Made in Scotland

For this Beyond Biking trip you will sample the very best of traditional Scottish cuisine, so get ready for sumptuous three-course meals made from prime cuts of salmon, beef, lamb and wild game. And of course, let’s not forget the fine choice of whisky.

Scotland yields some of the best natural produce in the world; no wonder the ‘Made in Scotland’ stamp is synonymous with taste and quality. The Altantic Ocean, the North Sea and Scotland’s numerous lochs all provide a ready-made supply of fish and seafood.

Scotland’s Vikings invaders brought with them the Scandinavian methods of ‘salting’ and ‘smoking’, as well as the famous Aberdeen Angus cattle breed. Mother Nature couldn’t have been kinder. The Scottish highlands are full of wild game such as pheasant, grouse, partridge, pigeon, hare and rabbit.

True, authentic Scottish food isn’t ‘fancy’, but it is wholesome, filling and surprisingly tasty. Prepare to start your day with some porridge or a cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs served with black pudding (blood sausage), grilled or fried tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, and tattie (potato) scones. The starchy nature of most Scottish meals will keep you feeling full for longer, providing everything you need for a long day of mountain biking.

For your main meals, you will have the opportunity to taste some Scottish classics, including, of course, the national dish of haggis. Haggis is made from lamb’s offal mixed with suet, onions, herbs and spices, all packed into a skin bag traditionally made of a sheep’s stomach. It may not sound like something for the faint hearted but it is actually quite delicious.

No Scots supper would be complete without a tot of good whisky. We’ve selected a number of hotels with great whisky bars, and if you are you not a fan, you can always sample some Scottish ale.