Guided Bike and Boat Tour of Scotland

Individual flight to Edinburgh or Glasgow and from there either by train or bus to Oban. Your cabins on the Flying Dutchman are ready for you as of 6pm. Should you arrive earlier, we can store your luggage on board until check-in time. You are also welcome to use our transfer service leaving at 5.30pm from the train station in Edinburgh and at 6pm from Edinburgh airport. During a late dinner, you get to know your crew and tour guides.

After breakfast, we set out for our first cycle trip. We shall cycle southwards from Oban through some hilly landscapes and along the shores of a small highland lake back to the sea. Here we shall cross to a remote peninsula before embarking on the ferry which takes us to the island of Luing. The island is made up of slate and was a major industry here years ago. The slate form this island has been used on many buildings in Scotland, namely the University of Edinburgh is one. At the Toberonochy dock, the Flying Dutchman awaits us to sail over to Crinan where we will spend the night.

Today we set off on our bike tour towards Kilmartin where you shall see one of the many ancient stone circles which can be found in Scotland. These will maybe remind us of Stonehenge and prehistoric burial mounds which characterize this vast landscape. After visiting the museum grounds and enjoying lunch at the Museum Cafe, we return to Crinan. Then we board our boat and sail past the Kintyre Peninsula which was made famous by the Paul McCartney song ‘Mull of Kintyre’. We now continue by boat to the island of Jura.

After our breakfast, we then cycle northwards on the Island of Jura along its south-east shore. The renowned author, George Orwell, spent the last three years of his life here and described it as the most unattainable place on earth. Enjoy this tranquil island while enjoying the remote scenes, which is only occasionally disturbed by one of the about 5,000 deer that live there. Soon we reach a small dock where the Flying Dutchman takes us to the island of Mull. On the way we pass the swirling waters of Corryvreckan, one of the largest natural whirlpools in the world where three great tidal streams converge – but do not fear, our experienced crew will guide us safely to a quiet bay on the island of Mull for the night.

Today’s cycle tour is dedicated entirely to the spectacular natural beauty of Scotland. The route takes us through some hilly terrain and along the Island’s coastline. Behind every bend in the road, another breathtaking view awaits. After the road divides, and the few cars that we have encountered along the way so far have turned off towards Iona, we share the road virtually only with sheep and shaggy highland cattle grazing peacefully in the bright green meadows. Along an ever-changing coastal road, we cycle past Loch Na’ Keal to Salen where the ship is waiting for us. 

Today we will encounter an elevation gain on our ride through the northern part of the Island of Mull. A reward is a cosy tearoom that offers us a welcomed reprieve before we head for the brilliant white beach of Calgary Bay and its crystal-clear waters. It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland and swimming enthusiasts should not pass up this opportunity to jump in for a refreshing swim but be warned the water will be cold. Ship ward bound we cycle through a lush valley until we meet the shoreline, shortly before Tobermory, offering breathtaking views. Tobermory is famous for a children’s TV program and is a beautiful little town with its colourful houses along the shoreline. Tonight you have a chance to try the local hospitality in a local pub and maybe try the local fish and chips produced from the fresh local catch.

Today we have a shorter cycle ride towards Glengorm Castle. The Castle is also known as Castle Sorn and is a 19th-century Manor House.  A James Forsyth of Quinish purchased the local town there in 1856, demolished it, and built the house in 1860. Here there are magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean to the Island of Coll. We then return back to Tobermory to board the Flying Dutchman, to ferry us back to Oban. Before dinner, we will have the opportunity to take a stroll through Oban. The McCaig’s Tower, an incomplete replica of the Coliseum in Rome, is a worthwhile visit.

After breakfast, an individual return trip home from Oban or group transfer to the Edinburgh airport.