Explore the Scottish Highlands by bike
A six day tour of the North West Highlands, starting and ending in Inverness, with bikes and transport provided by Ticket to Ride, the Highland’s leading bike hire and bike transport specialists.
What do you think of when you think of the Scottish Highlands? Dramatic mountains, dark fetid forests, white painted cottages with smoking chimneys in the middle of nowhere, sparkling waterfalls, fishing boats and coastal villages. The North West Highlands has all that and more. The most remote, unspoiled part of mainland UK, has less people per square mile than any other part of the UK and most parts of Europe, and more charm, beauty and peace than most of them. The area is great for cycling too. Settlements are close enough together to make trip distances short, but far enough apart to make very day feel like a real adventure. There are plenty of B and Bs, hotels and campsites to make finding accommodation easy, and enough secret beaches to reward every explorer with the joy of walking along the shoreline with nobody else in sight.
Ticket To Ride Highlands can provide high quality bike hire and transport for you and your bikes to and from the start point of your tour, in this case taking you from Inverness to Ullapool, the start of your North West Highlands adventure, and picking you up in Thurso on the north coast, at the end of your trip, to take you back to Inverness.
You can use Ticket to Ride’s bike hire and bike transport service to easily get to and from your North West Highlands cycling adventure. Here is our suggested itinerary, but we’re as flexible as you, so just let us know if would like to do something different.
Time of year - we suggest any time from April to October, although many people travel outwith this time.
N.B we suggest you book your accommodation in advance
Day 1 - Arrive Inverness and make your way to the Ticket to Ride bike hire centre in Bellfield Park, IV2 4SZ. We can also collect you from Inverness airport or train or bus stations. At TTR headquarters we will sort out your hire bikes, if you are hiring, and any other equipment you need. Our minibus and bike trailer will take you and your bikes over to Ullapool, on the west coast, for the start of your North West Highlands cycling adventure. The trip takes about an hour, so you will have time to explore Ullapool and the surrounding area before settling into your accommodation and popping out for a beer or two at the FBI (the Ferry Boat Inn of course).
Day 2 - Cycle north from Ullapool to the left turn at Drumrunie, signposted to Achiltibuie. Head west for Achiltibuie stopping at the car park for a climb up to the ridge of Stac Pollaidh, amazing views all round (n.b. stick to the path, it’s much easier anyway. The round trip to the ridge and back will take a couple of hours. The walk is easy but a little steep. The scramble from the ridge to the main summit is much more tricky and not for the inexperienced hill walker, the views from the ridge are just as good anyway.) Continue west and turn right to Lochinver and Inverkirkaig. This is one of the most fun roads to cycle in the Highlands. Twisting and turning, you never know round the next corner. Follow the road to Achins book shop and cafe where it’s time for a rest. If Stac Pollaidh left you wanting more walking, theres a lovely 2 hour walk up and back to the Inverkirkaig waterfalls. Carrying on north, it’s only a few miles to Lochinver and your stop for the night. Built up an appetite? Try a world famous Lochinver pie while you’re here, delicious. Total miles only 30, but I bet it feels a lot more.
Day 3 - Look out your swimming trunks, it’s time for a ‘dook’. Cycle north from Lochinver turning left and left agin for Achmelvich, the finest beach in the Highlands. After an explore and maybe a swim, its back on the bike to retrace your footsteps to the B869 and head north to Clachtoll for another fine beach. Through the lovely villages of Stoer and Clashnessie. Continue on the roller coaster wee road to Drumbeg and then on past the towering Quinag. The hills are steep, short and sweet here. Back at the main road, turn left for Kylesku and Scourie. The Kylesku Hotel does great seafood if you fancy a late lunch. Head over the dramatic sweeping bridge, gasping at the views, and continue north to stop in Scourie for the night. There is the hotel, B and Bs and a campsite with wonderful views. Total 35 fairly hilly miles.
Day 4 - The longest day. From Scourie, head north to Laxford Bridge and on to Rhiconich and it’s surprisingly large hotel. From Rhiconich head north east to the truly stunning Kyle of Durness, beach as far as the eye can see. Continue on up to Durness for a well earned rest. If you have energy, a walk along the beach at Faraid is great, you might see puffins if its the spring/early summer. Or explore the giant cave at Smoo,just round the corner from Durness village, how many caves have a waterfall and a boat trip (a rhetorical question, clearly)? Heading east now, its on to Loch Eriboll, there is no alternative to travelling around the whole loch, scenic but you may wish there was a ferry. Then on to the Kyle of Tongue and your stop for the night. There are two hotels here and B and Bs. Total miles - 56
Day 5 - From Tongue head east for Bettyhill. If its a fine day, or your feeling energetic, there’s a lovely detour off the main road through the crofting settlements of Skerray and Torrisdale. From Bettyhill continue east to Strathy and Melvich. Dounreay may be a familiar name to you. The nuclear power station at Dounreay is no longer operational, maybe it will be turned into a windmill site. Reaching Thurso you have finished your tour, there is plenty of accommodation here, and we will pick you up tomorrow to take you back to Inverness. Total miles - 41
Day 6 - The Ticket to Ride bike bus will pick you up at your accommodation in Thurso and transport you and your bikes back in Inverness to catch your train or plane home.
