Aberdeen to Inverness
From Aberdeen station National Cycle Route 1 meanders through the city's historic streets and lanes, passing the award-winning Maritime Museum and the magnificent gothic architecture of Marischal college. A mixture of tracks and main roads reach beyond Dyce to the start of the traffic-free Formartine and Buchan Way. Small country roads and traffic-free, disused railway lines reach all the way to Banff on the shores of the Moray Firth.
From Banff scenic coastal roads and cliff top paths take you through some quaint fishing towns to Cullen where the route crosses over a magnificent disused railway viaduct towards Buckie. Crossing the mouth of the River Spey at Garmouth, the cycle route leads along small country roads to Elgin where Coopers Park and Elgin Cathedral make a good place for a picnic stop. From busy Elgin streets, quiet rural lanes lead to Findhorn Bay.
Skirting round the market town of Forres, Route 1 courses through Morayshire countryside with excellent views of Culbin Forest on to the holiday town of Nairn. Beyond Nairn the route passes the historic battle site of Culloden before entering the city limits of Inverness where well deserved refreshment is waiting.
Natural attractions:
-
• Moray Firth
• River Spey
• Findhorn Bay Nature Reserve
• Culbin Forest
• Bow Fiddle Rock
Visitor attractions:
-
• Aberdeen Maritime Museum
• Marischal College, Aberdeen
• Aberdeen Old town
• Duff House, Banff
• Bridge of Alvah, Banff
• Portsoy Old Harbour
• Cullen Viaduct
• Spey Viaduct
• Elgin Cathedral
• Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre
• Inverness Art Gallery and Museum
• Clava Chambered Cairns
National Cycle Network (NCN) Online Mapping
View 25,000 miles of cycle routes, including 13,000 miles of NCN, using Sustrans online mapping. You can also:
- Draw, measure and share routes
- Find local amenities such as bike hire and shops
- Find bus stops, train stations and timetables
Visit www.sustrans.org.uk/map
The Complete National Cycle Network App
Access Sustrans online mapping with the Complete National Cycle Network app.
View 25,000 miles of cycle routes, including 13,000 miles of NCN using our online mapping.
The app includes:
- Find local amenities such as bike hire and shops
- GPS tracking – record and share routes
- Store mapping for areas without a mobile signal
To download the app, visit the Sustrans website
Route submitted by: Sustrans
Tags
Route map
Comments
Key route details
- Region/Area:
Northern Scotland
- Distance:
150 miles
- Time needed:
4-5 days
- Classification:
Medium
- Traffic:
Mixed
- Surface:
Mixed
- NCN Route:
National Route 1
- Start:
Aberdeen Station
- Finish:
Inverness City Centre
- Access:
Train Stations at:
• Aberdeen
• Dyce
• Elgin
• Forres
• Nairn
• Inverness
- Maps and guides
-
- Guides & publications:
- Links with:
• National Route 7 Glasgow to Inverness
• Speyside Way
• Dava Way
- Weather:
-
Tue
max: 5°C min: -2°C
-
Wed
max: 3°C min: 1°C
-
Thu
max: 6°C min: 2°C
-
Fri
max: 5°C min: 1°C
Choose another route
