Character:
Despite the short daily stages of a maximum of 60 kilometres, the route presented here is a case for advanced cyclists: up to 800 metres in altitude per day and a route on partly rough ground are too demanding for pure pleasure cyclists. Mountain-compatible derailleur gears and tyres that are not too narrow are recommended.
Tour tips:
The route presented here follows the route of a tour operator trip (see "Tour operator") from Inverness to Fort William. The route follows the course of the Great Glen Way long-distance footpath, which has a signposted cycle variant in some places. Avoid the motorway in the hollow of the Great Glen. From Fort William, a train transfer to the south-east overcomes some mountain ranges. The cycle route then continues from Rannoch Station towards Pitlochry.
The stages in detail:
Inverness - Drumnadrochit
(approx. 37 km, 550 metres in altitude),
Drumnadrochit - Fort Augustus
(approx. 39 km, 850 metres in altitude),
Fort Augustus - Fort William
(approx. 56 km, 450 metres in altitude),
Fort William - Rail transfer to Rannoch Station - Tummel Bridge
(approx. 39 km, 200 metres in altitude),
Tummel Bridge - Pitlochry
(approx. 37 km, 400 metres in altitude)
Best time to travel:
Theoretically, the whole long season from April to October is suitable. However, there are good reasons to avoid the peak season in July/August: Unlike in our latitudes, May and June are (relatively) dry months, and it doesn't get much warmer even in "high summer". In addition, accommodation in bed & breakfast establishments is still available spontaneously before the peak season and in September. Campers should bear in mind that the tiny, cloudy mosquitoes only become really active from June onwards.
Arrival by train:
Thanks to the Channel Tunnel, you can also get to Scotland without travelling by ship or plane. The Paris-Edinburgh route takes around eight hours, and another three hours from there to Inverness. No bike transport to London. However, hire bikes are available in Inverness (or Pitlochry).
aeroplane:
With the 2010 summer flight schedule, Lufthansa offers a direct flight from Düsseldorf to Inverness. Otherwise, we recommend travelling via Glasgow or Edinburgh and continuing by train (bicycles can be taken free of charge in Scotland, but sometimes require a reservation). Booking train tickets in advance reduces the price. They are possible via sites such as http://www.visitbritaindirect.de or http://www.firstscotrail.com
Food:
The cuisine at Bunrannoch House near Kinloch Rannoch, around 30 kilometres from our destination in Pitlochry, is outstanding. The freshly prepared multi-course menu made from regional ingredients and home-grown game is well worth the £30 per person. You can also stay there. http://www.bunrannoch.co.uk
Accommodation:
If you don't stay in bed & breakfasts, you're missing out on Scotland. The prices of these private guesthouses range from around £25 to £50 per person in a double room with breakfast. There are rarely more than ten guests in one accommodation, which makes it very informal. The brochure "Bed & Breakfast nationwide", available at http://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.co.uk lists the companies.
Organiser:
The trip presented here can be booked with: Wikinger Reisen Individuell, telephone 02331/904804; http://www.wikinger.de
The organiser takes care of the accommodation, luggage transport and provides robust rental bikes.
Maps/literature:
Lonely Planet: Scotland (German edition), 19.90 euros On 540 pages, this classic "alternative" travel guide, updated in 2009, provides extensive practical tips and background information.
Unrivalled for the first part of the tour: The waterproof detailed map Footprint Maps: The Great Glen Way incl. Cycle Route, ISBN 1 871149622 Otherwise, a good road map is sufficient, e.g. Marco Polo: Scotland/ Northern England 1:300,000, ISBN 978-3-8297-3761-6
General information:
The full-length article from issue 4/2010 is available as a free PDF download.
