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Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's top five 'bikepacking' trails this summer for scenic bike ride
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Daily Record
07-06-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's top six fishing spots and what you can catch at each named
From the River Dee to Loch Lomond, Scotland is certainly not short of stunning fishing spots Scotland's top six "must-visit" fishing destinations have been named. Rivers, lochs, and more are all included in the roundup. Scotland is regarded as one of the top locations for fishing across the globe. From its idyllic surroundings to the various species that can be caught, it is perfect for both seasoned anglers and newcomers alike. On Wednesday, June 4, The Insurance Emporium published a list of the top places to fish across Scotland. A total of six destinations are included on the roundup, including two rivers, two lochs, and two seaside spots. The first fishing destination featured on the experts' list is the River Spey, which is the third-longest and fastest-flowing river in the country. The river runs from Spey Loch to the sea on the Moray Firth. According to The Insurance Emporium, the River Spey is an especially good spot to fish for salmon and trout. It is considered among the most important salmon rivers in the whole of the UK. Another river singled out by the experts for fishing is the River Dee. One of the the highest rivers in the UK, it runs from the Cairngorms down through 81 miles of Royal Deeside to the North Sea at Aberdeen. Like the River Spey, The Insurance Emporium stated that the River Dee is a top spot for salmon and trout. They also praised its clear and fast waters and abundance of shallow pools. Meanwhile, the first loch in Scotland named by the experts as among the best fishing locations in the country is Loch Awe. Situated in Argyll and Bute, it is the third-biggest freshwater loch in the country—covering a surface area of around 38.5 square kilometres. According to The Insurance Emporium, Loch Awe is a good place for salmon, pike, and brown trout. The ruined Kilchurn Castle also provides a picturesque backdrop as you wait for a bite. The second and final loch included in the list of the top Scottish fishing spots is Loch Lomond. It is the largest loch in Scotland by surface area, covering 71 square kilometres, and is among the most iconic in the country alongside Loch Ness. There is a wide selection of fish that the experts suggest fishing at Loch Lomond, including salmon, pike, sea trout, chub, perch, and dace. It is recommended that fishers journey out onto the water by boat for the best chance of landing a bite. Elsewhere, for those interested in some seaside fishing, The Insurance Emporium recommends Dunnet Head. The most northerly point on Great Britain, Dunnet Head is famous for its spectacular coastal views. The northern spot was named as a top destination for skate and halibut fishing. Meanwhile, the Dunnet Head Fishing Club is the northernmost fishing club on mainland Scotland. Finally, the last location in Scotland that was named among the best for fishing is Stonehaven. Stonehaven is a picturesque town situated along the northeast coast of Scotland, around 15 miles out of Aberdeen. According to the experts, Stonehaven is a great place for cod and sea bass. They also state that flounder and mackerel can be found in its waters. The Insurance Emporium website states: "Scotland offers so much to fans of the great outdoors, with its rugged landscape, amazing coastline and beautiful lochs, and fishing is no exception. "But with so many different locations it can be a challenge to find the right spot, so we've put together six of the best spots to cast your line, whether you're after trout and salmon, or sea fishing, there really is something for everyone. So, let's take a look at six of the top fishing destinations in Scotland." The Insurance Emporium website. Scotland's top six fishing spots The River Spey The River Dee Loch Awe Loch Lomond Dunnet Head Stonehaven
