Our nation’s western beauty is widely admired. At West Coast Tours we guide thousands of people around the wonderful islands of Mull, Iona, and Staffa every year. Our tours offer visitors the chance to see the islands in all of their glory, but for those looking to venture slightly off the conventional route, a cycling trip can be a great way to navigate through the islands.
The spectacular scenery on offer and the tranquillity of the island roads make Scotland’s West Coast the perfect location to tour on two wheels! The roads are suitable for cyclists of all ages, are almost all single tracked, and are the perfect getaway from the hectic cosmopolitan lifestyles of Edinburgh and Glasgow!
There are a variety of magnificent routes on offer to cyclists. One of which is the Treshinsh Loop, an incredible 33 mile cycle which in the summer months you’d be forgiven for mistaking was somewhere far more exotic than Scotland.
With bikes stationed at Tobemory ready to start, cyclists are encouraged to head towards Dervaig, then round to the ruins at Crackaig, where you’ll take in some of the islands most astonishing views. As you round off the trip passing through Haunn and Calgary, you’ll struggle to remember a better cycling route in this part of the country!
Looking for something a bit different? Alternatively, cyclists could take on the Craignure to Iona cycle, which is 37mile-long and spectacular throughout. This is an enjoyable ride and manageable for all cycling enthusiasts, the only potential challenge to riders is the small climb at approximately the 12-mile point. The highlight of this journey is perhaps towards the end, where the last 10 miles will have cyclists purring as they cross the Ross of Mull, where they will be treated to the most wonderful views of the Treshnish islands and Staffa. With empty roads for the most part, cyclists will have the roads to themselves, however do look out for the occasional West Coast Tours bus!
Another great circuit is the Carsaig to Bunessan via Loch Assapool, which is a 45km cycle that should take riders approximately 4 hours. Cyclists will have to tackle a mixture of on and off road terrain, which can make the journey tricky, but the stunning views on offer throughout certainly make it worth the effort!
There are also several bike hire locations across Craignure, Fionphort, Salen, and Tobemory for those not bringing their own! The roads of Scotland’s West Coast are best enjoyed in the summer months from April – October, and if your legs need a rest, don’t forget you can always book onto one of our wonderful tours to see what our wonderful Western islands has to offer!
