{"id":31849,"date":"2026-11-11T08:50:44","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T08:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?post_type=bestemming&p=31849"},"modified":"2026-11-11T08:50:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T08:50:44","slug":"scottish-highlands","status":"publish","type":"bestemming","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/bestemmingen\/verenigd-koninkrijk\/schotland\/schotse-hooglanden","title":{"rendered":"Scottish Highlands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why cycle in the Scottish Highlands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the Scottish Highlands you cycle for hours without seeing a car, over narrow roads with passing places, past lochs and under bare mountains. The weather is changeable and the distances between villages are long, but those who experience it have one of the most beautiful cycling experiences in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Highlands are famous and notorious. Famous for their beauty, notorious for the weather. But anyone who rides here quickly forgets the rain: lochs, barren mountains, empty roads and the freedom to camp almost anywhere. Has anyone ever heard of bikepacking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most beautiful cycling areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Applecross and the West Coast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Bealach na B\u00e0 to Applecross climb rises from sea level to 626 meters, with sections up to 20% and hairpin bends like in the Alps. One of the toughest climbs in Great Britain. Along the west coast, the single-track roads follow the lochs and bays, with views of the islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glencoe, Rannoch Moor and Fort William<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The road through the Glencoe valley is spectacular, but busy: head out early in the day. On Rannoch Moor you cycle through one of the emptiest landscapes in Europe. Fort William lies in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain, and is the start of the Great Glen to Inverness along Loch Ness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cairngorms and Aviemore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Cairngorms National Park is located in the middle of Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee, with Aviemore as the outdoor capital. For gravel enthusiasts, it is one of the best places in the country: the Burma Road is a climb of about 4.5 kilometers with 500 meters of elevation gain over surprisingly beautiful gravel, followed by a long descent with views of the Cairngorms. Read our story Searching for gravel heaven in Aviemore, Scotland<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isle of Skye<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The island of Skye is located on the northwest coast and is absolutely stunning to cycle around, both on the road and off it. The Quiraing is probably the most visited and photographed place, but there are also beautiful places further along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long routes and bikepacking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n