Scotland's greatest challenge route, the Caledonian Way runs the length of the Great Glen Fault, along Loch Linnhe and Loch Ness.
It starts at remote Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula: summer ferries run from Ardrossan, which has trains from Glasgow. Quiet roads take it towards Oban, after which a multi-year programme has seen miles of new cycle path built to avoid the busy A828. Crossing to the other side of Loch Linnhe at Corran, and back again at Camusnagaul, means you can avoid the nasty A82 - but check the ferry times carefully.
Paths beside the Caledonian Canal, and the Military Road high above Loch Ness, take you the rest of the way to Inverness.
Holiday traffic can be a pain in high summer, but that aside, this is a superb route and not too difficult.
You’ll find that many parts of the route are signposted as National Cycle Network route 78; other parts have lost their NCN number due to the speed of motor traffic but now have a Caledonian Way signpost.
Made in the Cotswolds. Published by Éditions Système D Ltd.
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Ridden this route? Write a ride report and share your experience…
Rode Inverness to Arran (Brodick) over 6 days, 21-26 September 2021. Overall really enjoyed, although going North to South maybe not the best idea given the prevailing sou'westerly winds. The route is well marked and the riding surfaces very good overall. An interesting mix of terrain: lochs, canals, forests, seaside, old railway line. Very little main road. On the single track roads the drivers were pretty considerate.
Day 1: Inverness to Fort Augustus. Good food stop at Camerons Tea Room, Foyers.
Day 2: To Corpach (near Fort William). Stayed at Travee B&B. Host is a cyclist and looked after me well.
Day 3: To Oban. Took 45 mins to get to the Camasnagaul ferry from Corpach. Good coffee van at the Corran ferry (before getting on ferry). Eventually easy ridimg on an old railway line until towards Taynuilt and some tiring rolling hills into Oban.
Day 4: To Cairnbaan Hotel. Biggest day, rolling roads especially down the side of Loch Awe. Recommend tea and cake stop at Dalavich post office. After Ford the terrain levels out across marshes to Crinan Canal. Good pub food at the Cairnbaan.
Day 5: To Tarbert. Scenic seaside riding around Knapdale. Good lunch stop at Port Baan camp site. Stayed at comfortable and cycle-friendly Dunivaig B&B.
Day 6: To Arran/Glasgow. Used Claonaig-Lochranza and Brodick-Ardrossan ferries. Bit of a long drag out of Lochranza on Arran but scenic and gave a great downhill whizz to Sannox and then flat seaside riding into Brodick., Took a train into Glasgow and stayed at a city centre Travelodge, which was cheap and happy to look after my bike.