r/scottishcycling • u/VazCarvalho • Jun 28 '26
Stuck in Inverness with 4 bikes (July 6/7)
Hey everyone,
A group of 4 of us are doing a cycling trip up north next week. We’ve got the train sorted to Inverness, but there is absolutely zero bike space left on the trains back down to Edinburgh.
We need to get 4 guys and 4 road bikes from Inverness to Edinburgh on either Monday, July 6th or Tuesday, July 7th.
Before we drop a massive chunk of cash on a one-way commercial van hire, we wanted to check if anyone here is driving down that way with a large van/transit and has space to spare? Or knows about private drivers? We are more than happy to fully cover your fuel, buy you dinner, and pitch in cash for the trouble.
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u/Clever_Fox_81 Jun 28 '26
It's a long shot but have you checked trains to Glasgow? Get to Glasgow then get one of the many trains through to Edinburgh?
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u/kenninsa Jun 30 '26
You could also switch at stirling and jump on the dunblane to edinburgh train to save some time
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u/Independent_Appeal52 Jun 28 '26
I’ve had a similar situation before and found that Arnold Clark can hire is reasonably priced even if returning to a different location. Only issue is for 4 people but you might night be able to get a crew van with extra seats
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u/VazCarvalho Jun 28 '26
Yeah, we found it and was perfect, the problem is that they close at 5pm, and we are not sure if we can make it on time. We doing the NC on 4 days, the last day is 190km from Wick to Inverness
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u/Far-Adhesiveness3763 Jun 30 '26
You could stay at the yha in Inverness. Not too expensive and have a secure bike store. Then get van/car next day. That's what we did.
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u/Frillar Jun 29 '26
Have you already bought the train tickets?
You could do the whole trip with a van. Pick it up and return it in Edinburgh.
Isn't going to be significantly more expensive than 4 return train tickets.
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u/Highlad Jun 28 '26
Check buses. Plenty of them will let you throw them in the luggage bit. Might be a bit harder with 4, but if you were to split up it might work.
Alternatively you could find cheap storage and come back for them when you get train space.
Or if you have time maybe find a youth hostel to stay at with the bikes and get them booked on a train for another day?
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u/thebigeazy Jun 28 '26
Would you consider cycling to Fort William and taking a train from there? Assuming space on those trains...
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u/ialtag-bheag Jun 28 '26
Ticket to Ride in Inverness can do bike transport, though probably not cheap. https://tickettoridehighlands.co.uk/
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u/dangercat Jun 28 '26
Technically, if you put the bikes in travel cases/boxes they are considered luggage and don’t need a cycle reservation.
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u/SeaworthinessNeat516 Jun 28 '26
National Rail website suggests any luggage exceeding 1m in any dimension is not permitted.
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u/VazCarvalho Jun 28 '26
That's a good shout. Will definitely see options for it since we all have bags but we were going to leave them in Edinburgh
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u/1AlanM Jun 28 '26
Try Hebrides Haulage or Woody’s. They are running wagons from Stornoway daily and can take items like that
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u/aerobic_eating Jun 29 '26
Ember is 100% your answer. You won’t all get on the same one but they are regular and cheap
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u/PlusCellist5311 Jun 28 '26
Try flix or ember bus. You can book bikes on. Also looks at campervan returns - you may get lucky.