Inverness for a day- any suggestions?

parkydj
parkydj Posts: 2
edited November 2010 in Routes
I'm DJing in a club in Inverness this Saturday but my flight gets in at 10am. Rather than spend the whole day in my hotel or the city centre shopping, eating, drinking etc. I thought I'd hire a mountain bike for the day. Any suggestions of where I could get one and where I should go? I'd rather not get too strenuous, but happy to break a sweat and push myself a wee bit and take in some amazing views. I don't envisage being out for more than 3 or 4 hours. Any ideas?

Comments

  • lg18
    lg18 Posts: 92
    If you can get transport, there is some lovely natural riding around Strathpeffer (NW of there) (google Strathpeffer puffer for route ideas!). c30mins drive N of Inverness.

    There is also the excellent RedRock trail centre on the Black Isle, c30mins from Inverness. Black and red runs, plus short but lovely fast bermy blue.

    Not sure about bike hire. Try google. Bound to be some in Inverness.

    Alternatively, catch a train S to Aviemore, where there is definitely MTB hire, and then the Cairngorms are your oysters! Lots of lovely natural riding on good fire roads and single track in Biiig country, with ancient caledonian pine forest, snowy mountains, red squirrels. Try the tracks in Rothiemurchus and Abernethy, round Loch an Eilean, etc etc. Just get an OS map and ride! You could even take the bike on the Strathspey steam railway one way, e.g. to Nethy Bridge, and cycle back various routes through the forest.

    Enjoy!
    Lucy
  • altern_8
    altern_8 Posts: 1,562
    i might be wrong as i asked the question in march this year for routes around inverness/elgin,you are looking at about 30 mins-hours drive to find anything good which might be a problem as you are flying up there.

    as lg18 says,aviemore does bike hire.

    couple of links i found,dont know if they will help.....

    http://www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport ... inverness/

    might be worth posting on this site for bike hire>>>
    http://www.moraymountainbikeclub.co.uk/
    Biking pics
  • Wildhighlander
    Wildhighlander Posts: 49
    If you're looking to cycle straight from the town and only have a few hours, you could head up Craig Dunain hill on the west side of town.
    You'll see it from the town centre if you look west - it's got a bloody great comms mast on top so you can't miss it !
    If you can get yourself onto Leachkin Road ( pronounced 'Larkin' - don't ask, I've no idea ! ) and then turn onto Leachkin Brae, the tarmac eventually runs out as you get higher up the hill.
    There's a Forestry Commission car park halfway up with plenty of easy routes around - just be ready for the walkers here too. Views back east over the town and the Firth are great.
    If you carry on up the hill past the FC car park, you'll find there are some nice bits of singletrack and DIY trails in amongst the trees.
  • bikecellar
    bikecellar Posts: 13
    was in strathpeffer 25/29 oct on a national coach holiday and there is a bike shop that does bike hire its called square wheels
    onward ever onward
  • CFS
    CFS Posts: 124
    Learnie is good fun, great views of the Firth too.

    If you want something flatter ride along the Canal from Inverness to Dochgarroch, it's a pleasant ride.

    There is also the Great Glen Cycle route, you can get to it from the Leachkin (Lachkin) but it is a wee bit of a climb up to it from town.

    You might get a bike at the big Tiso shop in the Longman (Gary Fishers) or Highland MTB (Giants ?) but they may have stopped doing them for the season.

    There is a guy in Cromarty MHBI does rentals he may meet you at Learnie 01381 600386 or mobile 07780 940 342, nice bloke.
    Shot by both sides...

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