[Closed] Multi day cycle routes in scotland, suitable for a 7 and 11 year old.

We have quite a few young families doing the Hebridean Way every year. It's on road but traffic levels are low and (mostly) slow. Campsites can be quite far apart though so some flexibility n accommodation would be necessary. There is no dedicated cycle network that is long/contiguous enough to stay off road for long,regardless of where they go and any "proper" mountain biking tracks will be a bit high and rough for most 7 years olds - and again you're looking at wild camping.

I'd suggest they head to the Inverness area and consider doing some shorter rides from there if they want some wild camping. A circuit of Glen Affric, a loop from Aviemore, the Great Glen Way/NCN78 might all work.

thanks,

my only suggestion was the great glen way, but wasn't sure about camping, or surface. I think they're looking for sites rather than wild, but I'll ask.

Have a look at the Coast and Castles route. Newcastle to Edinburgh but no need to do the full thing.

You can ride the route and get the train back to the start.

Some sections are off road but nothing too difficult. Should be plenty of campsites along that coast too.

It's only partly in Scotland though of course.

my only suggestion was the great glen way, but wasn’t sure about camping, or surface. I think they’re looking for sites rather than wild, but I’ll ask.

The GGW has some significant climbs.

It's hard to judge the capabilities of adults. 7 year old kids? I might guess at something like 20 miles per day (unless they are extraordinary like Tom Seipp). There won't be a multi-day route with a string of campsites 20 miles apart.

Thinking further about the Coast and Castles, there is a variation of the route inland from Berwick up the Tweed. So they could do a circuit from Berwick using that route first to Edinburgh and then back along the coastal route.

great,

The remit is north england/scotland.

I think the prospect of visiting Newcastle may be appealing, as she spent some time at Newcastle uni many years ago.

The GGW has some significant climbs.

It’s hard to judge the capabilities of adults. 7 year old kids? I might guess at something like 20 miles per day (unless they are extraordinary like Tom Seipp). There won’t be a multi-day route with a string of campsites 20 miles apart.

Yeah I suspected that. very difficult to judge fitness, they live in Leipzig and if anything like their parents, bike or walk pretty much everywhere.

http://bikepackingscotland.com/eastlothian/

Thinking further about the Coast and Castles, there is a variation of the route inland from Berwick up the Tweed. So they could do a circuit from Berwick using that route first to Edinburgh and then back along the coastal route.

I did a similar route with my 9yo son in July - 4 days from Newcastle to Edinburgh, around 65 miles per day on a mix of tarmac and dirt. We used Saddle Skeddadle to do luggage forwarding as, frankly, it was enough of an expedition without also asking the boy to shift his own kit too! They will do the same trip over more days (at more expense, of course) if you need it. Not the cheapest, but the accommodation and support were both really good.

It's an absolutely glorious ride and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Day 2 was the best, riding from Warkworth to Berwick, via Holy Island. This day had the most off-road and followed the coast for most of the day, so was scenic too. Overall, it's a mostly (80%) road route though, so don't expect much gnar. The last day climbs over the Moorfoot Hills into Edinburgh - fine if you spend your life in the dales like we do, but make sure they take their own kids' abilities into account or they'll have a pretty miserable time of it...

Highly recommended, whether you choose to do some or all of it. Shout if you want any more details and I'll try to provide.

How about some of the John Muir Way - camp site locations on the website -  https://johnmuirway.org