Glamis Castle is 12 miles from Dundee. If you are cycling to the castle I recommend travelling from Arbroath where the roads are not as busy with traffic. My cycling route to Glamis Castle has all the details.​

​The driveway to the castle is almost one mile long. Cycling down this is the best way to appreciate the unfolding view of the castle. It's just the right speed to get the full affect of the big reveal. I think doing it in a motor vehicle wouldn't be quite as impressive because you would get there too quickly.​

The guided tour lets you see 10 of the 125 rooms in Glamis Castle. I think a 10 room house sounds extravagant, but 125 rooms is on a whole other level. I can't even begin to imagine what it feels like to live somewhere with that many rooms. 

Did you know that there are only 6 paintings in the world that depict Christ wearing a hat? And that one of those paintings is in the chapel of Glamis Castle?

It's the little details like this painting that I enjoyed the most about the guided tour. Here's another one- there's a travelling chest in Glamis that's made of shark skin. The idea was that if the chest fell off a boat and into the water the shark skin made it waterproof and protected the contents.

​​There's a lot of taxidermy in the castle. The most intriguing is a bear who was a family pet called Fred. My guide told me that Fred used to be taken walks on a leash and on one occasion he came off the leash and had an unfortunate encounter with a Highland Cow. The cow was protective of its calf and killed Fred.

Glamis was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She was the daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore- the castle is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. There are Royal Apartments where there is a phone with a direct dial to Buckingham Palace.

You usually find a tea room in historic properties, but Glamis has something that is a bit more special. It's called the Castle Kitchen and is located inside the huge Victorian kitchens, so there are plenty of original features. The menu features fruit and vegetables from the Castle's walled garden and you can even have afternoon tea with a glass of presecco. On my visit I had the pea soup and it was thick, tasty and comforting.

It's the outdoor space that's often my favourite thing when visiting a Scottish castle. In my opinion the gardens at Cawdor Castle are hard to beat, but Glamis has the gorgeous Italian Garden. It's got an interesting layout of hedges and trees, including the most amazing tree canopy I have ever seen.  It's like a train station canopy, but made of trees.

I was delighted by this structure and it was my favourite part of the gardens. It must have involved people with great talent, skill and a love for gardening. When I walked under it I looked up to marvel at the network of interwoven branches. In wet weather, I imagine, this is a good  place to keep dry.

If you love Scotland's iconic Highland coo then Glamis is a great place to see them. 

There's also pleasant walks by the Dean Water, including a ​chance to cross the beautiful Earl Michael Bridge.

There's a pet cemetery that has headstones for the family pets, including a dog called Fizz Wizzie and a guinea pig called Happy. The Great Sundial of 1671 was used to set the castle's clocks. It's 7 metres high.

Outside the castle grounds you will find this lovely village with attractive cottages and stone buildings. It was built, mainly, to rehouse estate workers when the castle was being redeveloped under the  9th Earl of Starthmore.

You might’ve heard of the UNESCO Trail hosted on VisitScotland’s site, but this year, VisitScotland have decided to reimagine the trail through the eyes of AI. AI imagery has taken the world by storm in recent years, but its popularity has increased extensively with platforms such as TikTok creating a text-to-image AI-generated filter. 

VisitScotland challenged this AI technology to see what it thought each of Scotland's 13 UNESCO designations looked like. Believe it or not, the AI generated the images by learning the specific aesthetics of each location by analysing over a thousand curated images, and then combining them to create new depictions in line with the real-life photos it had been exposed to!

Whilst lots of the UNESCO trail is easily accessible for cyclists, we wanted to share our top bicycle-friendly designations to inspire your trip this year. There are a range of distances and gradients to navigate here.
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Also, with these rides, put Strava to the back of your mind. If you’re too busy focusing on clocking up those miles, you’ll surely miss out. The Scottish scenery is nothing short of stunning!

Scotland’s beautiful capital is home to some of the most breathtaking cycling routes in the country. One unmissable trip is the route from Edinburgh to Pennicuick; this 38-mile return journey winds through low traffic marked paths and will guide you through serene rivers, historical railway architecture and lush county side views.

This passage will lead you to Rosslyn Chapel, just 7 miles south of Edinburgh and famous for its feature in the best-selling book, The Da Vinci Code. This picturesque location offers a historically immersive experience like no other.
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The AI-generated imagery depicts the diverse landscapes of Edinburgh, and it is this variety of paths, trails and hidden treasures that makes Edinburgh so unique.

A hub of untouched coastline and woodland, this Biosphere offers endless opportunities for natural discovery. The AI-generated imagery above shows the vast range of wildlife and nature that resides in this stunning area.

This site offers a perfect location for you to hop off the saddle and venture into  Galloway Forest Park, renowned for its gold-standard dark skies. We suggest visiting after hours to find yourself underneath luminous stars and breathtaking constellations.

Next, why not follow the cycle route to the majestic Drumlanrig Castle and take a guided tour? Located in the 120,000-acre Queensberry Estate, this 17th Century Castle encompasses all that is grand and luxurious.
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This site has a variety of cycling routes designed to suit everyone from beginners to experts.

This Geopark stretches over 2,000 square kilometres and is a location defined, but it’s expansive sandy white beaches, atmospheric rock caves and rich biodiversity.

The AI image captures these features via its rocky coastlines that contrast with its soaring mountains.

Why not embark on your own adventure, by exploring one of the six Pebble Routes that the Highlands offer?
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By exploring these routes by bike, you are offered the unique opportunity to observe lesser known paths, and can truly embrace nature at a slow and steady pace (the best way to do it).
 
So, what are you waiting for? Get planning your next cycling adventure today, and discover Scotland’s most hidden locations and natural wonders! Our challenge to you is to compare VS’s AI-generated imagery with your own perceptions of these locations? How do they compare? There’s only one way to find out!

On my first ever cycle touring trip I wore jeans. That's before I knew anything about selecting the right clothing for cycling. It was a disaster. They were simply too tight for my legs to pedal properly. And when it rained heavily they got soaked through and weighed a ton- they become near on impossible to pedal in. I learned my lesson that jeans and cycling don't go together. ​

After that experience I kept my jeans packed away in the panniers and only wore them off the bike. I switched to specialist cycling shorts when going on cycle tours. However, when I am riding in the city I don't want the faff of getting changed when I arrive at my destination, or feeling a bit self-conscious in cycling clothes. I want to be able to step off the bike in the clothes I am wearing and step into whatever work or social setting I am attending. Cycling jeans are ideal for this, so I was really excited to try out Vulpine's jeans.​

The first thing I noticed about these jeans is the quality of the finish. They feel like they are made to last, that they will withstand a life on the bike. The stitching is flawless and the feel of the garment is luxurious. 

On normal jeans there is a seam down the middle of the backside. If you've ridden any great distance in normal jeans you will know that this seam is a major pain point. It hurts! Vulpine's design has a diamond gusset. This is a piece of cotton on the inside that protects you from the seams. This feature works brilliantly and I had no issues on my 5 mile commute.

With these jeans your movements are not restricted like they are with normal jeans. Normal jeans can feel stiff and rub against your skin. Vulpine has clearly thought about the movements you make when riding a bike and incorporated this into the design. In particular, the area around the knees is great for ease of movement compared to a normal jean. 

There's a high waist band to stop the jeans slipping down as you ride. There are some reflective details for night time cycling. These are on the side of the back pockets and if you roll up the trouser leg, there's some there.

I love that these cycling specific features are practical, but also subtle. You don't notice them and that means it can look and function like a normal pair of jeans when you are not riding your bike. 

I would have preferred slightly deeper side pockets. I was always slightly worried that my phone or cards would slip out, especially if there was a bump on the road. To be fair they never did fall out, so it's a minor criticism.  

The jeans are not waterproof, but I tried them out in a light rain shower. It was about a 5 mile ride and they were fine. They didn't get soaked through or stick to my skin or become too heavy, like normal jeans would. If the rain is heavier then I'd be reaching for waterproofs anyway, but for light rain I would just keep going, safe in the knowledge that they would dry off pretty quickly once I got to my destination. 

These jeans are really for urban cycling and I would choose something else for cycle touring. I didn't test them out on longer distances simply because I wouldn't ever choose or recommend cycling jeans for that purpose.

These cycling jeans are superb. They have all the practical features that you need for cycling and they also look great off the bike. For urban cycling these jeans make a great addition to your wardrobe. You'll find them on the Vulpine website.

​For those of us who love to cycle, speed is crucial. Cycling fast burns more calories than leisurely bike rides, and it also allows you to feel the unique thrill of connecting with your bike and being at one with it.

Once you start cycling fast, it’s hard to stop, and many riders become addicted to the thrill and want to compete in races and contests to show off their prowess.
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While your physical fitness is key to your ability to ride fast, the performance of your bike is also an essential factor.

High-performance bikes are made up of many components, and each of these needs to be at its peak proficiency to ensure that you reach the best possible speed.

Here are some of the upgrades you can make to your bike to improve its speed and enjoy the riding experience you crave.

 New Brakes
It might seem counter-intuitive to replace your brakes to improve your speed, as brakes help you to stop your bike. However, when you’re riding fast, you need to be able to control your bike, particularly when cycling at altitude or taking corners. Usually, you can replace the bike brake pads after between 500-1000 miles, but if you ride a lot and on uneven terrain, then you might want to consider doing this more frequently. The braking mechanism might need replacing if it becomes squeaky or doesn’t respond as fast as it used to. If you’re in doubt, take your bike to your local cycle shop to see what they recommend. They can test your brakes and check that they are working correctly and will give you the best possible performance. 

High-Performance Bottom Brackets
Bottom brackets are easy to overlook, but they’re an essential part of your bike, as they connect the crankset to the frame. The spindle of the crank rotates within the bearings of the bottom bracket and allows the crankset to move, ensuring a smooth ride and comfort for the rider. Poorly designed bottom brackets can create unnecessary drag and can inhibit the speed of your bike; causing the rider to use unnecessary energy. They're effectively required to produce more watts to produce a certain speed. If you’re looking for high-quality replacement bottom brackets for your bike, then SN-VITAE offers a selection of quality options. This company specialises in precision cycling components, and their bottom brackets create a frictionless riding experience for greater speed and comfort when cycling in races and endurance contests.

Wider Tyres
Having wider tyres can help you to improve the stability and increase the speed of your bike. So, if you want to make your bike go faster and be better equipped to ride on a variety of surfaces, then you should consider upgrading your tyres. Putting new tyres on your bike will also give you a better performance initially, as the tread will be fresh and won’t be worn down. After you’ve added wider tyres to your bike, you should continue to check your tyres regularly and make sure that they have enough pressure and aren’t worn down. If you notice any damage to your bike tyres, you should be proactive, as poor-quality tyres could harm your bike and increase the likelihood of accidents, which can be incredibly dangerous when you’re cycling at high speeds.

The most important first step to losing weight is to choose a healthy target to aim for. The most common basis is your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a calculation of your size that takes into account your height and weight and tells you whether you fall below under- or over-weight, normal or obese. Since you are training your body to become fitter and use energy more efficiently, it is also worth keeping track of your cycling progress. You can opt to set distance, time or even calorie goals per session, then slowly build up the intensity as you go along. A smartwatch with an accompanying app can help keep track of these and keep you motivated. According to John Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin, M.D., M.H.S., tracking likely helps a lot of people when combined with a clear goal to shoot for. In no time, you'll be hitting those BMI and cycling goals. ​

Your body is your vehicle, so watching what you put in your body is equally as important as watching the numbers go down. To get the most out of your cycling sessions, you should be maintaining your blood glucose concentration, and you do this by consuming an adequate amount of food and fluid. Instead of following a fad diet to complement your weight loss plans,  WeightWatchers recommend using weight loss programmes  that are completely personalised to your specific needs and preferences. No two people are the same so find a plan that makes it easier for you to make healthy food choices. Losing weight should feel celebratory – not like a punishment. 

One of the amazing things about cycling is that it is also an efficient means of transportation. If you’re finding it challenging to find time to cycle regularly, making little lifestyle changes like including cycling to work gives you the chance to get a regular amount of exercise in the time that you would have spent on the tube. In fact, people who switched from driving or taking public transportation to cycling dropped an average of 7kg (1 stone) over the course of a year when biking 30 minutes each way. As a testament to this, the UK government even recently released word that GPs will start issuing social prescriptions, cycling being one of them, as part of a new trial to improve physical and mental health. This program will be tested in 11 local authority areas like Cornwall, Leeds and Nottingham. 
 
Last and most importantly, enjoy cycling. Whether you prefer a leisure stroll along country roads, an exhilarating zip along mountain bike trails, long unplanned rides on your own or a social ride with friends, there's a lot to find fun in. You'll nearly forget you're exercising while you're doing it. ​