The best cycling spots in the country have been crowned following the start of the Easter holidays.
Scotland’s top cycling trails have been named(Image: SolStock / Getty Images)
Scotland’s “best cycle routes and trails” have been crowned. With the Easter holidays now in full swing, and ahead of summer, The Times put together a list of the top 21 routes across the country.
As the weather warms up, more and more Scots will be looking to get out and soak up some sun. Scotland features a wealth of things to do, but for those looking for something active nothing beats a good bike ride.
Last week, The Times published an article detailing its picks for the “21 best cycle routes and bike trails in Scotland”. The roundup includes routes that take in mountains, beaches, and forests.
The Tain to Tarbat Ness Lighthouse journey was named as the number one cycling trail in Scotland. According to the newspaper, the route is “moderate” in difficulty and is 26 miles in length.
Taking approximately 3.5 hours to complete, the bike route begins in the royal burgh of Tain, north of Inverness. It ends at the Tarbat Ness Lighthouse at the northwest tip of the Tarbat Ness peninsula.
The Times stated that the highlight of the route is the village of Portmahomack. The small fishing village is located around three miles from the historic lighthouse, and is home to the acclaimed Tarbat Discovery Centre heritage museum.
Portmahomack was named as one of the top sights along the Tain to Tarbat Ness Lighthouse route(Image: SueBurtonPhotography / Getty Images)
Other highlights of the Tain to Tarbat Ness Lighthouse trail include the Glenmorangie distillery and the Mermaid of the North. The former is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery that offers both tours and tasting experiences, while the Mermaid of the North is a 10-feet bronze-cast sculpture situated at Balintore near Tain.
The Times wrote: “A superb half-day coastal loop through the Easter Ross peninsula from one of Scotland’s oldest towns to one of its finest lighthouses.”
Elsewhere, the second-best cycling trail in Scotland according to The Times is between Glasgow and Loch Lomond. The newspaper states that the 20-mile route is “easy”, and should take approximately two hours to complete.
The trail begins in the heart of Scotland’s biggest city and ends by the banks of Loch Lomond. Along the way, cyclists will pass the banks of the River Clyde and River Leven.
One of the sights along the Glasgow to Loch Lomond trail singled out by The Times was Dumbarton Castle in the town of Dumbarton. The castle, which has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland, dates back to the Iron Age.
The newspaper stated: “A brilliant half-day cycle from the heart of Glasgow to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Best of all, it’s almost entirely traffic-free, following disused railway lines and canal towpaths.”
According to the experts, Dumbarton Castle is one of the highlights of the Glasgow to Loch Lomond route(Image: creativenaturemedia / Getty Images)
Following behind in third place on The Times’ list is the trail between Mallaig and Arisaig. The route is classed by the newspaper as “moderate” and is 18 miles in length, taking approximately two hours to complete.
One of the best stops along the trail according to the experts is Camusdarach Beach just south of the estuary of the River Morar. The sandy bay, which featured in the classic 1983 movie Local Hero, offers panoramic views out to the jagged crest of Cuillin on the Isle of Skye.
Other cycling trails named by The Times as being among the best in Scotland include routes between Selkirk and Bowhill in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway.
The full list of the “best cycle routes and trails” in Scotland can be found on The Times website.