Trek Travel - Golfing and Hiking

Day 1 - Sunday 22^nd September - Braemar to Ballater

Your Trek Travel guides will meet you in Perth at 11am. From Perth we head north to the Highland village of Braemar in the Cairngorms National Park. Get set for the week with your custom bike fit, before enjoying a relaxed lunch at a local cafe. Our warm-up route first takes us on a scenic loop along the River Dee and through the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest. We’ll then head east along the river, passing the Royal Castle of Balmoral before arriving in the quaint village of Ballater, our base for the next 2 nights.

Overnight: Ballater | Darroch Learg
Room Type: Mixture of rooms to accommodate the group
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 - Monday 23^rd September - The Highest Golf Course in the UK

Don your golfing shoes this morning as you head to the Highest Golf Course in the UK to test your skills on this famous 18 hole course.  Set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, the course offer stunning views of the River Clunie and the surrounding mountains – you may even spot an elusive red deer watching you tee off from the high ridge lines.

This afternoon you will head to a local whisky distillery to indulge in a tour and tasting of the famous Uisge Beatha before returning to your hotel for the night.

Overnight: Ballater | Darroch Learg
Room Type: Mixture of rooms to accommodate the group
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 - Tuesday 24^th September - Whisky Country

Enjoy a relaxed Highland breakfast before rolling out of Ballater and into the hills for the ride to Nethy Bridge in the heart of Speyside’s Whisky Country. Our route crosses one of the highest roads in the UK, the Lecht Pass with some steep ramps which will test even the fittest of riders. From the top of the pass, it’s a fast blast downhill into the highest village in the Highlands – Tomintoul, where we enjoy lunch. More climbs and descents follow lunch as we cross the Bridge of Brown and descend to the village of Nethy Bridge where our ride ends. A 45 minute transfer then takes the group into the capital of the Highlands – Inverness and our hotel for the next two nights.

Update for 2024: Avid riders can extend beyond Nethy Bridge and ride to Aviemore, adding 11 miles and 300 feet of elevation gain to the ride. The group would transfer from Aviemore to Inverness together.

Overnight: Inverness | Glen Mhor Hotel
Room Type: Mixture of rooms to accommodate the group
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 - Wednesday 25^th September - Golf on the Moray Coast

Another day of golf awaits us today as you head to Cabot Highland – one of the best courses on the north coast.  This stunning links course is home to a 17th century castle and an art deco clubhouse as well as impressive views as it hugs the Moray coastline which is home to a plethora of wildlife including playful dolphins who might put on a show as you rest between holes.

If there is time this afternoon we will end the day at the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle fought on British soil, when Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite rebellion came to a bloody end in 1746. We take a walk around the battlefield to stretch our legs and soak up the atmosphere, before a 10 minute shuttle takes us back to the hotel. Tonight is a free evening and our guides will help you with reservations at local restaurants; or simply dine at the hotel.

Overnight: Inverness | Glen Mhor
Room Type: Mixture of rooms to accommodate the group
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Thursday 26^th September - Inverness to Loch Ness Explorer

We ride directly from one hotel to the next today, via the banks of iconic Loch Ness. The route takes us out of Inverness and onto the open moorlands above Inverness. A fast descent takes us down to the shore of Loch Ness, and we enjoy a fabulous ride along a shore-hugging road, with one eye on the road and the other looking out for the monster as we ride towards the village of Foyers. After lunch, we ride across the wild moors which form the southern banks of Loch Ness. The ride ends with an epic descent which drops 1,300 feet over 5 miles, taking us down to the banks of Loch Ness itself and directly to our hotel in the attractive village of Fort Augustus. After settling into the hotel, there is time for a thrilling RIB trip on Loch Ness – the perfect aperitif! Our final night dinner celebrates a memorable week of riding the Highlands.

Overnight: Fort Augustus | The Lovat Hotel
Room Type: Mixture of rooms to accommodate the group
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6 - Friday 27^th September - Fort Augustus to Foyers

Bid farewell to the Scottish Highlands – perhaps with one final ride up a local classic climb used on the Loch Ness Etape, or simply enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we transfer to the Highland capital of Inverness (1 hour approx). We’ll depart the hotel at 11am so that we reach Inverness Airport by 1230 to connect with regional flights to London/Amsterdam or for trains south to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Meals Included: Breakfast