Mountain Biking Collection by
Scotland tip to tip — the Faultline Trail
15 days
3-9 h/day
1,175km
14,290m
14,210m
This is a serious bikepacking challenge, covering over 730 miles (1,175 km) of Scotland’s most remote moorlands, spectacular loch networks, testing mountains and pine-fresh forests. Unconventional and indirect, do you have what it takes to cover the vast country by roads both rough and smooth?
A lovechild of Scotland-based cycling collective Albannach, which literally translates as ‘to belong to Scotland’, this route was formulated by Jim Cameron and tested together with Neil Henderson in May 2019.
The ‘Faultline Trail’ name was initially used to describe the fault that runs through Scotland between Campbeltown and Inverness, but as you’ll see they got a bit carried away with the cartophilia and ended up with an even longer route that spans the whole gaelic country from lighthouse to lighthouse!
The route is around 50:50 roads and off road, so the perfect bike for this kind of ride is likely to be a gravel bike with wide tyres, preferably 40mm plus. Of course, this will depend on personal preference and a rigid or hardtail mountain bike will also be fine. You’ll need to be able to carry equipment with you on your bike as several of the stages end in remote areas with no accommodation options other than wild camping.
In Scotland you can wild camp legally thanks to the Right To Roam act (see more at scotways.com/faq/law-on-statutory-access-rights). If you’re choosing from the hotels, guesthouses and campsites along the route, make sure you do book ahead, especially in peak season during the summer months.
This is not a beginner’s trip; you will need to have bikepacking experience to tackle this challenge, not only due to its length and terrain difficulty, but also due to how remote the areas are that you’ll pass through. Regardless of experience level, make sure that you can carry the right equipment for the conditions as well as emergency kit (rations, first aid, extra layers and survival bags etc.) as well as be familiar with local emergency procedures.
The best time of year to tackle the Faultline Trail is undoubtedly late spring to early summer, once the ground has dried out a little, but before the onset of midge season. Alternatively the late summer months can also be good, including September and early October. It’s not recommended for the winter season due to boggy conditions under tyre, some potentially dangerous river crossings and severe weather.
Access to either end is a little more complex than some other bikepacking routes due to the extremities of the country that it spans. To get to the start at the Mull of Galloway, there are rail connections to Stranraer, which is a 21.7 mile (35 km) ride from the lighthouse at the start. Similarly at the other end, the nearest train station at Thurso is a 13.4 mile (21.5 km) ride from the finish at Dunnet Head. Check out more about these train journeys at scotrail.co.uk.
Check out more from the routemasters at albannach.cc/thefaultlinetrail
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The Faultline Trail
1,173km
14,880m
14,830m
Last updated: November 29, 2024
Do it yourself!
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Activities
1. Stage 1: Mull of Galloway to Loch Moan — The Faultline Trail
93.2km
07:16
900m
730m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
2. Stage 2: Loch Moan to Afton Reservoir — The Faultline Trail
70.5km
06:40
1,090m
860m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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3. Stage 3: Afton Reservoir to Glespin — The Faultline Trail
43.1km
03:40
530m
750m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4. Stage 4: Glespin to Glasgow — The Faultline Trail
91.2km
06:26
820m
1,000m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
5. Stage 5: Glasgow to Lochgoilhead — The Faultline Trail
87.2km
07:13
1,260m
1,290m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
6. Stage 6: Lochgoilhead to Tarbert — The Faultline Trail
80.7km
06:15
1,090m
1,090m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
7. Stage 7: Tarbert to Kilmartin — The Faultline Trail
73.6km
06:47
1,150m
1,120m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
8. Stage 8: Kilmartin to Bridge of Orchy — The Faultline Trail
92.9km
08:02
1,240m
1,110m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
9. Stage 9: Bridge of Orchy to Bridge of Gaur — The Faultline Trail
66.3km
06:19
840m
790m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
10. Stage 10: Bridge of Gaur to Fort Augustus — The Faultline Trail
97.5km
09:23
1,370m
1,560m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
11. Stage 11: Fort Augustus to the Hydro Bothy— The Faultline Trail
64.3km
06:30
1,320m
1,050m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
12. Stage 12: The Hydro Bothy to Oykel Bridge — The Faultline Trail
93.9km
08:38
920m
1,170m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
13. Stage 13: Oykel Bridge to Altnaharra — The Faultline Trail
83.8km
06:15
850m
800m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
14. Stage 14: Altnaharra to Forsinard Flows — The Faultline Trail
78.3km
05:27
580m
520m
Expert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
15. Stage 15: Forsinard Flows to Dunnet Head — The Faultline Trail
58.1km
03:54
330m
380m
Intermediate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Collection Stats
Activities
15
Distance
1,175 km
Duration
98:47 h
Elevation
14,290 m
14,210 m
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