Guides Christian & Carolyn cycling Scotland
Cycling Aisla Craig
Guides Christian & Carolyn resting at River Stinchar
Notes from the road
Gravel Riding & Active Travel
The custom luxury bike experts at Gray & Co. have embraced gravel cycling! The increasingly popular adventure sport is opening up new active travel options around the globe. Despite its name, gravel cycling is about exploring a mix of paved and unpaved roads that can take bikers on more exclusive and less-trafficked routes.
Gravel bikes feature drop handlebars and wider tires for more stability and comfort on rougher terrain. This allows for more efficiency than mountain bikes on pavement while maintaining better control than road bikes on unpaved paths. For our expert Gray & Co. bespoke route planners and guides, that means unlocking quieter, scenic paths and hidden trails, biking even farther off the beaten path! Read on to see some of our top gravel riding destinations.
Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca is a cyclist’s paradise, with its smooth roads and unpaved trails winding through olive groves and quiet countryside. Gravel sections offer a serene escape into the island’s rugged beauty. Son Net hotel, nestled in the UNESCO World Heritage Tramuntana Mountains, is a perfectly located basecamp.
Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany’s famous Strade Bianche (white crushed gravel roads) and rolling hills are perfect for unpaved riding. Cycle through vineyards, medieval villages, and classic Italian landscapes that make this region a true gem. Originally a medieval castle on an ancient Etruscan site, Belmond’s Castello Di Casole feels like a little village all its own, and leads to more off-road adventure.
Scotland
The Scottish Highlands and rugged Ayrshire coastline are made for gravel riding. Wind past castles, flocks of sheep, and quiet fishing villages on remote paths and coastal trails. It’s all the best of the beauty and history of Scotland. The romantic Glenapp Castle is perfectly positioned for days of glorious riding.
Dolomites, Italy
Known for breathtaking Alpine views and hiking trails, the Dolomites also boast a lesser-known feature – gravel routes galore. Hidden trails and unpaved forest paths lead riders through towering cliffhanger peaks and dramatic alpine landscapes. Sure to be a stunner, the new Aman Rosa Alpina is opening soon.
New Zealand
With rugged coastlines and mountainous terrain, unpaved roads access plenty of the South Island’s most stunning scenery and exceptional lodges. Here’s where gravel routes save the day: accessing the remote working sheep station and lodge at Flockhill.
Chile & Argentina
Gravel riding opens up an entire world of exclusive Andean adventure. In the far south, ride through dramatic, windswept Patagonian landscapes featuring towering mountains and vineyards as your backdrop. In the most northern region near Salta, the Piatelli Wine Resort, lies on the doorstep of red rock Quebrada de las Conchas canyon.
South Africa
From the vineyards of the Western Cape to safari plains, gravel riding in South Africa takes you through one-of-a-kind landscapes. A few hours from Cape Town in the Cederberg Mountains, Bushmans Kloof offers wonderfully smooth dirt roads right out its front door. Cycle past zebra and ostrich before exploring ancient bushman cave paintings—all within the lodge’s private reserve.
Vermont & Maine, USA
In New England, Vermont and Maine’s dirt roads link charming villages and wild landscapes, perfect for those looking to take in the Northeast’s tranquil beauty. Vermont’s Twin Farms, on 300 glorious acres, is the perfect base.
All our trips are custom and private. That means you choose where, when, and how you want to travel. Get in touch now to start planning your own Gray & Co. trip!
