Glencoe Gravel Ride | Heaven or Hell in the Scottish Highlands?

Glencoe Gravel Ride | Lochaber, West Highlands of Scotland The Highlands of Scotland are amazing for gravel cycling, mountain biking and bikepacking. But this ride into Glencoe, one of the most famous and impressive of Scotland’s many glens, is a little bit different. Much of it is ridden close to the busy A82, with busloads of tourists watching from above. Would this put you off, or does cycling through this stunning landscape make up for it? You decide... The first part of this ride was not quite what I had hoped for. I started from Glencoe Village and had planned to cycle many of the trails in the beautiful forest around Glencoe Lochan. But sadly, as you can see in the video, most of them were unrideable. Cycling around the small loch, surrounded by woodland and mountains, is definitely worth doing, though. I've made a revised version of the route (link below), which starts at the car park of this signposted Lochan trail. The next part of the route joins the Glencoe Orbital path. It is followed all the way to the A82, crossing the back road a couple of times. After carefully crossing the busy A82, the route joins a narrow path along Loch Achtriochtan. For the next 2 km, the path runs close to the road. After that it becomes a wider gravel track further away from the traffic. The path is rideable as far as the Three Sisters of Glencoe. Here is a great spot for a bite to eat before heading back to the crossing of the A82. The route continues on the lovely Glencoe Greenway (part of the Orbital), a dedicated path for walking, wheeling and cycling, and follows it all the way to Glencoe Village. I had planned to include a climb to great views on this ride as well. Just past the Glencoe Visitor Centre and the campsite is a path that leads to Meall Mór and the Glencoe Mast (Am Meall). Though overshadowed by neighbouring Munros, its craggy summit is said to offer some of the best panoramic views in Glencoe. Sadly, forestry work in Brecklet Forest, which is expected to be completed by March 2027, prevented me from cycling this section. Despite the unrideable trails in the first part of the ride and not being able to do the climb near the end, I still had an amazing day. The busy road might not be ideal, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this breathtaking and dramatic glen. 📺 Best viewed in HD or 4K. 👍 Enjoy the ride? Like and subscribe for more gravel cycling in the Scottish Highlands. 🔗    / pjd66   🚴‍♂️Revised Glencoe Gravel Ride Please Note: At the moment the climb to the Glencoe Mast can't be done due to forestry work, which is expected to be completed by March 2027 📏 Distance: 36 km / 22.5 miles 🚴 Garmin Connect: https://connect.garmin.com/app/course... 🚴‍♂️ Route Details of this shortened ride 📏 Distance: 25 km / 15.5 miles 🚴 Strava:   / strava   📍 Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/3092114131 🗺️ Where I stayed I stayed at the Lantern in Oban, about a one hour drive to the start of this bike ride, and a perfect base for a cycling break. 🔗 https://thelanternoban.co.uk/ 🎥 Discover more gravel cycling routes in Scotland on my YouTube Channel: Cycling in the Scottish Highlands 🔗    / pjd66   ▶️ Related Ride While staying in Oban on this cycling break I also did this amazing gravel ride, 'Loch Etive - Glen Kinglass | Wild West Highlands Gravel Ride'.    • Loch Etive - Glen Kinglass | Wild West Hig...   ▶️ All Videos    • All 'Cycling in the Scottish Highlands' Vi...   ▶️ Bike Rides Outwith the Cairngorms National Park    • Bike Rides outside the Cairngorms National...   ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 — Forest around Glencoe Lochan 2:44 — Glencoe 8:22 — Glencoe Greenway back to start 🎵 Music 'Safe from Harm' Instrumental by Massive Attack 'Melin Wynt' by King Creosote 'Souvenir' by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark #Glencoe #Lochaber #gravelride #ScottishHighlands #GravelCycling #gravelroutes #Scotland