Am contemplating a wee tour with wife and 2 kids in August. I think we'll probably do it fully car-supported (I'll ride back to the start each day to get the car) and we're ambivalent about camping. Kids are 8 and 5. Here are some parameters:
- Probably no more than 25km a day, ideally less
- 3 days, maybe four
- Fairly flat to accomodate the 5yo on a singelspeed
- Scotland only please (we live up North so England is a billion hours of driving away)
- As little car traffic as possible
Currently looking at the southern part of the Great Glen Way (prob go FW-FA) but open to suggestions elsewhere too. First impression of GGW is that accomodation might be limited but that was just a cursory google.
Any other suggestions to investigate?
I’d just rent a property/ caravan around Loch Sween, and explore its myriad delights.
Very quiet roads, so long as you avoid the notorious A73.
spectacular sunsets.
To be clear, we want to do a point-to—point tour. Cheers
Rhins of Galloway, Ayrshire Coastal, or SW300 (sections, not all). Not too many large hills, lovely scenery. vmgscot did one of his excellent write ups here:
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/rhins-of-galloway-coastal-path/
arran or mull?..quiet roads if you pick the right ones
Callander to killin? all off road but some climbing. lovely old railway. you could add the road along the south of loch tay as well. very little traffic
The John Muir Way is a very good family orientated route esp the Edinburgh to North Berwick section. You could start a bit before Edinburgh or ride further down the coast to Dunbar . ( The Dolphin Hostel is good.)
Not familiar with the distances without checking.
I think a few years back there was some promotion for this route as a.family bikepacking route. Some nice beaches and castles to see as well .
If Calmac sort their boats out, how about sections of the Hebridean Way?
Callander to Killin as TJ suggested is a fantastic route and very safe for kids as it’s mostly all cycle path, probably one of the best cycle paths in Scotland. Then south Loch Tay to Kenmore, very quiet.
I would start at Aberfolyle cycle over the hill to Callander day 1 along the 3 lochs drive and round via Invertrossachs, around 25k, Day 2 Callander to Killin 35 miles (maybe too much) then south loch Tay on day 3 25k. You could cut day 2 down by stopping at Lochearnhead and making it 4 days.
Fairly flat
old railway lines would seem to be the obvious choice -- like the Deeside Way (66km) --
also near enough to 'civilisation' if bail out is required due to bad weather etc!
Connel to fort william? Its an old railway to Ballachulish(mainly) then crap cycleway to Corran ferry, cross the ferry, wee road to the wee ferry back to fort william. Two ferries for added adventure
How about the spey way aviemore to buckie.
Thats mostly flat and off road isn't it?
And you can boost back on faster option to reduce tedium of driving.
Or you could...
Do glasgow to Edinburgh on the canal.
How about the spey way aviemore to buckie.
Thats mostly flat and off road isn't it?
Nope.
I was thinking of the Moray Coast Trail but there would be some pushing/carrying on the section after Hopeman and there's now a short section of minor road required due to the collapse of the Spey Bridge.
Thanks for the suggestions so far. A good shout on the connel path - I'm riding that way at the end of the month so can scope it out.
Will add deeside way and the Moray stuff to the pile to research too.
It's been on my to-do for ages - so I've never done it and can't confirm how well it matches - but what about coast-to-coast from Bonar Bridge to Ullapool? Proper adventure 🙂
There is some climbing in it - but I believe it's short bits.
KOMOOT.COM Or: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/stw-scotland-ullapool-to-bonar-bridge-c2c2c/
there is a bothy!
I have done that c2c routw. Its tough going in places and rough tracks
Might be one to wait until the 5yo has some gears then. 🙂 - does look like a fun route though.
wait until the 5yo has some gears
I remember when my two were young that really stuff like Manifold trail or Monsal trail were enough for days out on the bike, little legs tire easily, and the weather and surface conditions have a bit impact on their enthusiasm/endurance...
basically taking into account interesting (for kids) stuff en route is crucial, so rivers for skimming stones, paddling in etc, or picnics, farm-parks, play areas--if any sort of distance is involved with a 5 year old, I'd be looking at getting a 'tag along' to save any tears!
Might be one to wait until the 5yo has some gears then. 🙂 - does look like a fun route though.
Very fun
There are longer options, including starting at Garve.
I will second connel to fort william. Despite following the main rd you're normally far enough away for it to be fine. Ballhullish to corran isn't great, wide pavement, but v busy rd. Only you'll know if your child is ok on this.
If you wanted to extend it you can continue past the fort William ferry and come back along the east side of loch shiel on gravel. But there is a massive hill over to Strontian. Also there is a short section on the mallaig rd. You may choose to shuttle this in the car.
Another extension would be to start in Oban and go via the lismore ( another two ferries, bonus fun).
Deeside way was my first though. But unless your happy to wild camp. Camping options are about 20-25 miles apart.
Plenty wild options once your beyond peterculter.
The 201 and 202 stagecoach busses will carry bikes. Easier to get them to do so from deeside back to town but if you could persuade them I'd try and get the bus up deeside and ride back -in essence it's a net downhill that way and mostly sheltered from wind.
Callander to Killin
Yes but no.
I'd be tempted to break it down a bit.
My thoughts:
Head south.
Killin south has a big climb out to Glen Ogle, then you're basically downhill to Callander.
There are some lovely sections south of Loch Venachar, west of Callander. Over the Dukes is a big hill!
Loch Katrine - get the steamer along the loch and then cycle back. Hilly but my 6-yr old did it.
There used to be a hostel near Balquhidder. Took my then 10-yr old to it. Waded across the loch at the end of the day and he was chest deep 8) Had a good night's sleep and returned to Callander the next day. Excellent adventure
South Loch Tay goes up and down like a bride's nightie. There is no way I'd take a young child along it.
Ember bus can be used to commute up and down.
Given that you are using car support, why not do selected sections of the Great Glen.
i would do Neptune staircase to Loch Lochy.
Loch Oich to Fort Augustus.
Dochgarroc locks To Inverness.
These are the sections which are flat or slightly down hill.
The section along Loch Lochy is not flat and you get routed higher up the hill than the map shows.
Thanks for the suggestions all
A few off road ideas here:
- Surely there is an Aviemore area 'connect the campsites and bunkhouses' gravel loop to be planned from Grantown / Nethy / Morlich / Aviemore loop that would be 20-25km a day?
- Loop using Oban - ferry to Lismore - back to mainland - a *lot* of that is off road or small tracks, the only awkward bit is Corran back to Oban as it is hill or main road. But you could leave family in coffee shop at Corran and go get car yourself?. Some short n steep hills on Lismore, but only a few metres of elevation climb.
- The Speyside way from Grantown to Aberlour is super easy quiet backroads and railway gravel - not sure of accomodation options.
- The Deeside way is a lovely connect the railway lines pootle.
The Speyside way from Grantown to Aberlour is super easy quiet backroads and railway gravel
You're remembering it wrongly. The road from Grantown to Cragganmore has some significant undulations and sees a reasonable amount of traffic. I mean, not enough to put me off riding it, but I'd not expect a 5 year old to be tackling it.
I used to remember so much more... It's all now a sunny blur of rides!
