Mountain biking in Scotland at its best
This Highland mountain bike adventure includes some of the most exhilarating mountain biking and awe-inspiring landscapes the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have to offer. Torridon and the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland boast dramatic scenery and majestic skylines that demand respect and represent mountain biking in Scotland at its best.
The Cuillin and Torridon mountains rise up out of the Atlantic Ocean, daring you to take them on, and those that are willing to take up the challenge will discover some truly epic mountain bike trails.
Follow in the tracks of 2009 world downhill champion Steve Peat, and trials stars Danny MacAskill and Hans Rey to the wild and rugged landscape of Torridon and Skye on Scotland’s west coast: mountain biking in Scotland at its best.
Read some interesting, little-known facts about Scotland!
Tour dates 2012 and 2013
- 26 May – 2 June 2012
- 25 August – 1 September 2012
- 25 May – 1 June 2013
- 10 – 17 August 2013
- 24 – 31 August 2013
Please contact our expert tour team if you have different dates in mind for our Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.
Want to know more? Ask us a question about mountain biking in Torridon & Skye, and read more about why you should choose H&I Adventures for your next adventure tour.
Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival day, ride Laggan Wolftrax
We’ll meet in Inverness (airport or train station) at around noon and drive west to Laggan Wolftrax, the north of Scotland’s best man-made trail centre, where we can stretch our legs on the network of trails and then enjoy some coffee and cake.
Day 2 – Over the sea to Skye
We’ll catch the ferry from Mallaig over to the south end of the Isle of Skye. We’ll spend the afternoon riding a stunning trail along the coast, stopping for lunch on a fossil beach and admiring the breath-taking views out to the islands of Eigg and Rum.
Day 3 – Skye, Sligachan
Our full day on Skye will see us tackling the 50km challenging loop at Sligachan.The route carves its way through the valley between the Cuillin mountains with a combination of mouth-watering technical climbs and hair-raising descents.The terrain is pretty rocky and be prepared to work your arms lifting both wheels over obstacles!
Day 4 – Plockton
We leave Skye behind and head back to the mainland, to the fishing village of Plockton. Most of today’s riding will be sheltered in the forests. You’ll also enjoy some of Plockton’s deliciously fresh seafood, before we head on to Torridon and some big days in the saddle.
Day 5 – Shieldaig
Just south of Torridon lies the picturesque village of Shieldaig. We’ll be riding across the peninsula from Shieldaig to Applecross, where we will be rewarded with some more fantastic food in the world-renowned Applecross Inn.
Day 6 – Torridon
Our second day in Torridon will blow your mind! As far as mountain biking in Scotland goes, the area is a fairly well-kept secret. You’ll ride some challenging, but enjoyable climbs, and then be rewarded with a superb descent that seems to go on forever! You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to take some spectacular photos across the hills and sea.
Day 7 – Loch Ness
We leave Torridon behind and head back towards Inverness, picking up some amazing singletrack along the banks of Loch Ness. We’ll stop for a celebration lunch at a lochside pub, then spend the evening packing bikes for departure the next day.
Day 8 – Departure day
We will load the vehicle and transfer you back to Inverness airport or train station, in time for morning or afternoon flights and trains, where we will say our farewells.
£840 / $1,380 USD per person (ex. flights)
Price includes:
- All breakfasts
- Seven nights’ B&B accommodation
- The services of a fully qualified and experienced mountain bike guide for the duration of your trip
- Transportation around the Highlands and Islands throughout the week
- All group safety equipment
Price excludes:
- Transport to and from Inverness
- Travel and activity insurance
- Bike hire
- Personal safety and cycling equipment
- Lunches and evening meals
- Alcoholic/ non-alcoholic beverages
- Any other items not mentioned as included
Arrival and departure details
Your Torridon and Skye mountain bike adventure will start and end in Inverness. Your guide and/or driver will meet you in the arrivals area of Inverness airport, or in the main concourse at Inverness train station. He/she will be holding an H&I Adventures sign and should be easy to see since neither the airport nor the train station are particularly large or crowded.
We generally ask guests to arrive as close to midday as possible on the first day of the tour, however we can collect you up until 3 p.m. on your day of arrival. If you think you will be arriving later in the evening we would recommend that you arrive the day before and book an overnight stay in Inverness. Please contact us if you require assistance in finding accommodation before or after your trip.
On your departure day we will return you to Inverness airport or train station in time for your connection home.
Travelling to Inverness
Inverness is well connected to the rest of the UK by good rail, air, and coach links.
Inverness by air
Inverness is becoming increasingly well-served by major and budget airlines from all over the UK, Ireland, and now direct from Amsterdam. For up-to-date timetables and booking visit: www.ba.com; www.easyjet.com; and www.flybe.com.
You must book your bike on to your flight in advance, otherwise you could face a heavy charge at the airport. Here are some handy hints and tips on travelling by air with your bike.
Inverness by rail
Trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness take approximately three and a half hours, and there is also a sleeper service from London Euston, which leaves at 21.00 and arrives in Inverness at 08.30 the next morning. The day service from London takes approximately eight hours. For current timetables and to book tickets, visit: www.seat61.com; www.scotrail.co.uk; www.thetrainline.com.
Preparing yourself and your bike for the trip
The Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour is for intermediate to advanced-level mountain bikers, which means that the terrain you will be riding consists mostly of singletrack, some Landrover tracks, steep technical climbs and descents, frequent rocks, slabs and roots. You should have good bike handling skills and be comfortable with sustained challenging riding including long periods of aerobic exercise for five or more days in a row. The ideal bike for your Torridon and Skye mountain bike adventure is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with around 150mm of travel front and rear.
To get the most out of your mountain bike holiday in Scotland you should plan some training in advance of your tour, and it is essential that, if you’re bringing your own bike, you ensure that it has been properly serviced before the trip.
We can arrange bike hire for you, and have the bike ready for your arrival, at a cost of £240 for a high quality full-suspension mountain bike for the duration of your trip.
For more information on Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour, and travelling in Scotland in general, read the full trip brochure.
Torridon and Skye
It wasn't just an ordinary biketrip - it was also a fascinating journey into the heart of scotland! From the first moment we felt that this is a unique experience - like being on the road with good friends!
If you not only like to ride some challenging trails with stunning views, but also like to really get to know the country and the people, this is your trip! Accomodations (handpicked B&Bs) are
great and of course the food is awesome (seafood with a dark ale just matches perfectly)!
Skye and Torridon
A fantastic trip! In fact, this was the second holiday I had booked through H&I Adventures, and just as in the first, the quality of the trails and guiding was outstanding. The two big descents in Torridon were incredible. My biking skills even improved through both trips thanks to the guides advice. Overall, terrific riding, accommodation and food. Very highly recommended.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for our Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour
Q. How many people will be in the group?
A. We only run small group adventures to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will generally be between six and eight people in each group. We can stretch to a maximum of ten if it’s a group of friends.
Q. What’s the age range of people who come on this trip?
A. The Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old, but age is simply a state of mind, as they say, and we welcome anyone over the age of 18! As long as you are an experienced mountain biker with a good level of physical fitness, you’ll enjoy this mountain bike tour, no matter what your age.
Q. What style of mountain biking tour is it?
A.The Torridon and Skye mountain bike trip is a guided mountain bike tour, ideal for fairly advanced mountain bikers. It’s not a bike park-style tour with uplift services and man-made trails. We ride the best natural trails that the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have to offer. We do include one trail centre, Laggan Wolftrax, at the beginning of the trip, but the majority of the riding is on ancient, natural trails on the west coast of Scotland. The trails in Torridon are very rocky and technical, and will keep you on your toes with some tricky descents!
Q. How far will we be mountain biking each day?
A. We’ll ride distances of between 25km and 50km per day. This will typically take anything from three to six hours per day because of the technical nature of these fantastic trails. The distance covered isn’t the objective on this trip; the trails and the riding themselves are the holy grail here! Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.
Q. What if I come across a section of trail that I can’t ride?
A. Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills training during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your coast-to-coast adventure. If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!
Q. I’m not a particularly technically proficient mountain biker, can I still come?
A. The trails we ride on this trip require a good level of technical bike handling skills in order to get the most enjoyment from the tour. It’s normal for people to walk the odd short section, but if you find yourself walking 50% of the trails then you’re not going to be having a great time and neither is the rest of the group who are waiting for you. Why not have a look at our less technical mountain bike tours, such as the Cairngorms Adventure, or coast-to-coast in Scotland, or our mountain bike tour in Oaxaca, Mexico?
Q. Who will be guiding us?
A. Your mountain bike guides are local, qualified, experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the fabulous outdoor playground that is the Highlands of Scotland. Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of the tour. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip. You can meet your mountain bike guides on our ‘Why H&I Adventures page?’.
Q. What sort of accommodation will we be staying in?
A. On this Torridon and Skye mountain bike tour in Scotland you will be staying in 3- and 4-star B&Bs, guest houses and small hotels. We use the best quality accommodation in each area, and favour small, family-run establishments over large chain hotels. You’ll often be staying in family homes, which gives you the chance to get to know the local people of the Highlands of Scotland.
Q. Which meals are included in the tour?
A. All breakfasts are included in the price of the tour, and you’ll enjoy fantastic breakfasts at each accommodation which will set you up well for each day in the saddle. Lunch and dinner are not included in the trip price. Each morning we will pick up our own provisions for lunch, or stop at a local café. We can cater for most dietary requirements. We’ll have dinner in a local pub, café or restaurant in the evening. This means that everyone can choose exactly what they want for lunch and dinner and only pay for their own choices. You should allow around £15-£25 per day for lunches and dinners.
Q. What type of mountain bike is best for this trip?
A. A good quality full suspension mountain bike with 150mm travel front and rear will be ideal for this mountain bike tour. The terrain you will be riding is rough and rocky, and is much better enjoyed on a full suspension bike. We can arrange bike hire for you for the duration of your trip; please let us know if you would like to rent a bike in Scotland.
Q. What clothes and kit should I bring?
A. The weather in Scotland is changeable at any time of the year, so you must make sure that you have a waterproof jacket that you can ride in, and you should also bring plenty of layers of breathable clothing to ensure that you are always warm enough and can remove a layer if you get too hot. You should bring cycling shorts/trousers, gloves, a warm jacket for the evenings, padded undershorts, and specific shoes for cycling. We would also recommend bringing elbow and knee pads for some of the trails. There’s a full kit list in the tour brochure.
Torridon and Skye
It wasn't just an ordinary biketrip - it was also a fascinating journey into the heart of scotland! ...
read more