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There are trips you race through. This isn’t one of them.
The Scotland Whisky Cycle Tour brings together two things that reward taking your time: great riding and great whisky.
For a week, we travel through Scotland by bike and ferry, crossing Arran, Islay and Jura, following quiet coastal roads and gravel tracks through some of the country’s most spectacular whisky landscapes.
We’ll ride hard enough to earn the next dram, but never so hard that we forget to look around.
Because this journey isn’t about how quickly we get from one place to the next.
It’s about the roads, the islands, the people, the distilleries — and enjoying Scotland one ride, one view and one dram at a time.
Accommodation: Guesthouses and supported camps
Meals: Dinner and Breakfast with ride snacks during the day. We’re
taking with our “adventure chef” to make sure meals are
top-notch.
All whisky tastings are included.
Attractions: Amazing riding across the Scottish lowlands, visiting Arran,
Kintyre, Islay & Jura
Wanderers XPLORE
GRADING INDEX
PLEASE NOTE:
Every XPLORE tour or expedition can be categorized into the grading index illustrated below. This index is a general guide to give you an idea of your chosen adventure’s level of physical, mental and technical difficulty.
The Scotland Whisky Ride tour listed in this brochure is graded at a difficulty level of 2
Day 1
Arrive in Glasgow and transfer to our hotel at the coastal town of Saltcoats. We assemble our bikes and enjoy the welcome dinner before getting a good night’s rest.
Day 2
Following a hearty breakfast, we board the ferry to Arran and pedal south to Lagg Distillery for our first tasting of the tour.
From there, we turn north along Arran’s spectacular west coast, stopping at the ancient Machrie Moor Standing Stones before reaching Lochranza Distillery for tasting number two.
The day ends, at camp with a well-earned dinner prepared by our Adventure Chef, Ian, sharing a few whiskies and stories of the day.
Riding Distance: 73km (45 miles)
Tasting: Lochranza
Elevation Gain: 1036m
Day 3
Lochranza to Glenbarr
We leave Lochranza by ferry, crossing the Kilbrannan Sound to Claonaig and the long, slender Kintyre Peninsula.
From here the route heads south on wonderfully quiet coastal roads, with Arran still visible across the water, before passing through Carradale and continuing towards Campbeltown. Once one of the great whisky capitals of the world, Campbeltown remains home to a remarkable distilling heritage and gives today’s ride a fitting sense of place.
Leaving town, we turn west and then north along Kintyre’s Atlantic coast, finishing among the open farmland and sea views around Glenbarr — remote, rugged and unmistakably Scottish.
Riding Distance: 66km (41 miles)
Tastings: Campbeltown x3
Elevation Gain: 976m
Day 4
Introduction to Islay
Today links mainland Scotland with one of the world’s great whisky islands. We ride north from Glenbarr through the rolling landscapes of Kintyre towards Kennacraig, where bikes are wheeled aboard the ferry for the crossing to Islay. Landing at Port Askaig, the character changes immediately: open moorland, peat, sea air and distillery country.
Our route carries us across the island through Ballygrant and Bridgend before reaching the shores of Loch Indaal. From here we continue west via Bruichladdich to the whitewashed village of Port Charlotte, our base for exploring Islay and a wonderfully atmospheric finish to a true island-hopping day.
Riding Distance: 60km (37 miles)
Tastings: Caol Ila Bruichladdich
Elevation Gain: 583m
Day 5
If one day captures the spirit of the Scotland Whisky Cycle Tour, this may be it.
Leaving Port Charlotte, we pass through Bruichladdich and follow Loch Indaal east before turning south towards Port Ellen. From there we enter Islay’s legendary south-coast whisky country, riding past Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg — three iconic names packed into a few unforgettable coastal kilometres.
Sea views, whitewashed warehouses and the unmistakable landscape of peat and rock make this a ride with a powerful sense of place. We then retrace our line towards Port Ellen before turning north to finish in Bowmore, at the heart of island life.
Riding Distance: 58km (36 miles)
Tastings: quite a few
Elevation Gain: 388m
Day 6
This is island hopping at its best.
From Bowmore we ride north across Islay, into the quieter landscapes of the island’s north-east before reaching Port Askaig for a ferry to Jura.
We follow the island’s wonderfully remote single-track road to Craighouse, with the Paps of Jura rising above us. After turning back towards Feolin, we cross again to Islay and board the ferry for Kennacraig on the mainland where a final stretch on the bikes brings us into Tarbert, completing a day of wild roads, whisky islands and three memorable sea crossings.
Riding Distance: 60km (37 miles)
Tastings: Bunnahabhain Jura
Elevation Gain: 808m
Day 7
Today we roll to the harbour and cross Loch Fyne to Portavadie.
Back in the saddle, the route winds through the quiet roads of the Cowal Peninsula, passing Kames and Tighnabruaich with superb views across the Kyles of Bute.
A short ferry hop from Colintraive carries us to Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. From here, we turn south for the final stretch, following the island’s peaceful eastern shoreline towards Rothesay – our last island camp of the tour and another sumptuous dinner gives us time to reflect over another special bottle to cheers our last night.
Riding Distance: 67km (42 miles)
Tasting: Isle of Bute
Elevation Gain: 966m
Day 8
The final day brings our Scottish whisky adventure full circle. From Rothesay, we take the ferry across the Firth of Clyde to Wemyss Bay before climbing back onto the bikes for our last 33 kilometres to Saltcoats.
The final kilometres follow the Clyde coast through Largs, Fairlie and West Kilbride before returning to Saltcoats — closing the loop with islands, ferries, coastal roads and one last memorable Scottish horizon.
Now we pack our bikes and transfer to the airport, or stick around to enjoy Le Tour – just a two-hour train ride away!
Riding Distance: 31km (19 miles)
Elevation Gain: 329m
Package Outline
Includes
- Airport – Hotel – Airport transfers
- Hotel Accommodation (sharing) for first and last night and fully supported camping with breakfast, and dinner.
- Ride snacks and nutrition supplements
- Xplore guide – Erik Vermeulen
- Access to your guide to help with theory sessions, training programmes and gear selection in the months leading up to the tour
- All ferries and transfers as per the itinerary
- All whisky tastings and tours
- A support vehicle and driver, including our own personal Adventure Chef!
- A Goodie bag including branded Xplore garment, and other treats
Excludes
- International airfare to Glasgow and Visas
- Single supplement (if needed)
- Bikes or bike transport
- Extra Luggage charge if any
- Expenses of personal nature and any other meals or drinks
not included in the itinerary - Personal snacks
- Travel Insurance which should cover the emergency
helicopter evacuation of about USD 10,000 minimum - Tips
- Individual transfers outside of group arrangements
- Any costs due to the abandonment of the tour
Cost
GPB 2 600
USD 3 600