The Celtic Challenge is a firm fixture in the St Columba's Hospice Care events calendar, and after a 2-year, Covid induced, hiatus, we're thrilled that it's back to celebrate it's tenth birthday in 2022. Find out more about what to expect in this legendary 200 mile cycle challenge.

The Celtic Challenge 2022

The Celtic Challenge has marked a special place in the Hospice calendar for the last decade, and in 2022, we are excited to finally host the 10th cycle from our home at Boswall Road to St Columba’s Abbey on Iona.  
 
The route, 200 miles in total, takes in some of the best cycling Scotland has to offer, including 3 of the top 50 cycle routes in the country. 
 
There are 4 days in total, with approximately 50 miles of cycling on each day, and on day 5, you can rest your legs as you are bussed back to Edinburgh on board a private coach. 

Regular stops will take place at roughly every 8 to 14 miles, and snacks and drinks will be provided at each stop. This gives the group a chance to get back together and stops it spreading out too much. For most of the event cyclists can go at their own pace but the faster you go the longer you may have to wait at stops – it is not a race!  
 
The whole trip is accompanied by a support vehicle, so there’s no need for you to carry anything you don’t want to, and hotel accommodation is included every night.  

The Route!  

Day 1 Edinburgh to Glasgow 

Leaving the Hospice on Wednesday 25th May, to a hero’s send off, our palliative-care-peloton will head to Linlithgow, mostly via roads and cycle paths. From here you'll join the canal towpath, and make your way by the canal path to the spectacular Falkirk Wheel where you’ll stop for lunch! 

After a hearty lunch to refuel, you’ll leave the Falkirk Wheel and continue on the canal path which will take you within a mile of our hotel in Glasgow. 

Day 2 Glasgow to Inveraray 

Rejoining the canal path after leaving the hotel will take you all the way to Balloch and the beautiful Loch Lomond. From here you'll join the West Loch Lomond cycle path up to Tarbet, stopping at Inverbeg on the way for lunch! Both of these routes separately rate in Scotland’s top 50 cycle routes, so this promises to be a morning to remember! 

In the afternoon there has been a change of route from previous years, and our route this year takes you between the “Arrochar Alps” and Loch Long. A day of stunning cycling is brought to a climax as you then take on the iconic The Rest & Be Thankful pass, which will deliver some of the best scenery imaginable, not to mention a phenomenal sense of achievement! The day will come to an end in Inveraray, set next to Loch Fyne, where you'll spend the night in the Inverary Inn. 

Day 3 Inveraray to Oban 

Day 3 starts by heading out Inveraray and onto Taynuilt, a beautiful coastal village, where you’ll stop for lunch.  From Taynuilt the group will take the cycle path through Glen Lonan and Glen Cruitten into Oban. This route, which is stunning but challenging, is also rated in Scotland’s top 50 and has often been previous participants favourite part of the whole trip! 

Day 4 Oban to Iona 

After taking the ferry to Craignure, on Mull, you’ll head west taking in the Three Lochs Viewpoint, Loch Beg Bridge and the pretty village of Benessan before arriving in Fionnphort. From here, the ferry to Iona, and the finish line, await!  

To find out more, or to secure your place today, email cbolt@stcolumbashospice.org.uk