THE Highlands has been voted as one of the UK’s most popular locations for a cycling holiday, according to new research.

Holiday specialists cottages.com has published the results of an independent survey which revealed over a third of people in the UK (40%) are cyclists.

When asked where they would head for their ideal cycling break, the Highlands proved popular.

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It received 11% of the vote and only lost out to the Peak District which picked up 12% of the vote.

The Highlands was the only area in Scotland to make the list.

It’s home to a number of popular cycling routes including the Loch Ness 360 which can take up to three days.

People often start the route in Inverness before heading along the banks of Loch Ness.

Those looking for something less challenging often head to Kingussie to take on the Inshriach Forest and Glen Feshie circuit trail which normally takes around three hours or so. 

The top 10 most popular cycling spots across the UK were as follows:

  • 1. Peak District                                                        
  • 2. Scottish Highlands                                        
  • 3. Penzance, Cornwall                            
  • 4. London                                                 
  • 5. Isle of Wight                                          
  • 6. Morecombe Bay, Lake District         
  • 7. Norfolk                                                 
  • 8. North Wales Coast                            
  • 9. Hampshire                                              
  • 10. Bannau Bycheiniog (Cymraeg) (formerly known as the Brecon Beacons)