2 minute summary Map & highlights North Coast 500

Cycling in Scotland travel guide

There are few more satisfying ways to explore Scotland than by bike. As our cycling vacations in Scotland travel guide explains, a glorious sense of freedom is matched with a wonderful range of landscapes and a warm welcome from often remote communities that you pass along the way. Read on to learn about the trips available, as well as all you need to know about the practicalities.

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Cycling in Scotland travel guide

There are many ways to explore Scotland’s wildly beautiful landscapes: hiking them, cruising the lochs, islands and canals, leisurely touring by train… But for sheer satisfaction, cycling takes some beating. The joy of reaching a hilltop after an arduous climb and dismounting to take in the views, a free-wheeling descent to a deserted sandy beach, the camaraderie of a small group of riders cheering each other into the hotel every afternoon.

In a country where the right to roam is a given, cycling lets you make the most of that sense of freedom.

Ride coast to coast on the Great Glen Way, bash mountain trails in the Cairngorms National Park, embark on a modern classic with the North Coast 500, or enjoy a more leisurely approach with a sail-and-cycle tour of the Inner Hebrides aboard a traditional schooner. Wherever you go, cycling in Scotland fosters deeper connections with local communities, from the family-run hotels you stay in to the little cafés you stop at for a cup of tea and a breather along the way.

Read our Scotland cycling vacations travel guide for more.

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Cycling in Scotland is…

as varied as the weather, crossing beaches, mountains, lochs and islands.

Cycling in Scotland isn't...

about speed or endurance, but basking in the scenery and camaraderie.

Go cycling in Scotland if…

… you want to take your own bike. Our vacation partners can often have it picked up from home and dropped off again afterwards. … you want a very low carbon vacation. Get up there easily by train, eat locally sourced and delicious produce, and pedal your way around for a truly eco-friendly adventure. … you love a sense of total freedom. While many trips are guided small group tours, others, such as mountain biking in the Cairngorms, take advantage of Scotland’s right to roam.

Don’t go cycling in Scotland if…

… you want year-round cycling. Early or late summer is your best bet not only for good weather, but fewer midges. … you want a test of endurance. Sure, there’s bound to be some big climbs involved, but these routes are designed to be savoured at a relaxed pace. … you’re strictly a fair-weather cyclist. Scotland, especially the northern reaches, is often damp even in summer. Embrace it, pack wet weather gear, and think of that hot toddy waiting for you.

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Best time to go cycling in Scotland

Weather-wise, the best time for cycling in Scotland is late spring to early autumn. Beware summer’s midges, though – and traffic on the NC500.

In 2019, a survey found that Scots’ favorite word was dreich: grey, damp and miserable weather. However, don’t let fear of the dreich put you off cycling in Scotland. The weather here is nothing if not changeable, and between late spring and early autumn you can be reasonably confident you’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures and not too much rain. The North Coast 500 is best in May or September, dodging the worst of midge season and the crowds. The Cairngorms are lovely April-December and guides help you avoid the busiest routes. Summer is the best time for cycling in the Inner Hebrides.

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Written by Rob Perkins

Cycling in Scotland travel guide