Cycling
and mountain biking are popular in Scotland,
particularly in the north west corner and
in the highlands.
Many towns have bicycle-hire shops so you
are never far from help. Many routes suit
even the not so serious as there are forest
trails, tow paths, cycle paths and minor
roads to use. However it can be hilly so
either make sure you are fit or don't chew
off too many kilometres per day. The other
thing to be attentive to is the weather.
As with a lot of the UK the weather can
change from brilliant sunshine to rain very
quickly. Spring and autumn are usually the
best times to cycle but always bring waterproof
clothes. We also advise bright or reflective
colours and a helmet (although it's not
compulsory). Note also in Scotland you may
take your bike on trains and ferries for
an extra charge (usually £3.50). You
can only take bikes on buses if they are
folded or dismantled.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIP
If you are planning a cycling trip through
Scotland you need to be prepared. Here are
some handy hints and absolute essentials:
- a basic repair kit and knowledge of bicycle repair. Make sure you take spare inner tubes, tools for adjusting seat heights
- extra snack food and water (it can be a long way between towns in some parts, particularly if you get marooned with an injury or fault on your bike)
- pack light! You can buy extra food as
you go and you really only need bike riding
gear and a change of clothes for evenings
in town.
- maps (detailed for side roads that you
might take) - itinerary – give someone a copy of your itinerary and check in with them every few days so they know you are okay.
- helpful hints – there are lots of people
that have biked through Scotland and a lot
of them have put up details on websites.
- learn Scottish road rules and driving habits
for example the Scottish do not respect line
markings and may drive in the middle of
the road, take wide turns and drive very
close to you.
CAN
YOU FIX YOUR BIKE?
If you are not going with a tour or with
someone that knows there bikes then you
need to have a working knowledge of your
bike components. Most people that embark
on this kind of holiday know their apparatus
but obvious essentials are:
- spair inner tubes
- tyre repair kit
- tools for adjusting brakes, seat height,
and other parts of your bike
A trip to your local bike shop would be
the best place for more advice.
SUGGESTED
ITINERARIES
Hebridian Islands
Try the route from the Isle of Arran that
goes to the Isle of Skye and then the outer
Hebrides. There are lots of good cycling
opportunities in this area and it is linked
to Scotland by a good ferry system.
Aberdeen to John o'Groats, Orkney &
Shetland via Inverness.
This route leaves Aberdeen northwards along
the coast and into the Highlands.
Glasgow to Gourock
A 14 mile route from Glasgow to the Firth
of Clyde. Some of the route follows an old
railway line but it's manly on minor roads.
Loch Leven
A 20 mile circuit with stunning landscapes
in the Western Highlands near Glen Coe.
Inverness to Glasgow via Pitlochry
214 mile route through the Central Highlands,
from the Cairngorm mountains to Perthshire
and Stirling
The Machars Peninsula
A 50 mile route along the Machars Peninsula
to some of the greenest pastures of Scotland
and most attractive villages of the coast.
If you have cycled an interesting route
in Scotland email us the details to paste
on the site for other travellers - scotland@backpackglobe.com
SAFETY
Always inform someone of your intended route
and check in with them as regularly as possible.
Make sure you have checked the weather forecast
and know what the normal weather is for
that time of year. We recommend bright or
reflective clothing to make you stand out,
particularly in wet weather! A safety helmet
is also advised and don't forget to lock
your bike up at every stop.
RENTAL
COMPANIES
Most major towns in Scotland will have places
where you can rent bikes. We have listed
some of the ones we know about here in these
places:
Gala Cycles, Tel. 01896 757 587
George Henderson Ltd, Tel. 01896 753 870
Hawick Cycle Centre, Tel. 01450 373 352
Bikesport, Tel. 01896 830 880
P & S Dorricot, Tel, 01835 862 423
Mr Christopher Rainbow, Tel. 01835 830 326,
Fax. 01835 830 327
Henderson Outdoor Leisure, Tel. 01573 228
200
Houndridge Holiday Cottages, Tel. 01573
470 604
Crossburn Caravan Park, Tel. 01721 720 501
George Pennel Cycles, Tel. 01721 720 844
Scottish Cycle Union, Jim Riach
The Velodome, London Road
Edinburgh EH7 6AD
Tel. 0131 652 0187, Fax. 0131 661 0474
Scottish Cycling Development Project, David
Marsh
c/o Glasgow City Council, Land Services:
Cycle Unit, Richmond Exchange, 20 Cadogan
Street, Glasgow G2 7AD
Tel. 0141 287 9000
Euro-Bike and Walking Tours www.eurobike.com
offers tours by bike. Go to their website
for more details or contact them at info@eurobike.com.
Their postal address is PO Box 990, DeKalb,
IL 60115 – USA.
Gite.com - Covers bike touring around the
world mostly for self supported riders and
offers good recommendations if you plan
to bike on your own http://www.gite.com/plantrip/travbike.html
