There are huge advantages to a motorhome holiday: plenty of space, the freedom to stop where you want and eat when you’re ready, an always-available loo (handy when travelling with kids). But there’s one disadvantage: motorhomes are big, and parking isn’t always easy outside campsites. That’s where bikes come in handy.
With a bike you can reach all sorts of places that a motorhome simply won’t fit. Picturesque villages with narrow streets, woodland paths, mountain tops and beaches are all accessible on two wheels.
Cycling’s a great way to see the scenery and you’ll have a far better chance of spotting wildlife on a quiet bike than in a vehicle with an engine. It’s easier and quicker to lay your bike on the ground and grab your camera than to find somewhere safe to park, so you’ve more chance of catching those great ephemeral shots of birds, trains or clouds.
Scotland offers every type of biking you could possibly want, from technical black runs and peak-climbing roads for the tough guys to family-friendly flat routes round lochs and through woodland. We’ll concentrate on the family routes this time.
Lochs and Woodlands
The Cairngorm Mountains don’t sound as though they’d provide easy cycling routes for families, but the Speyside Way between Aviemore and Boat of Garten is 5 miles (8 km) of gently undulating off-road paths. It’s National Cycle Network route number 7 (NCN7) and is signposted along the way. It runs alongside the Strathspey Railway, which operates steam trains – and you can get back to Aviemore on one: bikes and children are welcome on board! Or you could ride another 2.5 miles to see the birds Loch Garten Osprey Centre.
The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park offers the Rob Roy Loop ride, a 13 mile (21 km) circular route through the Strathyre Forest (home to red squirrels), past lochs and through Balquhidder village, site of the grave of Rob Roy MacGregor. It’s on a mix of quiet roads and cycle paths and part of the route is on NCN7.
Loch Leven Heritage Trail in Fife runs for 13 miles around the loch – though not always close to it – on a flat gravel path. Loch Leven is an RSPB reserve, so there’s plenty to see and Lochleven Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner, is a short boat-ride away on an island (it’s run by Historic Scotland and is open 9.30-5 through the summer). There are a couple of cafés strategically placed for breaks, and information boards map the route as you go round.
Tentsmuir Forest and National Nature Reserve, near Tayport in Fife, is a coastal woodland with dunes, tall Scots pine trees and even Roman remains. The car park is open from 8 am to 8.30 pm in summer (sunset in winter); it costs £2 to park for the day and you need the right change for the ticket machine. You might be lucky enough to spot the resident red squirrels or even seals enjoying the sun on the beach, and there are miles of easy trails to explore.
Canal and Railway Cycling Routes
The Deeside Way, in Aberdeenshire, offers another short (5.5 m, 9 km), easy route with variations. You start in Station Square, Ballater, and follow the scenic route of the old Deeside railway along the River Dee. Two miles from Ballater you can take a short side-path to Tullich Kirkyard, where you’ll find Pictish stones. Back to the railway line you continue to Cambus O’ May and its splendid suspension bridge. From here you can either go to the Burn O’ Vat and the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve or continue to Dinnet (7 miles from Ballater) and even, if you have the energy, to Aboyne (10 miles from Ballater).
Further west, you can ride the Caledonia Way from Fort Augustus on Loch Ness to the Laggan Locks. This section is 11 miles long, with views of mountains towering above you and a good chance of seeing golden eagles and red deer. The route follows the towpath of the Caledonian Canal and the line of the disused Invergarry to Fort Augustus railway, including the Loch Oich railway tunnel. There are plenty of places to stop for picnics, and there are parking, toilets and a café each end, so one member of the party can drop you off at the start, then drive to the other end and collect you.
Staying with the rail and canal theme, the Lochwinnoch Loop starts at Paisley Canal station and follows the railway line to Lochwinnoch – or further, if you have the time and stamina. Along the route are sculptures, including the Bedrock Bike, which could have been made for Fred Flintstone! You’ll also pass Castle Semple Visitor Centre (a good place for a pit-stop) and RSPB’s Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, next to the station. If you go on to Kibirnie (another 4 miles), you can take the train from Glengarnock station back to Paisley with your bikes.
One of Scotland’s most famous engineering feats, the Falkirk Wheel, is on the route of the Helix Park circular cycle route (16 m, 25.5 km). Helix Park is home to another iconic sculpture, the Kelpies, an extraordinary creation that’s worth a visit in its own right. There are plenty of car parks, cafés and other facilities dotted around the route, and you can take a boat ride on the Falkirk Wheel if you fancy a break from cycling.
Mountain Biking
Tarland Trails, at Drummy in Aberdeenshire, is a mountain-bike centre with both short circuits and longer trails for kids and adults of all abilities – even children who still need stabilisers can enjoy the trails here. It’s a great place to improve your skills, and the car park is right near the end of the trails, which is handy for the start and finish of the day as well as for lunch (there’s no café).
The Forestry Commission has trails at several of its sites in the south of Scotland. Many of them come under the 7stanes banner. The best ones for kids are Kirroughtree and Glentrool (Galloway), Forest of Ae and Mabie (Dumfries), Newcastleton (Borders)and Learnie Red Rock Trails (near Inverness). You can find out more about all of them on the Forestry Commission website.
Open Access for Riders
The Scottish right of “responsible open access” applies to cyclists as much as walkers: you are free to ride wherever you like as long as you cause no damage and don’t disturb wildlife, horses or livestock. On narrow routes cyclists should give way to walkers and horse-riders.
If you avoid bogs, don’t churn up the surface of paths, stay away from organised shoots, take your litter home with you and generally behave responsibly, you’ll be welcome. Not getting lost is good too: take a map (mobile phone reception is not always reliable) and know how to read it.
One thing to be careful of when riding in rough countryside is your health: check everyone for ticks when you finish your ride, wear sunscreen (it may not be Caribbean-strength but the Scottish sun can still burn) and use midge repellent anywhere in the Highlands and Islands.
It’s also sensible to carry a light-weight waterproof, water, high-energy snacks, a small first aid pack and a puncture repair kit. And don’t forget your camera!
Scotland’s scenery is glorious and we hope this guide to some of the easier, family-friendly cycling routes will help you get out there and enjoy it.
