Biking Tour across Scotland Glasgow to Edinburgh
Single / Double
£1545/ £890
Tour Period
Any Start Date from February to November.
Tour Nights
4
Tour description
A four centre self-guided biking tour across central Scotland from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Includes 4 nights bed and breakfast in en-suite (wherever possible) guesthouse accommodation, luggage transfers, and 3 days biking with hire of a 21 speed all-terrain bike. Also includes train ticket back to Glasgow, route details and phone app navigation.
Between the Clyde and the Forth are Scotland’s largest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. This tour gives you a chance to experience both in one trip and enjoy some beautiful Scottish scenery too. Starting in Glasgow the route gives you a glimpse of the heavy industry and shipyards that this city was once famous for. It is now a city of culture with a vibrant atmospheric night scene. The route follows the river Clyde on a traffic-free bike trail that takes you to the outskirts of the city at a nice easy pace to Airdrie. A legacy of disused railways and canals paths form the backbone of this bike route and an impressive sculpture trail leads to Livingston. The Water of Leith and the Union Canal Paths provide a traffic-free approach to Edinburgh, Scotland’s political capital, with many national monuments and impressive buildings to visit. On your final morning of the tour you catch a train back to Glasgow and return your bike to the hire shop. This tour can easily be done in reverse if you prefer.
Sample schedule
START and FINISH of TOUR: Glasgow is in central Scotland.
ARRIVAL DAY: At Glasgow you will be fitted out with your bike. Your 1st night’s accommodation is in Glasgow near the start and finish of this tour. There are many places to eat in this vibrant city from fish and chip shops to traditional pubs and a large variety of restaurants. Overnight: Glasgow, Scotland.
DAY ONE: Glasgow to Airdrie. Distance approx. 20 miles (32 km). After breakfast you will pick-up your bike from the hire shop and begin the ride through Glasgow on a biker friendly route that is very flat at the start. Free from traffic this cycleway gives you time to get used to the bike and take in the sights as you go. With plenty of opportunities to buy a sandwich or have a pub lunch along the way, this is a great bike ride. The route follows the river Clyde to Uddington, where a short climb takes you out of the Clyde valley towards your destination for today. Airdrie will provide your second night’s accommodation and a selection of pubs and hotels will give you many choices for your evening meal. Overnight: Airdrie, Scotland.
DAY TWO: Airdrie to Livingstone. Distance approx. 21 miles (34 km). Using the Airdrie to Bathgate Railway Path today the route crosses the central plateau of Scotland. This disused railway line was once used for the old industries of quarrying, coal mining and to link the mining villages. It is now a sculpture trail which closely identifies the past communities here through art. There are breathtaking views over beautiful surroundings and old mining towns offer the chance for refreshments or lunch. This all makes for another very enjoyable ride before reaching your destination for today Livingstone. This busy new town has a good variety of places to eat. Overnight: Livingstone, Scotland.
DAY THREE: Livingstone to Edinburgh. Distance approx. 19 miles (31 km). From Livingstone the route passes through steep wooded valleys of the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park before reaching the Water of Leith Walkway. This is another very enjoyable section of the tour with traffic-free cycle trails leading through beautiful Scottish countryside, making for a superb biking experience. Joining the Union Canal towpath (again traffic-free) this takes you right into the city centre of Edinburgh. With many tourist attractions to see here plus a vibrant city night life, Edinburgh is an ideal place to celebrate completion of this tour. Overnight: Edinburgh, Scotland.
FINAL DAY: Return to Glasgow. Today you catch the train with your bike back to Glasgow.
Travel Description
RAIL TRAVEL from LONDON to GLASGOW (NOT included in tour price): There is an hourly train service from London (Kings Cross) to Glasgow. The nearest international airport is Glasgow, just one-hour away.
RAIL TRAVEL from EDINBURGH to GLASGOW (included in tour price): There is a train every 30 minutes from Edinburgh to Glasgow.
ARRIVING and DEPARTING by EUROLINES or NATIONAL EXPRESS COACH: This is by far the cheapest option for long-distance travel in England, Scotland, and Wales. There are very convenient buses from each major airport. National Express carries over 16 million passengers to 1000 different places in the UK every year, and thousands more from destinations across Europe and Ireland. You can purchase an e-Ticket where you print your travel ticket online in a matter of minutes OR you can obtain an m-Ticket and have your travel ticket sent to your mobile phone - no paper ticket required. You then present this to the driver on arrival.
ARRIVING BY CAR: Please ask for details.
Tour Start Location
Tour End Location
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Related Categories
Tour Code:
GE04
Options
Discount rail ticket to and from Glasgow.
Grade
D
Grade Description
GRADE D (cycling): Between 19 - 21miles (31 - 34kms) a day. This route is principally a flat ride. We recommend that clients bring their own bicycle equipment helmets, clothing and shoes. If you have clip-on shoes we suggest that you bring your pedals too. You will start cycling about 10am and finish at approx. 4pm. These grades are for guidance only and will depend on weather conditions and your fitness.
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