SCOTTISH COAST TO COAST

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1 - GUIDED BIKING HOLIDAY The Scottish Coast to Coast is the iconic mountain bike journey through the highlands of Scotland and our experienced local guides are dedicated to giving you the mountain biking experience of a lifetime. Our guided mountain bike holidays on the Scottish Coast to Coast allow you to join a small friendly group of mountain bikers, enjoy Scotland s best mountain biking, experience our fascinating culture, landscapes, people and perhaps the odd wee dram. SUMMARY Our mountain bike adventure starts in Fort William and after 200 miles of grin inducing riding in the Scottish Highlands finishes in Montrose on the East Coast. You will enjoy outstanding single track, endless descents and the best off-road riding you have ever experienced. This mountain bike journey through the highlands of Scotland is unbeatable in the quality of riding it delivers. Everything from the finest manmade trails to smooth natural singletrack combine to make for an unforgettable mountain bike holiday. Macs Adventure is the leading provider of guided mountain biking holidays on the Scottish Coast to Coast. Our experienced professional guides take care of every details to ensure that your holiday runs smoothly. Everything from sharing those secret extra bits of trail to sorting out the lunch and craic in the evening is taken care of so you can relax and enjoy your riding. Our guided Coast to Coast features hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality B&B s, country inns, and guesthouses. We provide professional, fully qualified local guides, transfers for you and your bike from Glasgow to the start and back from the finish of the ride, door to door baggage transfer, packed lunches and a detailed information pack. HIGHLIGHTS Whooping and hollering down the 900m descent of Mount Keen. Riding the wide open spaces and natural singletrack of the Cairngorms National Park. IS IT FOR ME? Witches Trails. Discovering Scotland s whisky, culture and people in lively local pubs. This is a no holds barred, all out adventure as you cross Scotland off-road by bike. The going can be tough, but the addition of a guide takes the edge off the navigation and can give you technical tips in the tougher sections. The camaraderie on these trips is something special and you will make friends and have experiences that you will keep forever. Challenging yourself on the technical trails of the man made Laggan Wolftrax and Tour: Scottish Coast to Coast Code: BSGCTC Type: Guided Mountain Biking Holiday Price: See Website Single Supplement: See Website Dates: 24 May, 26 Jul, 16 Aug, 30 Aug Riding Days: 7 Nights: 6 Start: Fort William Finish: Montrose Distance: Miles Grade: Moderate to Strenuous WHY CHOOSE A GUIDED BIKING HOLIDAY WITH US? Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. An unforgettable weeks mountain biking with an experienced knowledgeable guide is hard to beat. Each day your baggage will be collected and moved onto your next hotel so that you are free to ride each day with just a daypack. Our experienced guides all live and work in Scotland and are all keen bikers as well as hold a valid First Aid Certificate. Meals are eaten together with your guide advising you of the best options available. So from the moment you decide to visit Scotland and the Coast to Coast you can relax and look forward to an unforgettable biking holiday with Macs Adventure. WHAT S INCLUDED? Accommodation: Hand-picked B&B s, small hotels, country inns and guesthouses. Meals: A hearty breakfast and packed lunch included. Dinner not included but always available at accommodation or nearby. Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage transfer. Services of a Guide: A fully qualified Mountain Bike Leader

2 Code: BSGCTC Riding Days: 7 Nights: 6 Average Daily Distance: 10 Miles DESCRIPTION The classic Coast to Coast Itinerary with time to enjoy the ride and explore the more challenging options and the local attractions. Day Route Miles 1 Fort William to Spean Bridge Spean Bridge to Laggan Laggan to Aviemore Aviemore to Tomintoul Tomintoul to Ballater Ballater to Edzell Edzell to Montrose 13 Total Distance DETAILED ITINERARY DAY 1 Fort William to Spean Bridge-13 Miles The Scottish Coast to Coast starts with a truly world class day of biking. After collecting you from Glasgow (9:00am) we travel to Fort William and the start of your epic journey. After a couple of miles of gentle canal side riding we throw ourselves into glorious singletrack behind the distillery and make our way to The Nevis Range and the manmade delights of The Witches Trails this man made forestry centre has miles of challenging singletrack and most riders will spend at least a couple of hours riding these fantastic trails. Alternatively gravity addicts may wish to tackle the awesome Nevis Range Downhill Track which has gondola uplift. After a few hours of fun you can enjoy a 15km spin on forest roads and singletrack to your overnight accommodation in Spean Bridge. Distant Hills, Spean Bridge DAY 2 GRADE This holiday is graded moderate to challenging and goes through remote and demanding terrain so you should be a regular and fit mountain biker who relishes the thought of a long day in the saddle. You should also be comfortable with dealing with trail side repairs or emergencies as these do happen. NAVIGATION The route is not waymarked. We will supply you with a route description, detailed maps with the route marked and a GPS with the route preloaded for you to use for the duration of the trip. This is not a substitute for sound navigation skills and at least two of your party should have good navigation skills. Spean Bridge to Laggan-35 Miles The days riding starts gently from Roy Bridge with a short road section, but this doesn t last. The trail quickly changes to a mix of technical natural singletrack and landrover tracks as we head east into the highlands. The quality of the riding is matched only by the spectacular views over Loch Laggan and The Grey Corries. The stage finishes at Laggan Wolftrax, one of the Forestry Commission s best trail centres. Those who want to test themselves further can play for as long as they like on the challenging singletrack, fun park and raised timber sections. Monadhliath, Laggan DAY 3 Laggan to Aviemore-34 Miles An awesome day of riding which has everything the highlands can throw at us. Epic scenery as we climb to the Head of Glen Banchor followed by river crossings, carries, a remote bothy and one of the best sections of singletrack descent, down into Newtonmore, and that is just the first section! A brief road section follows before we dive into Glen Feshie and Rothiemurchus Forests, a challenging mix of forest tracks, secret singletrack, romantic castles and all with the Cairngorms looming ahead of us. After an truly unforgettable day of riding we finish in Aviemore. Ravenscraig, Aviemore DAY 4 Aviemore to Tomintoul-28 Miles I get excited even thinking about today s riding, almost 100% off road, truly remote and with an awesome mix of epic climbs, technical singletrack and truly breathtaking views. The highlights include the climb from Glenmore past the fairy lake and up over Ryvoan Pass as well as the descent down into Tomintoul. It really is one of the best days you will ever have on your bike. Our overnight stay accommodation is in the village of Tomintoul. Argyle House, Tomintoul

3 DAY 5 Tomintoul to Ballater-28 Miles After a few tough days day 5 is a slightly more relaxed day riding mainly on Landrover tracks as you skirt the northern edge of the Cairngorms. The good news is that there are some sweet sections of singletrack to keep the mind occupied, awesome views and plenty of river crossings to keep you on your toes. A seemingly endless descent in the latter part of the day brings us to Ballater. There is plenty to keep us occupied for the afternoon, even if it is just catching up on some shut eye. Glenlui, Ballater DAY 6 Ballater to Edzell-39 Miles Day 6 is the highpoint of our weeks riding in every sense of the word. The first few miles of gentle riverside riding don t even begin to hint at what is to come but once you start climbing Glen Tanar and then the Mounth Road you will need every last bit of energy to get you to the top of Mount Keen, Scotland s most easterly Munro. The descent into Glen Esk is worth every bit of effort and you will be grinning for months at the very though of it. A short section of Tarmac brings us to the village of Edzell which is our last overnight stop Alexandra Lodge, Edzell DAY 7 Edzell to Montrose-13 Miles A final whoop along quiet country roads brings us to the sea at Montrose and the end of an unforgettable mountain bike journey through the Scottish Highlands. We pick you up (Approx 11:00) and head back to Glasgow and aim to be back in Glasgow by 14:00 dropping you off at your accommodation, the airport or bus and rail stations. A TYPICAL DAY The day starts with a hearty breakfast followed by a detailed briefing outlining the day ahead. We aim to hit the trail at about 10:00am. Your guides will ride at a comfortable pace but we carry plenty of spare maps and GPS units so if you wish to ride at a faster pace or branch out on your own this is an option. Your guide is there to help you get the best out of your holiday, not hold your hand every minute, so you can relax and get the most out of this awesome trail. We enjoy our packed lunch on the trail and generally reach the overnight stop mid-afternoon. Most overnight stops offer plenty of additional riding as well as other attractions so whether you choose to thrash the local trails, catch 40 winks or taste the local whisky there is plenty to do. We meet up in the evening for a meal (not included) at the hotel or local pub to go over the days war stories and look forward to the day ahead over a wee dram. RECOMMENDATIONS Additional Nights We can book accommodation in Glasgow before or after the tour. Just let us know at the time of booking. HOLIDAY INFORMATION Accommodation One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of the accommodation. We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm welcome to cyclists, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. Twin Roomshare If you are booking this holiday solo we will pair you in a twin room with another rider of the same sex. Single Rooms A limited number of single rooms are available. As all our holidays are priced per person based on 2 sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs we incur. Accommodation Location We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the itinerary, but because of limited availability we may have to accommodate you at an alternative location. Alternative details will be noted on your accommodation sheet. Meals A hearty breakfast and packed lunch are included. Dinner is not included and we generally eat together at a local pub or restaurant. Baggage Transfer Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 15kg per person. Equipment A mountain bike in good condition is essential. Most riders prefer riding a XC type bike although everything from a hardtail to all mountain will be fine. Your information pack has a detailed suggested equipment list which includes standard mountain biking gear such as helmet, cycling clothes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.

4 Bike Hire Macs Adventure is able to organise bike hire on your behalf. Hire of a standard good quality hardtail is 140 per week. Full suspension is available from around 210 per week. Availability Our guided Coast to Coast tours are very popular so it is best to book as far in advance as you are able to. Up to date availability and dates are available on our website PRICE Please see our Website for a current list of prices for this trip. Included Return transfers from Glasgow to the start/finish of the tour. Hand-picked bed and breakfast accommodation in B&B s, small hotels, country inns and guesthouses in twin/ double/single ensuite rooms. (Unless ensuite is unavailable) Packed lunch x 6 Daily door to door baggage transfer. A pre departure information pack. Excluded Travel to Glasgow. Dinners, snacks or drinks. Travel Insurance. Personal Equipment. Bike Hire TRAVEL INFORMATION Getting to/from Glasgow Transfers to Fort William and from Montrose are included in your holiday. Getting to Glasgow is easy, it is well served by public transport including bus, train and plane. Your information pack has detailed transport information. Many people choose to spend the night before and after their holiday in Glasgow and we can book your accommodation for you. If you are driving we suggest you book an airport hotel package which includes parking as this is very cost effective. We can store bike bags/boxes in Glasgow for the duration of your holiday. Financial Security Total Payment Protection Policy (topp) cover: In compliance with the UK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Company plc to protect customers prepayments paid in respect of: non-flight inclusive packages commencing and returning to the UK the ground handling aspects of packages where the customer is responsible for arranging travel to the destination offered in this literature (subject to the terms of the insurance policy), for: a refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled or in the unlikely event of our financial failure. Travel Insurance We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance to cover cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. We do not sell Travel Insurance, but for UK residents would recommend the services of Sports Cover Direct whose Venture Guard Product is suitable for our walking holidays. They can be contacted as follows. Phone: Web: Recommended Reading Scotland - Lonely Planet Guides Scotland: The Story of a Nation-Magnus Magnusson Responsible Tourism We operate adventures in some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in Europe and try to operate in an environmentally aware and sustainable manner. We do this by: Operating walking and biking adventures which are a low impact form of sustainable tourism. Encourage the use of public transport for travel to or from our adventures by supplying detailed information on the services available. We operate small group adventures which minimize the impact on the environment and other users. We support local business by buying local and using locally owned accommodation and services. We encourage the use of Carbon Offsetting as travel does have a hidden cost. Air Travel produces an inordinate amount of Carbon Dioxide emissions which contribute to climate change. Help to minimise the impact of your journey by offsetting your carbon emissions. Visit The Carbon Neutral Company for further details. Web:

5 HOW TO BOOK Once you have read all the information in this factsheet or our website and decided on your preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a call to confirm availability. You can then book by any of the following methods: Book Securely Online: Telephone: +44 (0) Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form and post it to Macs Adventure, Unit 510, 355 Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8QZ, UK or fax it to +44 (0) Please don t hesitate to contact us by phone on +44 (0) or info@macsadventure.com if you have any queries and one of our expert customer service team will be happy to help. I thought that the face price of the trip seemed a little expensive, but given the level of organisation and support, I take it back. I had a great time - it was a good group and I have been singing your praises ever since. All the best. Gavin Hanna Walkers Cycling BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Macs Adventure has arranged an insurance policy with Travel & General Insurance Plc to ensure that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. Macs Adventure has been operating since 2003 and operates according to the highest professional standards and the Working with VisitScotland Code of Conduct. TESTIMONIALS What Mountain Bike Magazine had this to say:"cara and I had originally planned too ride the route unsupported. In the end we went with Macs Adventure and loved every second of it. Having a a change of clothes ferried from one hostel or B&B to the next was nothing short of luxurious. Superb picnic lunches were a real treat, and it was great not to have to scrabble around with a bunch of soggy OS maps when it poured down. As the riding was so good it also meant we could make the most of the trails without a heavy backpack weighing us down. The Atmosphere at Macs Adventure was superb; organised but laid back, like we were with a bunch of mates." What Mountain Bike magazine February 06