SAMPLE ITINERARY

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Day 0: Arrival in Inverness

• Arrive the day before to avoid flight or luggage delays

• Meet your guide the following morning in Inverness

• Our trip partner, H+I Adventures, has a handy guide for 24 hours in Inverness

 

Day 1: Inverness – The Mast

• Welcome briefing at H+I HQ with coffee and cake

• Pedalling directly from the H+I Adventures HQ we'll climb into the local network of enduro trails where we'll make sure our bikes are dialled and our legs are warmed up for the week ahead.

• This ride is a chance to come together as a group, set collective goals and work on finding our flow.

• With a steady progression of trails, we'll tackle features and build confidence for the days to come with a strong foundation.

• This lesser-known network of trails has a reputation for being steep and gnarly, although our expert guides will navigate you through and craft a ride that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

• Lunch at HQ, then transfer to Aviemore and dinner at a traditional pub

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Day 2: Aviemore

• Hearty Highland breakfast, pedal straight from guest house

• This network of trails boasts some of Scotland's original enduro trails and is a classic riding destination that's not to be missed.

• Accessed via a mixture of forest roads and technical climbing trails we'll work hard for our descents, but the rewards are well worth it.

• With roots, rocks, slab rolls and loamy dirt, these trails highlight what makes the Cairngorms such a special place to ride.

• This morning will give an opportunity to progress our riding skills as we aim to broaden the tools at our disposal to tackle the challenging days ahead.

• Lunch at local cafe, more mileage through Caledonian pine forests

 

Day 3: Laggan

• After breakfast we'll take a short drive to Laggan where a dedicated team of local trailbuilders have been working their magic in the forest.

• With over 20 miles of purpose-built trails to explore on one side of the valley, this is only the tip of the iceberg. This 3-4hr ride will mix it up between flowing trails with berms and tabletops and technical trails that have been crafted by hand to challenge even the most talented of riders.

• Laggan's network of natural trails are steep and at times committing, so now it's time to start putting your new skills to good use.

• Once we've had our fill of these epic trails, we'll once again fuel up ourselves before driving onwards to the west coast. This 1hr45min drive takes us through the dramatic landscape of Scotland where you'll notice the mountains begin to towering above and the coastline reveals itself. Home to Scotland's coastal temperate forests, Lochaber is one of the most stunning and scenic areas to travel through.

• This evening we'll have time to visit one of Scotland's most scenic beaches before sampling the local cuisine in our favourite seafood restaurants.

 

Day 4: Isle of Skye

• Ferry from Mallaig to Skye with views of the Cullin Mountains

• Today's out and back route takes us through a glacial valley that gives us spectacular views of the black cullins on one side and the red cullins on the other.

• These awe inspiring mountains are steeped in mountaineering history and will try to steal your attention as you keep focus on the challenging natural trail ahead of you.

• With river crossing and the formidable Scottish waterbar to contend with, this ride is all about finding your flow and riding efficiently to reach a ‘hidden gem’ at the far side of the island.

• Finish with a dram at historic Seumas’ Bar

 

Day 5: A taste of Torridon – Achnashellach

•  Leisurely breakfast with coastal views

• Once ready to roll, we'll make the short drive to the Torridon Mountains - the home to Scotland's most spectacular mountainous riding.

• This is our chance to sample this type of terrain as we prepare for our epic adventure to come. While these trails are not purpose-built for mountain bikes, they do offer lots of flow and endless fun to those who have the skills to find it. 

• As the trail narrows and we head further into the mountains, we'll face technical climbs with large steps and rocks to navigate. Thoughts of this challenging climb are soon forgotten as you reach the high point and the true grandeur of Torridon opens up in front.

• From here, you'll be glad to know that all that lies ahead of you is arguably Scotland's best natural descent! This taste of Torridon will leave you excited and even more thrilled for tomorrow's big adventure, where we'll get to retrace the tyre marks we’ve left on this epic descent again.

• This evening we'll be hosted at the home of two locals who have created a spectacular guest house that will be our home for the next two nights. 

 

Day 6: Torridon Classic

• Make sure to fuel up this morning as today is a big mountain day! 

• As far as mountain biking in Scotland goes, this classic route has it all and will leave you feeling tired and inspired in equal measures.

• As we ride through this vast landscape we’ll have most of the trails to ourselves, passing only a few other adventurous souls. As we begin to retrace our tracks from yesterday and take on the first singletrack climb, we know the reward of yesterday's epic descent lies ahead. As the only section of trail you'll ride twice this week, you can have fun perfecting your line.

• We'll pace ourselves throughout this all day adventure and carry everything we'll need with us. A remote bothy provides us the perfect place to stop for a rest and take on some food before our second big climb and hike-a-bike of the day. After riding the final 6.5km descent back down to sea level, we’ll share a celebratory drink and high-fives over what has been a truly epic day in the mountains.

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Day 7: Contin – flow trails

• Today we'll say goodbye to the rocks and rough singletrack of Torridon and dial things back a little as we set our sights on the flowy trails of Contin. 

• This network of forest trails offers maximum fun for as little effort as possible. We'll take a relaxed pace as we lap the trails, find our flow again and enjoy our last highland fling together. With a steady climb trail and a variety of descents that encourage you to pump and jump your way through the forest, this is the perfect way to squeeze the last out of your legs. 

• Once we have enjoyed multiple laps, we'll load up and transfer back to H+I Adventures HQ. Here we'll have time to package bikes before heading to our accommodation in Inverness. This evening we'll enjoy one of our favourite restaurants in town for our final celebratory meal together.

 

Day 8: Departure

• Sadly, this is the end of your mountain biking adventure in Scotland, and we’ll bid farewell after an incredible biking adventure across the Highlands.

• Having spent the night in Inverness, you can depart after your breakfast and make your way to the airport or train station whenever you wish today.

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Inclusions:

• Twin-share guest house/ small hotel accommodation

• All ground transport (riders, bikes, bags)

• Local guide support

• Mental performance and skills coaching with Jake

• Access to our #GlobalExpeditions Community Discord before and after the trip

• Breakfast each day 

• Eat like a local meal plan and logistics (For lunches and dinners, we often put in one big food order and pick it up for you/as a group.) This allows for ultimate convenience, while still giving you the option to eat what you want.

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Optional Extras:

• Single Supplement/Room

• Yeti SB140 Bike Rental
   

Not Included: Flights, Lunch & Dinner, and travel insurance.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Travel Insurance is mandatory.

To allow ultimate flexibility, while also keeping things easy, we'll offer meal venue bookings and local recommendations so you can eat like a local, or also do your own thing if you choose, where options allow it.