FAQ

In essence, we mean that you are free to ride at your own pace.

Scot Tares started Skinny Tyres because of his love for Scotland and his enjoyment of supporting other people who cycle there.

“I wanted people from around the world to be able to come and explore Scotland on their bikes, as I believe it is the best way to see a country. I also wanted to make this experience as accessible as possible. I have been on trips as a client and felt pressured to regroup, go fast, go slow, keep going … and felt I have missed out on stopping and taking in all that I wanted to see on the tour.

So I have devised a way of supporting you on the road that removes as much of this pressure as possible and lets you get out of the trip what you want as an individual.”

The Skinny Tyres approach is very different to that of most other cycling tour companies. We pride ourselves on being able to guide cyclists of all levels of expertise and adapt our support to accommodate the various abilities. We also welcome those wishing to ride an eBike.

This gives you the opportunity to ride at a pace that suits you and fully enjoy your cycling journey through Scotland. From client feedback and the great success of our trips, we know that this approach works well.

Please feel free to get in touch with us directly to discuss your specific needs.

Yes.

You don’t need to be super-fit – or super-fast – to enjoy one of our trips.

As a guideline, if you are comfortable being on your saddle for up to six hours a day over distances of a maximum of 80 miles (130 km) each day of a multi-day trip, you’re in perfect shape to join one of our tours. (60 miles (95 km) is the approximate average daily distance.

Our trips are designed so you can ride at your own pace. There is no obligation to speed up or slow down for others. We aim is that everyone feels comfortable and confident on the ride, be they a beginner or a hardcore cyclist.

Please visit our ride grade page for more information.

Definitely.

Our group size is limited to 10 people to keep the tours more intimate. This allows us to offer a more personal service and ensures that those who are not so comfortable with large groups are not overwhelmed. We welcome everyone and we’re committed to inclusivity in everything we do.

On our trips, we usually have a range of ages and around a 50 / 50 split of men and women. We get a good mix of couples, solo riders and small groups of friends.

We find that our approach to managing and guiding groups allows people to ride by themselves if they want, but often riders will find others in the group who match their rhythm, and they ride together. 

Small groups form organically throughout the day. This tends to be fluid and changes during the week.

It is not impossible, but it’s highly unlikely that you would be the only woman.

On our trips, we tend to have an approximate 50 / 50 split of men and women. There is usually a range of ages and we get a good mix of couples, solo riders and small groups of friends.

Yes.

Scotland has a great reputation for high-quality food and drink.

All the restaurants and hotels we use are experienced in catering for all dietary requirements, including at breakfast time.

At dinner each evening you choose from a three-course menu with options satisfying all needs.

Additionally, we ensure that there are appropriate snacks in the van for everyone.

No.

Scotland’s weather can be changeable and it does rain, but only sometimes. We also get our fair share of warm, sunny days!

Some of our best weather comes in late April to the end of June, which is why many of our trips are scheduled during that window.

The east coast of Scotland tends to be drier than the west. With this in mind we run our Snow Roads tour, which is based in the eastern Cairngorms, later in the summer.

We recommend coming prepared for all weather conditions.

To keep you comfortable and motivated, we carry spare clothes on the road and drying facilities for wet clothing and shoes at the hotel.

Absolutely!

We positively encourage you to stop and marvel at the landscapes you are riding through. We also hope that you will pop into the family-run cafés, chat with the locals, visit the distilleries, go for a wild swim, or even indulge in a spot of bird watching.

Our guests consistently comment on how pleasantly surprised they are by the flexibility that our guiding provides.

Additionally, we can give you route options to tailor each day’s riding to your preference.

With very occasional exceptions, we limit our trips to 10 people to keep the experience intimate and personal.

This smaller group size allows us to offer better support and create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Our trips are suitable for bikes of all varieties.

You will be cycling on paved roads* that are generally in good condition but with variable surface quality. We suggest that a lighter bike with slicker tyres is most suitable, but you may want to ride with a tyre diameter of 28C or larger for more comfort.

* Exceptionally, on our Coast to Coast holiday, there are some short sections of gravel-surface and a canal tow path

Yes.

We partner with trusted local providers in order to satisfy the variety of requests we get for different bikes and sizes. This ensures that you have the choice of a wide range of options including eBikes and lightweight carbon road bikes.

If you decide to hire a bike, we highly recommend that you bring your own pedals and saddle for comfort.

Please feel free to get in touch with us directly to discuss your specific needs.

Yes, no problem.

We can facilitate the charging of eBikes that have both removable and fixed batteries.

We can also provide an eBike if you wish to hire one.

Yes, we recommend that you bring the following:

• A spare set of front and back brake pads, especially if your bike has disc brakes
• A spare rear-mech hanger

Please also remember:

• Chargers for lights, electronic shifters and eBikes
• Mini pump, multi-tool and tyre levers in a small saddle pack (hire bikes have these provided)

Bike shops in the rural areas we pass through are few and far between and there none on the Outer Hebrides until Stornoway.

We have a stock of CO2 canisters, tyres, inner tubes, gear and brake cables and chains for purchase.

Yes, if you have tools that are specific to your brand / model of bike.

No, if you only need generic tools for your bike. Our vans carry a comprehensive tool kit, including torque wrenches and track pumps.

Bike shops in the rural areas we pass through are few and far between and there none on the Outer Hebrides until Stornoway.

Our support vehicle is equipped with tools and spares to cover the majority of mechanical mishaps and get riders back on the road quickly.

Our guides have an extensive knowledge of bike mechanics and should be able to help fix most small issues.

However, they may not have time to resolve bigger problems. In this case and in the absence of a convenient bike shop, you can ride a flat bar hybrid bike that we always carry in the vans as a spare.

Please ensure you have any spares with you that are not generic and that are specific to your bike. 

Yes.

Even on sunny days, cyclists riding with their lights on are much more easily seen than those without them. As many of our routes are on single track roads, we think it’s a pretty good idea to be visible from a distance.

If you want a recommendation, our favourite is the Exposure TraceR DayBright Mk3 because it is an incredibly bright light.

Travel to the trip start location is not included in the price ​of your Skinny Tyres holiday and must be arranged by you.

If you have any difficulties or specific questions about how to get there, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help with advice and recommendations.

Yes. ​

At the end of each trip we provide transfers to specific locations that are convenient for onward travel.

You’ll find information about the exact drop-off points in your trip details. ​

No.

You will never have to camp on a Skinny Tours holiday. 

The options may be limited in the remote Scottish Highlands and Islands, but we always ensure you stay in high-quality bed and breakfast accommodation that provides a comfortable, welcoming environment.

Yes, you can request a single room when booking. We’ll get in touch to confirm availability and provide the cost for single occupancy accommodation.

Please note, a single room supplement applies. Details of this are on your trip’s booking page.

No.

Skinny Tyres guides support you from customised vans. We believe this offers you a safer and more dynamic service. It also allows the guides to:

• Transfer your luggage and carry your day bags
• Track and support you throughout the day
• Provide mechanical assistance, water, snacks, and shelter

Additionally, this gives you the freedom to ride at your own pace without pressure to regroup.

Our guides stop along the route to take photos and offer refreshments or help where needed. If you’ve had enough riding for the day, you’re welcome to hop in the van.

No.

From extra layers to a complete change of kit, you can put anything you may need during the day in a daybag. We carry this for you in the support van and you have access to it throughout the day. 

We recommend that you carry with you at all times a phone (switched on!), a lightweight layer and some money.

We also suggest that you have on your bike a small saddle pack with a spare inner tube, multi-tool and mini-pump / CO2 canister.

Your hotel bags are transferred in the support van from hotel to hotel.

Yes.

Our support vehicle is stocked with a variety of snacks and water which you have access to throughout the day.

We stop at pre-arranged meeting points to set up our snack station, but you may also flag down the van en route if you need an energy boost.

We do not carry sport-specific nutrition since cyclists tend to have widely varying preferred products.

As part of our commitment to sustainable tourism, we also encourage riders to stop at local cafés and restaurants at coffee o’clock and lunchtime.

Our support vehicle is equipped with tools and spares to cover the majority of mechanical mishaps and get riders back on the road quickly.

Our guides have an extensive knowledge of bike mechanics and should be able to help fix most small issues.

However, they may not have time to resolve bigger problems. In this case, and in the absence of a convenient bike shop, you can continue riding on a flat bar hybrid bike that we always carry in the vans as a spare.

Please ensure you have any spares with you that are not generic and that are specific to your bike. 

Yes.

There are activity appropriate first aid kits in our support vehicles and our guides hold up-to-date outdoor first aid qualifications.

We provide detailed GPS files suitable for all navigational devices including smartphones.

Turn-by-turn navigation which includes café stops, points of interest and other useful information will keep you on track.

We also provide written route notes and there is a short briefing after dinner each evening with information about the following day’s ride.

Additionally, you will also see your guide several times during the day, usually at easy-to-miss junctions and often at the best cafés!

We feel that the safest and most effective way to support every single cyclist on our trips is to have guides in support vans. Some of the reasons for this are:

• A guide on a bike cannot be everywhere at once. Granted, neither can a guide in a van, but in a vehicle they can respond to a rider’s needs much faster than a guide on a bike can
• A guide on a bike cannot carry the amount of equipment and supplies our support van carries
• You do not need to keep up with a guide in a van! Since there is no requirement to regroup, you can cycle at your own pace, with no pressure to speed up or slow down for the rest of the group

Yes. 

Due to the potential dangers involved in activity holidays, it is a condition of your contract with us that you and your cycling equipment are adequately insured for your cycling holiday.

Cycling on open roads involves inherent risks. Insurance is essential in case of:

• Medical emergencies and repatriation (where applicable)
• Lost or damaged baggage
• Trip cancellation
• Travel delay

Make sure your policy covers sports travel and your gear specifically.

If you or a member of your group needs to cancel your booking, the person who made the original booking should contact us by email. 

Your cancellation takes effect on the date we receive the written notice. The following charges apply:

• 90–61 days before trip – no cancellation fee
• 60–31 days before trip – 50% of final payment due
• 30–8 days before trip – 75% of final payment due
• 7 days before trip – 100% of final payment due

Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.

If Skinny Tyres cancels your trip, you’ll be offered:

• A 100% refund, or
• The option to reschedule to another date

You can find our full Terms & Conditions here:
Skinny Tyres Terms and Conditions (link).

Yes.

Non-riding partners are always welcome. We offer a 15% discount for non-riders, so they can join and support you on your adventure without having to push any pedals themselves. 

Please contact us to discuss further details.

Yes, we offer several discounts to help make your cycling adventure even more affordable:

• 5% early bookers discount

  Book and pay your deposit before 1st October in the year before your trip
• 7.5% group discount
  Get together a group of 10 or more cycling buddies and enjoy a group discount
• 10% returning guest discount
  From your third trip with us you will receive a 10% discount

NB The maximum discount is 10% for cycling guests and 15% for non-cycling companions. Discounts are given on the basic holiday cost. Discounts are not applicable to extras such as single room supplements and bike hire.

In some places, yes!

However, our trip dates are planned around the worst of the midge season, so you shouldn’t be greatly impacted by them, if at all.

That being said, nature can be unpredictable, so we recommend that you come prepared with an effective insect repellent (Smidge works well).

Yes.

If you’d like to extend your stay with either cycling or non-cycling days, please contact us for more details.