scotland adventure, check out our North Coast 500 ride.
Support
We provide you the platform to help you reach your goal of riding around the beautiful Scottish Highlands. This is a supported bike tour where the challenge it is embraced.
Preparation
We’ll plan the trip so you can focus on training, preparing your gear and planning your journey to and from the event.
Ready. Set. Ride for MS.
What do I need to know about cycling the Scottish Highlands with Bike the UK for MS?
Riding around the Highlands of Scotland will be one of the most rewarding challenges you take on, but first we know you must have lots of questions. Here’s the information you need to be able to take on the supported ride with us.
Still got a question? Enquire below.
What ability do I need to be to take on the Scottish Highlands Bike Tour?
We have always prided ourselves in being a charity bike ride suitable to all cycling abilities! Although more challenging than our traditional North Coast 500 adventure, our trip is well suited to all cyclists provided the right level of preparation and training is completed. We can help you with training too!
There is no set riding speed, no set groups to ride in or cutoff times to make. Enjoy the ride at your speed, whether that’s riding steady all day and taking in the views or riding harder with longer breaks through the day. There is no one way to take on this adventure!
You have from sunrise to sunset to cover the mileage for the day and we will be there to support you along the way. There is no competition, no sense of holding up others and no feeling of others impacting your adventure.
What type of bike do I need to ride the Highlands of Scotland?
We highly recommend riding a road or touring bike for this adventure. This will allow you to have the most enjoyment along the route.
Be sure that the bike fits you well and that you have completed your training on this bike so you know you’ll be comfortable for the adventure.
How much does it cost to join the Scottish Highlands Tour?
With an initial registration of £750 which covers your accommodations, then the option of fundraising £2 per mile (£950) or self funding the remaining £830, the majority of trip related items are covered such as vehicle support, route leaders, a team cycling jersey, and much more. This leaves you only having to worry about travel costs to and from the trip and food during the ride.
Arranging your own food allows you to eat at your budget, whether that’s cooking in the evening, eating out throughout or a mixture of the two.
How much do I need to fundraise for the ride?
With an achievable £2 per mile, £950 total fundraising target, there’s no more cost effective way to travel. Funds raised will go towards supporting those living with MS across the UK, as well as raising awareness for multiple sclerosis and funding research to find a cure.
You can raise these funds in a way that best suits you. That can be fully funded by donors or a mix of donors and self funded.
What will the team group size be with Bike the UK for MS?
We aim for a team size of approximately 10 riders. This creates a friendly, non competitive team environment for all to enjoy riding around the Scottish Highlands..
What style of accommodation will we be staying at as we ride the route?
We will arrange the accommodation for the trip, including in Inverness at the start and end. This trip will be based around hotel, hostel and B&B accommodation, rather than our traditional camping options. To allow us to donate as much of your hard earned fundraising as possible, our accommodations are shared rooms.
What level of support will there be on the ride?
We provide you the platform to help you reach your goal of riding the Scottish Highlands. This is a supported bike tour where the challenge is embraced.
Your gear will be carried by our support vehicles. Your volunteer route leaders will be there to help you along the way. A mechanic will help you keep your bike rolling with minor repairs. Water stops will be set up every 20-30 miles depending on the terrain. Nightly accommodations will be booked.
It’s just the pedalling that’s up to you!
What gear do I need for the ride?
Preparing the right gear is crucial for your adventure.
For your convenience, we provide an 80 litre storage box to transport your gear from overnight to overnight in our support van. Additionally, a smaller 16 litre day box for essential items will be accessible at rest stops during the ride.
Regarding your bike and biking equipment, it’s important to be comfortable on your bike and have trained on it. However, we’re here to help if you need advice on bike rentals or any other equipment. Once registered, we’ll provide a comprehensive gear list detailing everything you’ll need for a successful and enjoyable ride.
Do you accept eBikes for the Scottish Highlands bike tour?
Yes, eBikes are welcome on the Scottish Highlandsroute. We understand that eBikes can make the challenge more accessible and enjoyable for riders.
However, it’s important to ensure your eBike is suitable for long-distance road touring and is capable of handling the route’s varied terrain. Please be mindful of the battery range and plan accordingly, as charging opportunities may be limited during the day.
We recommend sourcing a second battery for the trip so you always have a backup and can have it charging while out riding. We also have our Jackery power units available at rest stops to top up charge when needed.
If you have any specific queries about bringing an eBike or need assistance with logistics, feel free to get in touch with our team.
What's the distance of the Scottish Highlands rout?
The Scottish Highlands route, 475 miles or 765 kilometres, offering a blend of challenging terrains and beautiful landscapes.
How many days does it take to cycle the Highlands loop?
Our organised MS tour spans 6 days, intentionally designed to strike a balance between challenging riding days and enjoying the journey.
It offers a pace that is rigorous yet manageable, allowing you to fully appreciate the journey and the beauty of the Highlands, all while supporting a meaningful cause.
How should I train to take on the adventure?
Training to ride the Scottish Highlands is crucial to making sure you have a good experience. In our opinion the most important aspect is being comfortable for long periods on the bike you plan to ride for the trip. A bike fit and your local bike shop is highly recommended.
Being consistent with training and building up your weekly riding time slowly should be your main goal. Focus on increasing the duration of your rides, rather than the speed, as this will be more representative of the relaxed riding environment of the trip. As your length of rides increase, be sure to take breaks to eat and drink throughout to fuel your ride!
Any rider signing up to ride with Bike the UK for MS will have the option of receiving a specific training plan for the challenge their taking on or ask questions about their training.
What options are there for traveling to and from Inverness for the start and finish?
Thankfully traveling to and from Inverness is relatively easy.
The easiest option is to take the train to Inverness. When booking the train, be sure to reserve a bike space with your ticket! This includes the overnight sleeper train to and from London.
If you plan to drive to Inverness, we can help arrange a long stay parking near the team accommodation that you can leave the car for the long weekend.
Flying in from abroad? The best option is to fly into Inverness and take a taxi into the city. Public transport from the airport is limited to buses which can prove difficult with your bike.
Get in touch if you need more options.
Travel. Explore. Give Back.
What do I need to know about cycling the Highlands of Scotland?
Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or new to long-distance biking, planning your own journey on the Scottish Highlands route can be both exciting and daunting. This section aims to answer some of the most common questions you might have about the route.
Gearing up to pedal through Inverness-shire Ross and Cromarty Sutherland Caithness in:
We are pedalling north for John O'Groats! Follow along on Instagram.
Explore the Scottish Highlands Bike Tour Route
Where will biking the Highlands of Scotland take you?
2025 Scottish Highlands Overnights
Keen to discover where you’ll be stopping off on the route and what your daily mileage will be? Here’s the full route for you to digest. Naturally, these are subject to change, but it’s a good starting point!
Date
-
September 13th
-
14
-
15
-
16
-
17
-
18
-
19
Destination
-
Inverness
-
Applecross
-
Laide
-
Lochinver
-
Tongue
-
Altnaharra
-
Inverness
Mileage
-
Orientation
-
81
-
72
-
77
-
90
-
75
-
81
Interested in our Scottish Highlands Bike Tour?
Note down your details and we will get in touch with more details about our adventure.