Scotland's top five 'bikepacking' trails this summer for scenic bike ride

Daily Record

4 days ago

From the Scottish Borders to the northern coast.
Scotland's top 'bikepacking' routes have been named. Cycling trails across the country were singled out, including the Cairngorms National Park Route and the Borders Three Abbeys Loop.
As the summer progresses, many Scots will be keen to get out and make the most of it before autumn rolls around. When it comes to taking in Scotland's sights, it is hard to top a bike ride—with bikepacking in particular being a popular phenomenon.
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Bikepacking refers to backpacking with a bike, using light bags that attach directly to the bike as opposed to carrying around a large backpack. Bikepackers carry their own food and equipment, with the aim being to spend a couple of nights sleeping under the stars or in a bothy.
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Ahead of the midpoint of summer, The Insurance Emporium have shared a roundup of five "off the beaten track" bikepacking routes across Scotland to take on. Ranging in difficulty and length, there is sure to be at least one that stands out.
1. The Badger Divide
The Badger Divide route, which links Glasgow and Inverness, will take cyclists through the spectacular Scottish Highlands—with plenty of awe-inspiring landscapes to admire. It features a blend of gravel roads, rocky passages, forest paths, and lanes, as well as numerous lovely towns and villages.
According to The Insurance Emporium, The Badger Divide is medium-to-hard in difficulty. It is also 200 miles in length, taking around five days on average to complete.
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The route offers numerous opportunities for camping. The experts state that there are also "plenty of bothies, youth hostels, and B&Bs on the route".
2. Cairngorms National Park Route
This route will lead you around the Cairngorms National Park, which is home to both a quarter of Scotland's native forest and four of its tallest mountains. It begins in Aviemore, taking in some of the Speyside Way through a mixture of farmland and woodland.
The experts state that the Cairngorms National Park Route has a length of 186 miles and usually takes four days to finish. Like The Badger Divide, it is a medium-to-hard trail.
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Highlights of the route according to The Insurance Emporium are its hidden lochs, beautiful Scots Pines, and barracks from the Jacobite period. Also singled out was Tomintoul, which is the highest village in the Highlands.
3. Borders Three Abbeys Loop
As the name suggests, the Borders Three Abbeys Loop features three famous Scottish Borders abbeys. Cyclists will be able to see landmarks such as Melrose Abbey and Monteviot House along the way—each having their own fascinating history.
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The circular route is shorter than others on the list at 39 miles in length, and is also classed as easy. It can take anywhere between two and seven days to complete, depending how often you stop to take in the sights.
Despite its short length and overall easy difficulty, The Insurance Emporium warns that there are some steep sections along the way. The route is also popular amongst horse riders.
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4. Alternative North Coast 500
The North Coast 500 (NC500) is one of Scotland's most iconic road trips, taking in 516 miles of the country's breathtaking northern coastline. The Alternative North Coast 500 is a version of the route that is perfect for cycling, combining parts of the NC500 with off-road sections.
The Alternative North Coast 500 is divided into five parts, with a total length of 191 miles. The route, which is classed as having a medium difficulty, should take four or five days from start to finish.
Among the standouts of the trail are Bealach na Bà and Loch Shieldaig. The former is one of the highest roads in Scotland, while Loch Shieldaig is home to stunning shore-side cottages.
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5. The John Muir Way
Rounding out the list is The John Muir Way, which The Insurance Emporium describes as "a great introduction to bikepacking". The route links Helensburgh in the west with Dunbar—birthplace of Scottish naturalist John Muir—in the east.
According to the experts, The John Muir Way is another medium-difficulty trail. At 132 miles in length, cyclists should expect to complete it in four or five days.
The route was singled out for its wildlife-spotting opportunities. In particular, the East Lothian town of North Berwick was named as a top destination to look for seabirds.