A Top 10 Scottish Hill Climb.

Cycling Ben Lawers, Scotland

Ride 4.4 miles gaining 1,140’ at 5% average grade.

Simon Warren ranks this as one of the most epic bike climbs in Scotland.  We are thankful to Simon for directing us to this remote treasure - we agree, it is truly epic and a climb worth making time to travel to and ride. While in the area, do be sure to ride another Top 10 Most Epic and also a Top 10 Hardest - Kenmore Hill (ranked Scotland’s seventh hardest hill climb by Simon Warren) and Quiraing (ninth most epic).

The Ben Lawers climb could easily be the crown jewel climb of any typical region, but Scotland has such stiff competition. So, Ben Lawers is “just” another epic climb in Scotland. A very narrow farming road takes you to the start coordinates which are at a very notable old stone bridge. There is one small cafe just before the start point of our climb, but other than that the area looks to be solely made up of small farms. Fairly easy gradients and an ever-winding road takes you up the mountain pass alongside a river. The road is freshly paved, very freshly paved - one of the smoothest roads I have ridden in all of Scotland. This area is popular for hikers who mainly seemed to congregate at the lake near the summit of our climb. In good weather, there are few climbs better than Ben Lawers.

Meggernie Estate and Castle access are just before the start of our climb - one can stay there while exploring the area.  

Bridge of Balgie over the River Lyon is where this climb begins. 

We ride past the Glenlyon Post Office, Shop, and Tea Room just before reaching Bridge of Balgie and beginning our climb. At the tea room, you are likely to see hikers and cyclists returning from or preparing for their epic adventure in this gorgeous area.

This is such a magnificent old bridge, you’ll surely want to ride over it a few times and spend time standing and looking out from it’s span over the River Lyon.

Some sweeping views before entering the gorge.

These are the magnificent and predominant views throughout the climb.

We run through a gorge nearly the entire climb with lush hillside bordering us left at right to the end.

Dense green foliage covers the hillsides as we climb towards Lochan na Lairige just past the summit of our climb.

The finish of this climb is at the sign for Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve. This National treasure is nearly 4,500 hectares and boasts all manner of flora and fauna, including rare arctic-alpine plants and over 600 different types of lichen. There is also a wealth of wildlife in the reserve, ranging from from red deer to many species of birds.

Lochan na Lairige and Ben Lawers Dam is just about a half mile downhill from the summit of our climb.

Ben Lawers Dam.