New for 2025!

Across the British Isles, the remote mountainous terrain of The Cairngorms National Park and the North West Highlands are renowned for some of the most dramatic and rewarding trails on these islands. The sheer beauty and power of this landscape is unbeatable, but expert guides are needed to ensure mountain bikers experience the best of these trails with support and safety.

Two years in the planning, this Marmalade trip draws upon the skills of Liz and Sean – our big country specialists, both qualified as British Cycling Level 3 Leaders. Together, they’ll take you on an seven-day odyssey through the UK’s largest national park and the stunning west coast, ensuring you see Scottish mountain biking at its very best. Fully supported with a luxury minibus and bike trailer, your tour will take you through hard-to-reach locations where we’ve arranged a package of accommodation and hospitality that would be a real challenge for inpendent travel.

We have carefully crafted this seven day trip, aimed at strong intermediate riders, to provide you with the very best way to experience the awesome Scottish Highlands. Mix this all together with the ‘Marmalade factor’ for a fun, sociable experience that will leave you with lifelong memories.

Two wilderness areas in one trip – the format

• Saturday: Travel independently to Aviemore. We’ll meet you there and to prepare for the week ahead
• Sunday (loop): We explore the local Aviemore trails on a ‘shakedown’ ride, to prepare us and our bikes for six epic rides in the Highlands
• Monday (loop): The rocky challenge of Sgòr Gaoith is just a 20 minute drive away, travelling independently. We’ll meet you there for an amazing ride, before we return to Aviemore
• Tuesday (point-to-point): We leave our cars behind in Aviemore, as a minibus and driver takes us to Cairngorm mountain for our ride to the summit of Benn Macdui. Our driver will meet us on the other side near Braemar, before the short hop to our next overnight stop in Ballater
• Wednesday (loop): After breakfast we pedal out from the front door to take on Heartbreak Ridge on the Pannanich Hills. After a cold drink and light lunch back in Ballater, we load up the minibus and transfer (3hrs) to a stunning hotel on the shores of Loch Shieldaig for three days of true Torridon classics
• Thursday: An early breakfast and another short transfer for the one and only Torridon Classic
• Friday (loop): A short hop to get up and out of our lochside retreat to close out the trip with the circumnavigation of Benn Damph
• Satuday (point-to-point): 35 minutes in the minibus and we’re ready for the old coffin road across the Applecross penisula and our first adventure in the North West Highlands
• Saturday afternoon: It’s back to Aviemore, to start your journey home that evening or Sunday

Epic, remote adventure made possible for you

Aviemore is just 45 minutes’ drive from Inverness airport and 8 hours by train from London. This is why we have chosen this famous Highland gateway as our meet point, initial base and return destination for this week long exploration of the best ‘big mountain’ riding in the UK.

The itineraries are optimised for experienced intermediate riders, giving you your own taste of this rugged wilderness.

Local expertise

Marmalade’s Scotland specialist is Liz Peacock, a British Cycling Level 3 Leader and coach who has ridden the through the glens, around the lochs and over the Benns across two decades and has curated for you the greatest hits of Scotland’s backcountry riding.

Alongside Liz is Marmalade founder Sean Howell, another Level 3 Leader, providing further support for your riding, and ensuring everything runs with Marmalade smoothness.

Full details of our 2025 Cairngorm and Torridon trip is below, along with additional information on the other tabs. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact us.

• Dates:
  • 20-27 September 2025
  • Ride days are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
• Places available: 8 (max.)
  • 1:4 ratio of riders to our fully qualified British Cycling Level 3 MTB Leaders
• Total price per person: (incl. VAT)
  • Double room (single occupancy) = £2,950
  • Double room (couples) = £2,310
  • Twin room (shared) = £2,310
  • Large double room (single occupancy) = £3,150
  • Large double couple (couples) = £2,450
• Twin room options:
  • Available for friends who are happy to share
• Payment (booking 60 days or more before trip)
  • 30% deposit on booking, by credit/debit card
  • Balance due 60 days before trip, by bank payment
  • Subject to our standard Terms and Conditions
• Payment (booking less than 60 days before trip)
  • Full balance payable on booking, by credit/debit card
  • Subject to our standard Terms and Conditions

What’s included:

• 7 nights, 4 star bed and breakfast at the following:
  • Ravenscraig guest house (Aviemore – 3 nights)
  • No.45 guest house (Ballater – 1 night)
  • Tighan Eilean hotel (Shieldaig – 3 nights)
  • B&B: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
    • Single and shared occupancy en-suite rooms available (see above)
    • Additional pre & post trip nights available by booking direct with Ravenscraig B&B, Aviemore
• 5 days of full mini-bus travel and support
• 7 fully guided days by Liz Peacock and Sean Howell our fully qualified British Cycling Level 3 MTB leaders

What’s not included:

• Evening meals and drinks
• Travel to (day 1) and from (final day) the accommodation
• Personal health, activity and holiday insurance
  • The above is a requirement for your participation on this trip
• Bike hire (options available – please contact us)
• Bike spares
• Ride day lunches, snacks and drinks

To read the full terms and conditions please visit them here. Thank you.

These routes can be ridden on all kinds of mountain bike depending on your personal choice. In the right hands hardtail bikes would be sufficient, and we increasingly see e-bikes in our groups – as well as full suspension trail and enduro bikes. All are welcome. Each climb, and each descent, is taken at the speed that’s right for you, and we manage our groups carefully to ensure no-one feels left behind.

Ideally, you will have your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘trail’ mountain bike:

• 120 mm of suspension travel with modern geometry is the bare minimal for this trip
• 140-160 mm of suspension travel on an ‘all-mountain’ / ‘trail’ bike would be perfect
• Electric mountain bikes are welcome
• Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this 7 day trip

• You will be at least a strong and experienced intermediate rider with a minimum of 2-3 years regular mountain biking experience
• You will have confident in your bike handling skills and not be phased by steep, technical and long trails that would be graded predominantly red with some black sections
• The trails will include features such as roots, small to large committing roll-able drop-offs and slopes with loose rocks of varying sizes
  • Your professional Level 3 MTB leaders will dynamically manage the group and individuals during each day. There will not be any pressure to ride features or sections above your riding ability on the day
  • There are no exposed ridges on the routes
• You have your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘trail’ mountain bike
  • 120 mm of suspension travel with modern and aggressive geometry is the bare minimal for this trip
  • 140-160 mm of suspension travel on an ‘all-mountain’ / ‘trail’ bike would be perfect
  • Electric mountain bikes fitting the above are welcome
  • Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this 3 day trip
• The ride does contain many undulating and moderately steep, technical and long climbs
• You have the personal fitness to ride for at least 6-8 hours on consecutive days at a social and comfortable pace
• You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on this ride
• If this sounds a little beyond your current skill and fitness level, then please do contact us for further discussion

Day One: Aviemore shakedown

• Duration: 3 hours *
• Distance: 13 mi | 20 km *
• Elevation gain: 1,800 ft | 550 m *
• Format: Loop
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

Day 1 is all about shaking off the journey to the highlands and giving you and your bike a warm-up that will ready you for the rest of the week. Liz and Sean will be on hand to fine tune your bike setup and provide insight and first hand experience of the type of terrain you’ll be riding across the 7 days. This ride will take in chilled forest cruising and some technical teasers in the Rothiemurchus area to provide the perfect foundation for the trip.

Day Two: Sgòr Gaoith

• Duration: 5-7 hours ride time *
• Distance: 12 mi | 21 km *
• Elevation gain: 2,930 ft | 893 m *
• Format: Loop
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

A short 20 minute drive south to Feshiebridge and close to Loch Insh is Sgòr Gaoith a mountain peak in the far western massif of the Cairngorms. We promised BIG and we promised EPIC and we hit the ground running with this itinerary that sees us climbing up to 1,118 meters to ride the stunning ridge and plateau high above Loch Eanaich. Once we’ve had our fill of the stunning rugged views, we will descend down back to Feshiebridge on a trail that will set the tone for the whole week.

Day Three: Ben Macdui

• Duration: 5-7 hours ride time *
• Distance: 16 mi | 26 km *
• Elevation gain: 2,703 ft | 824 m *
• Format: Point-to-point
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

The first name on the team sheet! You cannot go on a ‘best of the highlands’ without summitting the highest mountain in the UK that is permissible with a bicycle! Yes, we will be taking on Ben Macdui and reaching the 1,309 meter summit before descending loch Etchachan, with towering 1,000 meter peaks all around us. This point-to-point ride is a mix of everything, rock strewn plateaus, nadgery singletrack, loose scree, bedrock rollers and river-side trails. From the Hutchison Memorial hut down through the quiet and remote Glen Derry, the final 12 kms to our Linn of dee pick-up is pure bliss!

Day Four: Heartbreak Ridge

• Duration: 3-5 hours ride time *
• Distance: 11 mi | 15.5 km *
• Elevation gain:  1,706 ft | 520 m *
• Format: Loop
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

After the truly epic Ben Macdui, we have planned the perfect accompaniment in Heartbreak Ridge. Riding from the front door of our accommodation, the loop starts with a nice leg spinner up a double track gravel road through Balintober to Craig Vallich. A snack stop at the top to take in the and 360° views across the eastern flanks of the national park is the perfect tonic to the descent that lays before us. At around 3kms in length, Heartbreak Ridge with it’s grippy bedrock singletrack is packed full of every type of natural feature to make this one of the most fun descents you’ll ride anywhere in the world!

Day Five: The Torridon Classic

• Duration: 5-7 hours ride time *
• Distance: 23 mi | 36 km *
• Elevation gain:  3,600 ft | 1,100 m *
• Format: Out and back
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

Back in amongst the big stuff for what’s widely known as the Torridon Classic! Starting off with a pedal through the stunning Coulin Estate to ride alongside the Easan Dorcha, up over the Coire Làir for what we think is the second best natural descent in the UK! And guess what you get to experience the best one to finish this ride. The rugged scenery, the towering peaks and vast plateaus on this ride are breathtaking. The lunch stop rendezvous with our minibus is a welcome sight to provide a final boost to take us up through the Coulags and onto Bealach na Lice. Once we pass Loch an Eoin and the stepping stones, we begin the near 4km descent with Loch Torridon as the back drop. We promised the best two natural descents in the UK, if not the world, on this ride and we finish with a trail that simply has it all and a pub at the end!

Day Five: Beinn Dàmh

• Duration: 4-5 hours ride time *
• Distance: 14 mi | 23 km *
• Elevation gain:  2,050 ft | 625 m *
• Format: Loop
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

This popular Corbett offers another stunning ride amongst the mountains of Torridon. Our route circumnavigates this towering Beinn and starting with a brilliant warm up alongside Loch Dàmh which once passed the Boat House, switches to nadgery and fun singletrack. You’ll need your waterproof socks for this rarely dry section being so close to the water’s edge. As we reach the end of the loch we ride parallel with the Abhainn Dearg river and pick up the seam of rocky singletrack to the Coire Roill. Here we find a stunning, quaint mountain pool which provides a quiet and majestic spot for lunch and maybe a quick dip, ahead of yet another unbelievable descent on the eastern flank of Beinn Dàmh. This is up there with the two classics on the ‘Torridon Classic’, that’s how good it is!

Day Six: Applecross Peninsula Crossing

• Duration: 3-4 hours ride time *
• Distance: 9 mi | 16 km *
• Elevation gain:  1,150 ft | 350 m *
• Format: Point-to-point
• Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)

Riding the UK rights of way network is amazing and unique! The roads of yester-year are now prime mountain biking trails and are packed full of history. This path is an ancient ‘coffin’ road linking Kenmore and Applecross with stunning views across to the Isle of Skye. If you’ve ridden with us in the Peak District then you may have experienced the superb ‘Cut Gate’ point-to-point adventure. Applecross just pips it to the number one spot with the epic highland and sea views, the flow, the terrain and the delicious local food at the Applecross Inn. It’s a combination that is hard to beat anywhere in the world!

*  The routes statistics are approximate and various factors could impact these. Due to the remote terrain and altitude of some of the routes, your guides may decide to revert to lower level routes if the weather conditions on the day are not suitable for the first choice high altitude routes.

Minimum of 2-3 years mountain biking experience with regular experience on steep, technical and natural trails

See ‘Is this for me tab’

Any questions, please contact us

Equipment, kit and clothing

Essentials:

• Suitable mountain bike in good working order
• Helmet (in good condition, with no damage)
• Clothing and shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the day
• Personal choice of drink and ride snacks
• Spare rear mech hanger specific for your bike

Recommended:

• Gloves
• Glasses, sunglasses or eyeshields
• Hydration backpack (min. 2 liters)
• Knee and elbow pads if this is what you usually wear when riding technical terrain
• Spare inner tubes
• Spare spokes specific to your bike wheels
• Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
• Padded cycling shorts for comfort

What’s not included

• Bike hire – this can be booked with one our recommended local partners
• Personal clothing & equipment
• Pre, during or post activity refreshments
• Personal travel or accident Insurance

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Marmalade MTB – 5559, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:

• Non-flight packages

ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package.  Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Marmalade MTB.  

In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.

You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here:  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made 

You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/