The Snow Roads
Fàilte gu am Monadh Ruadh agus Rathaidean Sneachda
Welcome to the Cairngorms and the Snow Roads
The Snow Roads is a recognised route that scales some of the UK’s highest public roads to three of Scotland’s five ski resorts: Glenshee, The Lecht and Cairngorm Mountain.
Venture into the mythical and majestic Cairngorms, where every mile tells a story of ancient clans, fiercely fought battles, and timeless landscapes. Scotland’s largest national park lies before you like a pop-up history book with soaring peaks, secluded glens, ancient forests and castles that have stood for centuries.
The Snow Roads
Our fully supported Snow Roads cycling holiday builds on the official route and leads you over some of the UK’s highest public roads.
Scotland’s tapestry of time and terrain
Our Snow Roads cycling holiday
Our version of this iconic route begins with a day’s riding through mystical Highland Perthshire, a gentle warm-up through quiet glens and ancient forests before confronting the challenges to come.
Winding northwards, echoes of battles linger in the mist. Uisge Beatha, the water of life, gurgles through the rivers and lochs of Speyside’s whisky country, overflowing with centuries of stories.
Majestic climbs, breathtaking vistas, and quiet moments of wonder framed by Scotland’s legendary skies and ancient hills define the journey. This is not just a cycling holiday, it’s a voyage into the heart and soul of the Highlands, where every pedal stroke leads you deeper into the folklore and raw beauty of the land.
Our itinerary is flexible, and we offer options to lengthen or shorten the amount of time you spend on the saddle each day.
Prices include
Logistics
Pre-trip logistics and planning. Every detail of your trip taken care of for you.
Accommodation
All accommodation for the duration of the holiday.
Food
Half-board including breakfast, snacks and three-course evening meals.
Support
Expert guided support from our local guides and our unique customised vehicles.
Record
A dedicated trip experience app, packed with information, notes and detailed GPS files for each day of cycling.
Transport
Luggage transfers, ferry crossings,
end-of-trip transfers.
Reviews
What our guests say
Cycling the Snow Roads: travel day
Day 1: Arrive in Pitlochry
GATEWAY TO THE HIGHLANDS
Your journey begins in Pitlochry, a town steeped in Victorian charm and rich in history. Originally a Pictish settlement, Pitlochry's name, derived from Pit Cloich Aire, translates to place of the sentinel stone, hinting at its ancient roots.
The start hotel is just ten minutes’ walk from Pitlochry railway station. Trains run every hour between Edinburgh Waverley and Pitlochry. If you're driving, you may leave your car in the hotel car park until the end of the trip.
Your guide will meet you at the Skinny Tyres van in the car park from 3 pm.
We highly recommend taking your bike out for a short spin to ensure that everything is in working order after travelling to Scotland. A selection of warm-up rides around the area are included with your trip GPS files.
There is a welcome briefing for the whole group at 7 pm, then everyone dines together at 7.30 pm.
Cycling the Snow Roads: riding day
Day 2: Highland Perthshire
OUTLANDER COUNTRY
Your Snow Roads cycling holiday begins with a stunning loop from Pitlochry deep into Highland Perthshire.
Riding along the fringes of the Cairngorms National Park, you head towards the towering presence of Schiehallion known both for its Gaelic legends and its role in scientific history.
A flowing descent to the tranquil shores of Loch Rannoch is followed by two further climbs as you ride towards Blair Atholl then Killiecrankie, where one of the goriest battles of the Jacobite risings was fought in 1689.
Highland Perthshire has long attracted filmmakers seeking untouched, dramatic landscapes. Several scenes in the hit TV series, Outlander, were filmed on location here, and the signature Craigh na Dun standing stones were shot in Kinloch Rannoch. The stones in the show are props, but the moorland setting and atmospheric scenery are entirely real.
Terrain and challenges:
Smooth tarmac and generally low traffic.
On the road to discovery:
Schiehallion, the fairy hill of the Caledonians, was chosen in 1774 as the site of a groundbreaking experiment to measure the mass of the Earth. Today, it stands as a testament to Scotland's rich scientific heritage.
Cycling the Snow Roads: riding day
Day 3: Royal Deeside
THE HEARTBEAT OF ROYAL DEESIDE
Leaving the picturesque town of Pitlochry, today’s ride takes you through the Cairngorms National Park and over the Glenshee ski resort as you head towards Royal Deeside and Ballater. The road briefly skirts the region of Angus, considered to be the birthplace of Scotland.
The first featured climb on your Snow Roads cycling route is the Cairnwell Pass, the highest public road in the UK. Beginning at the Spittal of Glenshee, the climb undulates through Gleann Beag before rising towards the ski centre, passing the remnants of the old road, ominously called the Devil’s Elbow. From the summit, the central Cairngorms dominate the skyline.
The descent into Braemar carries you through ancient Caledonian pine forest in an area of outstanding beauty. Following the River Dee, you pass the Highland residence of the Royal Family, Balmoral Castle, before arriving at your hotel in Ballater.
Terrain and challenges:
The Cairnwell climb is long but steady, not savage. The day feels big because of the exposed landscape and the extended, gradual drags before the climb.
On the road to discovery:
The Glenshee Ski Centre, Scotland's largest and oldest ski resort sits at the summit of the Cairnwell Pass and marks the border between Perthshire and Aberdeenshire.
Cycling the Snow Roads: riding day
Day 4: Speyside and Cairngorm
THE SUMMIT OF LEGENDS AND WHISKY GALORE
Your Snow Roads cycling adventure concludes today with a spectacular finish on Cairngorm, but only after tackling two other major climbs: Gairnshiel and the legendary Lecht.
The Lecht is the second of the featured Snow Roads. It’s the second-highest pass in the UK and offers panoramic views across the Cairngorms.
A fast descent leads you to Tomintoul and into Speyside, world-famous for its whisky. No fewer than seven distilleries line today’s route, including Glenlivet and Tamnavulin.
Cairngorm is the third and lowest of the featured Snow Roads. You approach it via Grantown-on-Spey and through Abernethy Forest, the largest remaining piece of the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest which colonised Scotland at the end of the last ice age.
The final leg takes you along the edge of Loch Morlich until you start to ascend. Your climb finishes at the end of the road (literally!) at the ski resort, but what goes up must come down and a thrilling descent into Aviemore delivers you to the hotel and a well-earned evening of celebration.
Terrain and challenges:
The gradients on the Lecht Road can be brutal, with ramps well into double digits and there is often a fierce headwind.
On the road to discovery:
Known for its winter sports since the 1890s, Cairngorm has a rich history of alpine adventure and offers fantastic panoramic views.
Cycling the Snow Roads: travel day
Day 6: Transfer from Aviemore
Departing from the hotel at 9 am, you will be transferred safely to Pitlochry where your Skinny Tyres road cycling holiday ends.
The 60-mile road transfer lasts nearly 1.5 hours. You arrive in Pitlochry at approximately 10.30 am.