Coast and Castles (North) 3 nights, 3 days riding
- Itinerary
- What's included?
- Extra nights?
- Tour facts
- Elevation & terrain
- Travel info
- Weather
Start
Travel to Edinburgh where your first night's accommodation has been booked
Day 1
Edinburgh to St Andrews. 64.5 miles (103km)
Day 2
St Andrews to Montrose. 52 miles (83km)
Finish
Montrose to Aberdeen. 54 miles (86km)Depart from Aberdeen after completing the tour, or add an extra night in Aberdeen during the booking process for an extra charge
Your Itinerary
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than 2.5 miles from the trail to your accommodation.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
What's included?
- 3 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail.
- Breakfast each day.
- Door to door luggage transfer.
- Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
- An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
- Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.
Extra Nights & Rest Days
As you cycle through the dramatic Scottish landscape, you will undoubtedly come across a variety of areas that invite further exploration, from fascinating historical towns to lively cities packed with invaluable facilities. Adding in a few extra nights into your cycling holiday will give you ample time to discover all the hidden gems along this remarkable trail.The capital city of Edinburgh at the start of the trail is a fantastic choice for an extra night's stay, offering a vast amount to see and do. Walk between the stone townhouses in the World Heritage Site of Old Town and New Town; visit Edinburgh Castle, perched atop the remains of an extinct volcano; or take in the incredible city skyline from Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, not to mention the countless museums, galleries, theatres and other landmarks that Edinburgh offers. There is certainly something here to satisfy everyone's tastes, including modern and traditional shops, markets, bars and restaurants galore, as well as plenty of health centres and spas for those in need of a little TLC to get warmed up for the adventure ahead.
Finally, the striking granite city of Aberdeen, nestled amongst the hills and stretching out to the coast, is a perfect place to spend an extra night, especially if you want to extend your holiday that little bit longer. Whether you're after a shopping trip, a chance to discover art and culture or simply time to explore the many great attractions, Aberdeen has entertainment in abundance. While the coastline is one of the best places to spot wildlife such as seabirds and dolphins, the Cairngorms National Park is full of peaks and deep glens that are also home to rare animals such as red deer, golden eagles and red squirrels, giving wildlife lovers plenty to look out for.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Tour Facts
Total distance: 170 miles (272 km)Duration: 3 nights, 2 days riding
Minimum daily distance: 52 miles (83 km)
Maximum daily distance: 64.5 miles (103 km)
Code: C-CCN1 Grade: Demanding
Season: 19th March - 15th October
Start of holiday: Edinburgh
End of holiday: Aberdeen
Elevation & Terrain
Route profile
The route undulates at its start in Edinburgh and begins a steady climb shortly after departing Queensferry to a peak in Blairadam Forest. It would be a long, steady descent from here if not for the interruption of a few lesser climbs, the sharpest of which occurs shortly after departing Falkland.
Once past St Andrews, the ride levels out; three hills pose pleasant challenges on the way to Montrose. The route regains its undulation on the way to St Cyrus, diving sharply into Johnshaven and climbing abruptly before Inverbervie, and retains this hilly nature all the way to the final slow slope and level section into Aberdeen.
Terrain
- Cycle lanes
- Quiet roads
- Traffic-free cyclepaths
- Forest track
Predominately traffic-free on its way through Edinburgh to Inverkeithing, the route follows back roads through Fife all the way to Falkland. From here, minor roads press on to and through St Andrews. Well-maintained forest track leads through Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve.
A section of road-riding gives way to traffic-free cyclepaths into and through Dundee, all the way out to Arbroath and reoccurring when the route reaches Montrose. A section of smooth main road provides staggering views between St Cyrus and Inverbervie, interspersed with minor roads through to Stonehaven until they take over altogether, with a few further traffic-free sections between Portlethen and Aberdeen.
Travel Information
Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:By Air – The most convenient major city and international airport is Edinburgh International Airport.
By Rail – There is a railway station at the start of the route (Edinburgh), and one at the end of the route (Aberdeen).
From London – Trains run regularly between Heathrow or Gatwick Airports and North Queensferry. You can catch a train from London Kings Cross directly to Edinburgh Waverley.
Return to the Start – The easiest and fastest way to return to the start of the tour is to take a direct train from Aberdeen to Edinburgh Waverley.
Please note:
Most train lines will allow for bikes to be taken on board. We advise that you check on https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ as you may need to book a space for your bike or there may be a limit as to how many bikes the train can store.
Most buses in the UK are unable to store bikes on board, so we would recommend avoiding this form of transport.
Weather Information
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
- MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
- Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
- Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.
