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Bikepacking Scotland: 5 Best Routes for First-Timers

Five weekend bikepacking routes graded by difficulty — distance, surface, wild camping spots and the gear compromises that matter.

OutdoorSCOT 24 April 2026 8 min read

Quick Summary

  • Five routes from 45 to 130 miles, each doable in a weekend or long weekend — gravel tracks, forest roads and quiet single-track lanes
  • Scotland's right-to-roam means you can wild camp legally anywhere along the route — no permits, no campsites needed, just responsible pitching
  • You don't need a dedicated bikepacking bike — a gravel bike, hardtail MTB or even a sturdy touring bike handles all five routes
  • Plan your gear — our Gear Checklist Generator builds a Scotland-specific bikepacking kit list for your season

Scotland is the best country in Europe for bikepacking. Legal wild camping, thousands of miles of off-road tracks, bothies you can sleep in for free, and landscapes that justify the suffering of pedalling a loaded bike uphill in the rain. The only problem is knowing where to start — the options are overwhelming and most bikepacking content online assumes you are either racing the Highland Trail 550 or have three weeks off work.

These five routes are for people with a weekend. They are tested, graded honestly, and chosen because they work as standalone trips rather than arbitrary segments of longer routes.

Quick Answer: The five best beginner bikepacking routes in Scotland are: the Caledonia Way (Oban to Inverness, 130 miles, 3-4 days, mostly tarmac), the Great Glen Way (Fort William to Inverness, 79 miles, 2 days, canal towpath and forest), the Borders Loop (Peebles-Innerleithen-Traquair-Peebles, 45 miles, 1-2 days, forest tracks), the Speyside Way by bike (Aviemore to Buckie, 65 miles, 2 days, old railway and forest), and the Argyll Forest circuit (Dunoon area, 55 miles, 2 days, forestry roads). All are rideable on a gravel bike or hardtail MTB with bikepacking bags.

1. The Borders Loop — 45 miles, 1-2 days

Start/finish: Peebles or Innerleithen Surface: 70% forest tracks, 20% quiet roads, 10% singletrack Difficulty: Easy-moderate Best bike: Gravel bike or hardtail

The perfect first bikepacking overnight. A loop through the Tweed Valley forests linking Peebles, Innerleithen and Traquair via forest roads and the old drove road over Minch Moor. You are never more than 5 miles from a town, the navigation is simple, and the riding is on wide, well-maintained forest tracks.

Wild camp in the forest above Traquair — flat ground, shelter from wind, running water nearby. Or use the trail centre car parks as a base and treat it as a supported outing.

Why this one first: zero commitment. If the weather turns or your legs give out, you are 30 minutes from a pub with a fire.

2. Great Glen Way — 79 miles, 2 days

Start: Fort William Finish: Inverness Surface: 50% canal towpath, 30% forest tracks, 20% quiet roads Difficulty: Easy Best bike: Any — gravel, hybrid, touring, hardtail all work

The Caledonian Canal towpath from Fort William to Fort Augustus is the flattest, easiest long-distance off-road riding in Scotland. Then forest tracks and quiet roads to Inverness. The Great Glen is sheltered from the worst weather by the mountains either side.

Wild camp on the canal bank (flat, grassy, midges in summer) or at Loch Oich. Bothies are not on the route but the Great Glen Hostel at South Laggan is a good halfway stop.

Why this one: dead flat for the first 30 miles. Confidence-building. Scenic without being punishing.

Try it yourself

Our free Gear Checklist Generator

builds a Scotland-specific bikepacking kit list based on your season and trip length — tent vs bivvy, stove weight, clothing layers, repair kit.

No sign-up required.

3. Speyside Way by bike — 65 miles, 2 days

Start: Aviemore Finish: Buckie (Moray coast) Surface: 40% old railway, 30% forest tracks, 30% quiet roads Difficulty: Easy-moderate Best bike: Gravel bike ideal, hardtail fine

The Speyside Way walking trail is not fully cyclable, but a parallel bikepacking route uses the old Speyside railway line, forest tracks and quiet roads to follow the River Spey from Aviemore to the Moray coast. The riding is gentle — downhill gradient the whole way — through Caledonian pine forest and whisky country.

Stop at distilleries. This is explicitly allowed and encouraged. Macallan, Glenfiddich, Aberlour and Cardhu are all within a mile of the route.

4. Argyll Forest circuit — 55 miles, 2 days

Start/finish: Dunoon or Benmore Surface: 80% forestry roads, 20% quiet roads Difficulty: Moderate (some steep climbs on forest roads) Best bike: Hardtail or gravel

A loop through Argyll Forest Park using the dense network of forestry roads above Loch Eck and the Holy Loch. Proper west-coast atmosphere — sea lochs, Atlantic oak woodland, rain. The climbing is real (1,500m+ cumulative) but all on wide, graded surfaces.

Wild camp beside Loch Eck — one of the finest loch-side wild camping spots in southern Scotland, accessible by bike but feeling genuinely remote.

Getting there: CalMac ferry from Gourock to Dunoon (30 minutes from Glasgow by train to Gourock, then the ferry). The approach is part of the adventure.

5. Caledonia Way — 130 miles, 3-4 days

Start: Oban Finish: Inverness Surface: 60% quiet roads, 25% cycle paths, 15% forest tracks Difficulty: Moderate (distance, not terrain) Best bike: Touring or gravel

The longest route on this list and the closest to a proper multi-day tour. NCN Route 78 from Oban to Fort William, then NCN Route 1 through the Great Glen to Inverness. Mostly tarmac with some gravel sections — the main challenge is distance rather than surface.

The Oban-to-Fort William section runs along the coast through Appin and past Castle Stalker — one of the most scenic road rides in Scotland. Fort William to Inverness follows the Great Glen (Route 2 on this list).

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Kit essentials

Bikepacking kit is a separate discipline from hiking kit. The constraints are different: weight matters less than volume and how it sits on the bike.

Bags: A frame bag, handlebar roll and saddle pack give you 15-25 litres — enough for a lightweight overnight. Fork-mounted cages carry water bottles or dry bags.

Shelter: A bikepacking-specific tent (MSR Hubba NX, Nordisk Lofoten) or a bivvy bag. Hammocks work in the forested routes (Borders, Argyll, Speyside).

Sleeping: Lightweight synthetic sleeping bag (comfort 5°C for summer, 0°C for spring/autumn). Compact inflatable mat.

Clothing: Same layering principles as hillwalking — base layer, insulation, waterproof shell. Pack one set for riding, one dry set for camp. No cotton.

Repair kit: Multi-tool, spare inner tube, tyre levers, pump, chain link, brake pads. A snapped chain or flat tyre 20 miles from a road is a very long walk.

Try it yourself

Our free Naismith's Rule Calculator

is built for walking, but the terrain multipliers help estimate how long off-road bikepacking sections take when your loaded bike halves your speed.

No sign-up required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What bike do I need for bikepacking in Scotland?

A gravel bike handles 4 of the 5 routes comfortably. A hardtail MTB handles all 5. A touring bike with wider tyres (35mm+) works for the Caledonia Way and Great Glen. You do not need a dedicated bikepacking bike — strap bags to whatever you already ride and go.

Is wild camping legal on bikepacking routes in Scotland?

Yes. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives you the right to camp on most unenclosed land. Pitch after 7pm, leave before 10am, leave no trace. The only restrictions are the Loch Lomond Camping Management Zones (east shore). See our wild camping guide.

What is the best time of year for bikepacking in Scotland?

May-June (long days, before peak midges) and September (golden light, declining midges, cool riding). July-August are warmest but midge-heavy on west coast routes. The Borders Loop and Speyside are rideable April-October.

How fit do I need to be?

Fit enough to ride 40-65 miles per day on mixed surfaces with a loaded bike. The Borders Loop (45 miles) is achievable by anyone who rides regularly. The Caledonia Way (130 miles over 3-4 days) needs genuine endurance. All routes have bailout options by road.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional instruction or safety guidance. Bikepacking on off-road tracks carries risks including mechanical failure, weather exposure and remoteness. Carry repair tools, check weather forecasts, and tell someone your route plan. OutdoorSCOT is not liable for any incidents arising from the use of this information.

Sources

Tagsbikepackingmountain bikingwild campingscotlandgravel