Active travel adventures; super cheap and fun to do. This kind of fun packed holiday is not always the most advertised and obvious choice. These holidays can offer some of the best family memories as well as a mighty wellbeing boost and recharge. We’ve tried to compile a handy blog of hints and tips to make your holiday come together. There are some top tips from us, and also from fantastic groups from Glasgow and the wider central belt who have great recommendations from Scottish holidays to low-carbon trips to the continent.
Getting there with bikes
see our friends at Bike for Good – they are here today! They can help with so much bikey goodness including refurbished bikes for sale from around £40 upwards for kids bikes and £85 upwards for adult bikes and bike hire.
For all sorts of cycling gear, we love to reduce reuse and recycle – can you borrow or swap with friends? We love local facebook barter pages and Facebook marketplace, using Gumtree and Vinted apps to buy and sell (why not clear our anything unused).
Did you know about some of the great apps to help you plan a cycle route – check out the cycle routes when using Google Maps. There are many mapping apps to share or search for routes – Komoot works well and has a great community of route sharers. (see Women on Wheels blog who have a great article on cycling apps).
Our kids manage to cycle with backpacks and take great delight in a self packed bag with their ‘essentials’ – albeit lightweight. Some do feel a bit wobbly with bags on board. Their essentials are mostly snacks, water, and fun things like books notepads pens and games. A bike rack and waterproof panniers/frame bags for the adults can make life much easier rather than carrying heavy backpacks. It’s advisable to take them off the bike prior to lifting bikes on to the train.
Getting there by train
Scotrail trains can be a great solution for the perfect bike packing adventure. There is so much about train travel that we love as a family from travelling from the heart of a town or city, relaxing at a table and soaking up the scenery. Securing a bike reservation on the following routes however is essential and can be the most challenging part of the trip planning.
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness
Glasgow, Oban, Fort William and Mallaig
Aberdeen and Inverness
Inverness, Wick, Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh
Generally bike reservations open up 12 weeks before the date of travel and slots go fast. Capacity varies however we find that on average, trains seem to have space for 6.
Scotrail app and tramline app both have live bike reservation tracker; however for over 4 bikes, call the reservation line on 0344 811 0141 seven days per week from 7am – 10pm. (select option 2 at each prompt). The team are super helpful and you don’t even need to pay for your own ticket at this stage. Unfortunately, for groups of over 6, reservation is unlikely unless you are booking on to a highland explorer carriage. This marvellous carriage has capacity for up to 20 bikes and runs on a fixed timetable on the Glasgow to Oban line and Glasgow to Fort William line with 1 return trip per day.
check out the map for the ScotRail Highland explorer carriage for big trips with lots of friends and bikes! Highland explorer destinations:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/3634/download?inline
for more information on the train times see here:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotrail-highland-explorer
Scotrail info on bike reservations:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/cycling/bikes-trains
Did you know there are lots of ways of getting great train deals? Here are a few top tips.
Kid for a quid – ask at any station and indeed your kid can travel with you for a quid. Tickets cannot be purchased on line or at self service machines.
Rail cards – did you know you can make big savings with rail cards which you can get for £35 or for £17.50 worth of Tesco clubcard vouchers. Tesco Clubcard allows you to redeem and double points against the cost of a railcard, even if you do not have the full value of points you can top up the difference. Access this offer via your clubcard log in and search under the travel offers. If you are under 30 or over 60 there are railcard options for 1/3 off travel. Options include Two Together (savings of 1/3 on fares across Britain, for any two named people aged 16 or over who travel in a pair) and friends and family (up to 4 adults getting 1/3 off and 4 kids getting 2/3 off whereat least 1 kids travels on the deal). We have travelled with part of the group using friends and family discount on 1 kid fare and the other kids using ‘kid a quid’. The Scotrail web page states ‘The adult travelling with the child can use Railcard discounts for their ticket however, there is no further discount for the Kids for a Quid ticket.’ https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/kids-for-a-quid Kid for a quid also offers one free child entry when you purchase a full price, standard entry adult ticket to various attractions. https://www.scotrail.co.uk/offers/kids-go-free-deals
Trainline app generally finds the best prices – often journeys have ‘split and save’ options which find special deals on specific destinations and regional price plans to get the best price. Scotrail app seems to be catching up with the trainline ability to source your cheapest option recently. You can apply railcards to both apps and keep your tickets on your phone.
west highland line map https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/3634/download?inline
railway network map https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/3641/download?inline
Getting there by bus
Did you know that you can book 2 bikes for free on Citylink buses on the following routes?
919: Inverness / Fort William
917: Inverness / Portree
961: Inverness / Ullapool
914/915/916: Glasgow | Fort William / Skye
Booking your bike on the bus is easy! Simply reserve your bike space as an Additional Hold Item when purchasing your seat reservation online via our journey planner. They try to offer bike sleeves however arrive early as they do not always have these and will give you alternatives to protect your bike.
https://www.citylink.co.uk/conditions-of-carriage/bicycles/
Did you know that all 5-21 year olds living in Scotland can have free bus travel. National Entitlement Cards can be applied for online via this link https://freebus.scot/how-to-apply/
Getting there by Ferry
Calmac are very accommodating for cyclist and allow free bike booking on their ferries.
https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/faqs/on-the-ferry/i-m-travelling-with-my-bike-what-do-i-need-to-know/#/ Check out their destinations with over 30 to choose from https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/destinations/#/ Does this sound fun? Check out our blog about visiting Lismore and staying at Lismore Bunkhouse.
Getting there by car
We know car-free adventures aren’t always easy and affordable due to systems in place (and hope collectively we can break down these barriers). Everything in life has a carbon-footprint and we don’t intend any judgement. We too rely on cars in our family and completely respect that there’s so many ways car-free trips aren’t option for every family. There are lots of excellent options out there rather than car ownership. Car clubs such as Co Wheels can give great flexibility to families without the environmental and financial burdens of car ownership. Shop around rental companies for offers to suit your budget and group size.
Where to stay
Hostelling and Bunkhouses
Hostelling Scotland is a great place to start when hostelling with children. When staying as a family (with children under the age of 12) you will be accommodated in a private room. Most hostels and bunkhouses have this same policy – just be sure to request this when booking. They have a range of security measures in place to ensure their hostels remain safe for all travellers, young guests in particular. From controlled entry doors to bunk beds with safety guards, their teams are trained and experienced in working with young people. With team members on site around the clock, rest assured you will enjoy a good night’s sleep! From large to small families hostels have a wide range of room sizes to best meet your needs. For extended family gatherings, ‘Our place is yours’. Their RentaHostel, exclusive private hire offers you a range of fantastic properties from 2 rooms up to 25. From mountains to beaches, cities to National Parks, Scotland packs oodles of adventure, history, wildlife and scenery into every square mile, and their hostels are never far from the action.
Hostelling can be great value. We tend to find the annual membership pays off in the discounted rate given with Hostelling Scotland. Hostelling Scotland also have 17 dog friendly WoofHostels in the network so the whole family can now enjoy a Scottish holiday adventure! Hostelling Scotland, also known as SYHA is a Charity making it their mission to make more of Scotland more accessible to more people than anyone else and facilitates much needed breaks for young people, carers and families who otherwise wouldn’t get the opportunity.
Camping – having loved a cycling and camping holiday as an adult, we are aware of the minimalist approach needed for this kind of adventure and haven’t yet tried this as a family. Hostelling is much more our jam just now. Camping-bikepacking can be a great adventure for families with teens where the teens are able to help carry some bigger panniers for the essentials.
Hotels – Whether travelling by bike or foot, most hotels are super accommodating for storing luggage before check in times and helping store bikes in a secure place. Premier Inn have a bike friendly promise where you can either have your bikes stored by their team or keep them in your room.
Inspiring adventures
Bike/Train adventure from Glasgow to Corrour and Tyndrum – At our 6 year old daughter’s request, our family and friends headed off on the first of many bike/train adventures. We loved it so much that it’s become an annual tradition.
4 days: Glasgow, Corrour, Tyndrum Glasgow
Age of kids, 5 and 6
Terrain: All traffic-free routes. Touring bikes used.
This was the most exciting departure on record. The kids were absolutely buzzing on the great independence of the trip. We all woke early, with a quick turn around in the house. Out the door we whizzed, loaded with full panniers, back packs and empty tummies. We are very lucky to live on the edge of a park that links up with a cycle path to the train station, minus 2 short blocks where we pavement rode. The party atmosphere amplified when our friends joined the convoy. Scotrail staff were great and welcomed us aboard early. We quickly got our bikes secured and comfortable in our pre-booked table seats setting out or mighty breakfast picnic, travel games and books.
remember and check out our tips on bikes on trains and staying in bunkhouses.
Glasgow to Glencoe by bus – Friends joined us camping at the wild and wonderful Red Squirrel Campsite, under 2 miles from the citylink bus stop at Glencoe cross road. The route is along quiet single track road or there is an off-road path suitable for pedestrians and mountain bikers. They brought their bikes by booking ahead on Citylink and adding their bikes to the booking (max capacity 2 per bus). Check out Hostelling Scotland Glencoe hostel too. It is a great destination to walk or cycle the network of road free routes to enjoy walks around the lochan, hikes up the pap of Glencoe, forest walks to Signal Rock and traffic free trips to Glencoe visitor centre. Citylink connects the village to Glencoe mountain ski centre, great walks at Bridge of Orchy and Fort William. Local bus routes link the village Kinlochleven. Cyclist can even explore national cycle network from Glencoe to Oban taking in views of Appin and Castle Stalker.
Bike/Train adventure from Glasgow to Lismore – check out Lismore Bunkhouse and Lismore Shop for supplies (call ahead they will do their best to get what you need when you need it!). We had a great time in Lismore, meeting Mike and Claire’s rescue animals and birds whilst enjoying the tranquility of their bunkhouse. This was the first trip which we did without traffic-free routes however we found the single track quiet roads of Lismore to be ‘everybody paths’ with walkers often strolling along mid road. We reached Lismore via Oban travelling on the Scotrail Highlander Explorer Carriage spending 2 nights on the Island. There are options to take the ferry off the other side of the island to Port Appin and join the National Cycle Route for day-long trips or a circular route to Oban or onward travel to Ballachullish and Glencoe. This traffic-free ride covers some of Scotlands most stunning coastline though is perhaps not for little legs since this is a mighty 20 mile distance from Port Appin to Glencoe. Check out Glencoe Scottish Hostelling for accommodation.
Bike/Train adventure from Glasgow to Aviemore / Carrbridge. – this one was so good, we are revisiting it this year. Again used Scottish Hostelling. We have enjoyed stays at MacDonald hotel and they took great care of our bikes. Despite all their great facilities and pool, the kids voted for hostelling over hotel stays on a return trip. They too love the flexibility of having a giant self-catering options of the kitchen and lounges, and of course bunk beds. Ps, fear not, for rainy days the MacDonald hotel allow non-residents to use the leisure pool and towels for a small charge. It has a water slide and waves swell as a soft play area.
Comrie Croft – We can’t chat hostels without mentioning our Home from Home Comrie Croft! They have a 230 acre estate – you can camp, bike, eat, walk, even get married if you like. It’s uber relaxed, friendly and theres oodles of nature for you to enjoy. They offer high end, good value bunkhouse-style ensuite private rooms. This is ideal for big groups when booked for exclusive use, or individuals and families at other times. The kitchen and living rooms are excellent and very homely. The smaller Farmhouse offers three simple bedrooms with wood floors and a cosy feel. For a clamping experinece, check out Their Nordic Katas for the ultimate wild camping experience without the hardship. All the katas are hand-crafted by Croft staff, and they have toilet out houses and each has a covered outdoor kitchens and social space too! You can keep cosy in them in all weather using the wood-burning stove in the centre of the tent.
Eco camping – beautiful and like wild camping, but accessible and with decent facilities and hot showers. So you can build a small campfire (marshmallows and sausages for sale in the shop!) and enjoy a view of the hills or birch woods no rows of caravans. Our kids love the freedom to roam. The camping fields are car free (barrows provided) and they love the freedom to relax, run wild, roll sideways down hills and have waaaay less rules (or be pushed around in said barrows). There are lots of pitches to chose from. For big stays, we adore High Meadow. Its definitely the most sociable campsite in Scotland if you’re a Primary School kid – be prepared for the kids to have a whole gang of new bestos for the summer. Its star gazing paradise and the rolling views of Perthshire are great. They have toilets and cold water dishwashing up theres as well as a roundhouse with an awesome central BBQ. Be prepared for a 200m trot down the raspberry lined path for showers and the main facilities. Low Meadow is nice and handy for shorter stays and in the cooler seasons as its close to the main facilities. It also looks over the bike skills park so popular with families
Things to do from Comrie Croft:
- it is connected into 87+ km of beautiful walks and bike routes in the Crieff – Comrie paths network. Walk the 4 way-marked ‘squirrel trails’ at Comrie Croft
- Climb a munro! Ben Chonzie is near by.
- Hire bikes from Comrie Croft Bikes. They can deliver and also do bike sales, guiding, service and repairs and friendly assistance
- Have amazing free fun on the mountain bike skills park and pump track within the croft as well as 16km of free hand-crafted blue, red and black single track trails.
- have a relaxing lunch or tea/coffee and amazing cakes at the Tea Garden or enjoy some of the delicious offerings from the visiting food vans such as Bonne Mountain burgers and Well Fired Pizza.
- Comrie is one marvellous little village that kicks way above its weight for fun packed community events – there’s seldom a quiet weekend done at the village. The village is around 2 miles from the croft. There is a traffic free foot patch from the croft to the village and could be accessed by mountain bike (and the average kiddy bike give or take a few brief ‘get off and push’ sections. Check out the village website for what’s on.
- Creiff is about 4 miles from the Croft and can be accessed by bus. MacRosty park is a must for the kids with hours of free outdoor fun – the play park has sandpits, climbing frames, water play, zip wires, swings, diggers, climbing walls and climbing frames. There is a great little cafe nestled in the park and they cater well to dietary requirement. The park has massive lawns playing fields and a pavilion.
- Crieff has some great food options for both stocking up to eat back at the croft, for take away and for eating out. For us, no trip is complete without nipping into thee most organised children’s charity shop on planet earth Child after Child where we often drop off donations and stock up on the next size kiddy clothes.
Great day trips
Levengrove Park in Dunbarton – take a train to Dalreoch station and follow the river path for 0.7 miles to the park
Partick to Balloch – get the train right there or check out National Cycle Route 7.
Cunningar loop – great link in to cycle network along the river clyde on national cycle route 75.
European adventures
The marvellous East Coast charity Porty Community Energy have compiled great inspirational blog listing inspiring ideas for trips near and far white lots of European train journeys. See their blog at Travel Agents of Change – Porty Community Energy
Euro Disney by train!
Who went: parents, kids aged 6/7 and grandparents
Highlights: getting the train took us right into the heart of London (and platform 9 3/4 for Harry at kings Cross. London stop over for 24 hoursGreat groups who help make the magic happen…
have you checked out Women on Wheels travel blog? It’s full of endless great ideas and handy hints. Visit this fantastic organisation at their stall today. https://womenonwheels.org.uk/blog
Friends at Sustrans work hard as custodians of the National Cycling Network and have a helpful website. If you are planning a family bike packing adventure, check out a families experience here:
Sustrans blogger Natalie Martin gives top tips on planning planning family bike-packing adventure-
Check out East Coast charity Porty Energy’s inspirational blog listing inspiring ideas fort trips near and far white lots of European train journeys. See their blog at Travel Agents of Change – Porty Community Energy
books n boards 