Essential Information - Far North

Before booking your holiday with us, please check the status of your chosen tour. We strongly advise against booking any flights or making other travel arrangements until the tour is marked as Guaranteed. 

To confirm your place, simply pay the deposit. This deposit can be refunded at any time until the tour status changes to "Guaranteed". Your final balance will be due 56 days before the tour start date. 

When you book, you are agreeing to our booking conditions – please take a moment to read them in full. 

Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. As bookings come in, the status will update from Available, to 2 More to Guarantee, and finally to Guaranteed once the minimum is met. You can always check the current status on the ‘Dates and Prices’ section of the tour page. 

Tour status definitions: 

✅ Guaranteed – The tour is confirmed and open for booking. 

✅ Guaranteed – Limited – Confirmed to run, but only a few spaces left. 

⏳ Available – 2 More to Guarantee – Tour is open but needs just 2 more bookings to confirm. 

🟢 Available – Open for booking but not yet confirmed to run. 

📩 Contact – Please get in touch if you're interested in this tour. 

❌ Fully Booked – This tour is no longer available. 

Once a tour is marked Guaranteed, you can confidently go ahead with booking your flights and making travel plans. We don’t cancel trips once they reach guaranteed status, except in very rare and exceptional circumstances. 

• Support vehicle
• Accommodation - (twin / double en-suite rooms)
• Meals as on the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, S=Snacks)
• Visitor Pass - Dunrobin Castle
• Ferry and Train tickets
• Bus/Train transfers on the start and end day of the tour
• Local English speaking guide(s)

• International flights
• Single supplements (available on request)
• Alcoholic drinks
• Meals not stated in the itinerary
• Visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Tips for guide (s) and support staff
• Bike hire (available if required)
• Transfers to/from Train Station

Travelling to Inverness is easy, as the city is well served with transport links. The airport is just 15 minutes from the city centre and there are good inland road and rail links into Inverness.

We appreciate that people join redspokes tours from all over the world. Whatever time you arrive at the airport , bus or train station on the trip start date, you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining accommodation.  Please bear in mind that if you arrive before midday you may have to wait for your room to be made available. If you decide to arrive early or stay on after the tour, redspokes can assist you in booking your extra accommodation and airport transfers at additional cost. 

Our tour price does not include your international flight.

Check out www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk for an idea of times and prices and www.trainline.co.uk for trains. 

Bike Hire

Hybrid/Touring - We have Trek FX 3 Disc Hybrid/Touring bikes

Road Bikes - We have selection of Trek Emonda & Specialized Diverge E5 Elite bikes.

 Trek Emonda ALR 4

E-bikes are TREK Powerfly. A durable aluminium frame that fully encases a long-range 625 Wh battery for great aesthetics and protection on the trails & Boardman HYB 8.9 which is a fast and practical flat-bar hybrid style e-bike, which uses the sophisticated, German engineered Fazua Evation drive system.  

E-Bikes Availabl

A pump, spare tube, tyre levers and multi tool are included in the price of the bike rental. All bikes are equipped with flat pedals. Those who prefer to use spd or clip-in pedals, are welcome to bring these with you. You are also welcome to bring your own saddle. 

The bikes will come with one water bottle cage fitted.

You are required to bring your own cycle helmet as this is not included as part of your bike hire and hire or purchase options cannot be guaranteed.  It is mandatory for cycle helmets to be worn at all times when cycling.  Failure to wear a cycle helmet is at your own risk and might also affect the validity of your travel insurance.

💱 Currency Exchange

Scottish Currency

The currency in Scotland is the British Pound Sterling (GBP, £). Both Scottish and English banknotes are accepted throughout the UK.

What to Bring

Bring a Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for payments and ATM withdrawals

Cash is still useful for small purchases, tips, or rural areas

There's no need to bring foreign currency—exchange USD, Euros, or other currencies at major airports, banks, or exchange bureaus if needed

Where to Exchange

If you're arriving internationally, you can exchange money at Inverness Airport or in the city.

Exchange bureaus and ATMs are readily available in towns and cities
✔ Your redspokes guide will help you locate ATMs or assist with any money-related needs

💸 Spending Money

Day-to-day expenses will vary based on your preferences for food, drink, and souvenirs. We estimate that £700 will be sufficient for the 10-day tour.

Typical Costs in Scotland

Scotland offers a great mix of value and quality, especially outside major cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow.

🧭 Helpful Tips

 Card payments are widely accepted, but it’s good to carry some cash in remote areas

 Inform your bank of your travel dates to avoid blocked transactions

 Carry small notes and coins for cafés, tips, and local shops

 Be aware of any international card fees if using a non-UK account

Your guide will help with practical tips on handling money during the trip

💁‍♂️ Staff Tipping

Tipping is a respected way to show appreciation in Scotland, though not compulsory. If your guide and support crew provide excellent service, a tip is a kind gesture.

You will at all times have the security of a back-up vehicle. The vehicle will carry your luggage (we transport your main baggage by support vehicle from each overnight stop to the next) and yourself if you want. The backup van will be with us throughout the day stopping around every 12 miles (20 km).

Our leaders carry a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems so all you normally need to carry is a daypack, for your camera etc. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so if you are bringing your own bike on the tour you must ensure that it is in good working order. If in doubt, have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.

If you wish to hire a bike or have a single room for the tour this can usually be arranged for you at extra cost. You will have the opportunity to request these extras at the time of booking or, subject to availability, at a later date, by emailing your request to us.

If you require additional accommodation or transfers in advance of the trip start date or at the end of your trip, you can self arrange this, or we can arrange this for you at extra cost. 

We have a wide mix of cyclists on our tours from couples, friends to solo travellers. Our prices are based on twin shared accommodation. If you sign up for one of our tours as a solo traveller we will twin share you with another person of the same gender in your group. If you prefer to have your own room this is an option on most of our tours for an extra charge.

 If you have a special dietary request, please advise us at the time of booking. Most diets can be catered for, but it is always important to advise us in advance.

It is mandatory that you are well-insured for the full duration of the tour. This must include cover for personal injury, medical expenses, death, repatriation, helicopter or aircraft rescue, loss of luggage or equipment, travel cancellation or curtailments and negligent damage to or breakage of hire equipment  (all costs for damage or breakage are payable at the time of the incident, to be reclaimed from your insurers.)

You should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in your tour. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be directed to your insurers. We strongly recommend that you take out insurance at the time of booking your trip to ensure that you are covered in the event of cancellation.

For people within the UK Snowcard Insurance Services specialize in all mountain sports holidays including mountain biking. Follow the link above to obtain full information and a quote.

We choose accommodation on the basis of comfort rather than luxury. Our prices are based on sharing a twin room. Should you wish to have a room all to yourself there is a single supplement option. For more information on the additional costs please see dates and prices.

The majority of the accommodation for this trip is in either Hotels or quality Bed & Breakfast. All rooms will have En suite facilities. 

We strongly recommend that you have your bike fully serviced before going on the tour. Ensure that wheel spokes are adjusted, greasing all bearings, check gear and brake cables, tighten all nuts and bolts, check chain, quick release clamp and tyres. Put in a new inner tubes and check wheel rims aren't worn.

We recommend that you take the following items with you.

• Multi tool
• Tyre levers
  
• Pump
  
• Spare inner tubes
  
• Spare spokes
  
• Check with your bike shop for disc/ brake pads
  
• A few links for your chain
  
• Spares for any unique things for your bikes i.e fluid or bleed kit.

Your bike must be carried as part of your luggage allowance. The weight of a bike in cardboard box is about 15-20kg, so please bear this in mind when packing for the trip and you may have to pay for excess luggage.

Whilst we endeavour to provide correct and relevant information obtained directly from the relevant Embassies, High Commissions and Consulate Generals - this information is subject to frequent changes, without warning and at very short notice. Due to this, we cannot be held liable for any errors in the information provided on this site. We strongly advised you to check all information with the relevant embassy for details on your visa/passport requirements.

If you are travelling outside the UK you must ensure that you are in possession of a full passport with at least 6 months validity from the date you enter the country.

Scotland has 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn & winter) and is generally discribed as cool and wet.  If you don't like the weather you're experiencing at any moment, just wait 5 minutes as it's remarkably changeable and you can experience all four seasons in one day. 

redspokes tours run at the optimal times of the year: in June with spring flowers in full bloom and September enjoying autumnal shades. Conditions are balmy, days are long and light, midges are least in evidence and you are avoiding the full blown tourist season. 

Average maximum temperatures in March, Arpil & May range from 7 degrees to 13 degrees. June, July and August are the warmest months with average temperatures ranging from approximately 15 to 17 degrees and longer days due to the higher latitude.  Autumn brings temperatures ranging from around 8°C (46°F) to 14°C (57°F) from September to November.  December, January & February are the coldest months with an average temperature around 5 degress.  On average snow falls between 15-20 days a year but with more falling on the peaks and mountains. 

In terms of clothing this is clearly up to you and we can only supply a rough guide as to what to take. This guide is entirely flexible and should be tailored to your specific needs. 

• Cycle Helmet
• Sunglasses
• Water bottles or camelbak
• Base layer tops
• Fleece jacket/ pullover
• Waterproof cycling jacket (breathable fabric)
• Padded cycling shorts
• Cycling shoes/ Trekking shoes
• Lightweight socks & heavyweight socks
• Trekking Shorts /Trousers 
• T-shirts– lightweight 
• Long-sleeved shirt 
• Fingerless cycling gloves
• Warm gloves/ Warm fleece hat
• Buff
• Towel
• Lipbalm/ sunscreen

Our guides carry first aid supplies, however we recommend you bring your own first aid kit which should contain the following item; 

• Paracetamol/ Ibuprofen (or whatever you prefer for headache)
• Lomotil or Diacalm
• Rehydration salts (Dioralite)
• Antiseptic cream
• Throat lozenges
• Plasters (band aids)
• Eye drops
• Anti bacterial hand wash
• Antiseptic wet wipes
• Midge Repellent

Miscellaneous

• Energy Bars (gels, power bars)
• Energy/recovery drinks
• Camera

Tipping is an accepted part of everyday life, and although it is always at your discretion, you will be expected to tip to reward service.  £40 - £50  for the team at the end of the tour is recommended.

It's important to note that tips do not constitute a part of their wages. redspokes consistently ensures the highest pay rates for local staff. Any tips they receive are viewed as personal expressions of gratitude from group members.

It is customary for this to be collected up and given to your guide who will distribute it amongst the team. Unfortunately there is usually a hierarchy for the division between guides, helpers and drivers.

The amount of spending money you need will depend on your taste for restaurants, souvenirs, drinks etc.  We estimate that £700 will be more than enough to cover the 10-day tour. 

 Scotland - Capital City Edinburgh

• Status: Semi-autonomous part of the United Kingdom
• Population: 5 million (2001 census)
• Area: 78,772 km² (30,414 sq miles)
• Languages: English, Gaelic
• Major religion: Christianity
• Monetary unit: 1 pound sterling = 100 pence