Cycle Highlands

We stayed on the Glen Tanar estate for a week and hired bikes for the whole family from Cycle Highlands. Very helpful and friendly service, with the bikes delivered directly to our cottage, some good suggestions about places to go and also helmets, locks and a spare inner tube. Excellent quality bikes at a reasonable price, even for our six-year-old, and they kindly allowed us to keep them for longer than we had initially paid for.

Have to say Im very surprised about the poor reviews about this shop on here. Ive been using this shop for the past 3 years or so and the staff have always been nothing but friendly and helpful on every occasion. Today I bought a new seat, cycled back to Aboyne to find it very uncomfortable, phoned the shop to see if I could exchange it and they have agreed without hesitation - just as i expected them to.
As for the customer who found it strange not to allow bikes in the shop then I can only imagine what it would be like if everyone who visited with a bike wanted to take it in. Its not a strange rule, just a very sensible one.

I've been using Cycle Highlands for about 6 years and have been riding bikes for over 30 years. Id say I'm experienced enough to comment on this shop.
The staff are SO knowledgeable... and the service department is staffed by some of the most experienced and clever bike technicians anywhere in the country.
The shop itself is perfectly sized to accommodate a great selection of top (high-end and big-brand) bikes and products. Calling it boutique doesn't quite do it justice - but Evans or Edinburgh Bike Co. this definitely isn't - and all the better for it. All the shop staff are riders and regularly product test what they are selling. They can provide genuine feedback on most products in store - and have enough biking knowledge to make useful comparisons with other products which the purchaser might have been looking at.
Last year the shop completed a brand new purpose built workshop which is a great addition to the site. A much larger workshop and better layout has enabled the team to capitalise on their extensive abilities - meaning that bikers like myself (who enjoy always having our bikes in 1st class condition) can now get them serviced and turned around even quicker than before.
I've read some other reviews and frankly I shake and scratch my head. Why on earth anybody would think it appropriate to walk a bike into a showroom is beyond me? I wonder if they also try to drive their car into the showroom of John Clark when its MOT time?
If you find yourself in the area (actually its really worth the drive to) go and check them out; you wont be disappointed at all - and you'll probably leave with something nice and shiny to boot.

Had nothing but great service from knowledgable staff in this busy well stocked Aladdin's cave of bike heaven. I'd recommend booking bike hire in advance as Ballater is a mecca for cyclists and hire bikes available do get snapped up through the summer holidays.

I've been using Cyclehighlands in Ballater for nearly 10 years. Having bought 4 bikes for myself, 1 for my daughter and 2 complete sets of components to upgrade a hardtail and build a full suspension frame into a bike for my wife, I have no problem recommending the family run business to anyone. Several of my colleages from work have also bought bikes, on my recommending Cyclehighlands to them.
Each bike bought from them also recieves a free post sale service, after a bedding in period, to correct any cable stretch etc. on gears or other components.
The annual bike bash/demo day has grown year on year, recieving positive comments and praise from customers, visitors and bike reps alike. The bosses of Santa Cruz, one of the brands carried by Cyclehighlands, chose to reveal several of their new bikes at the store because of the reputation of the Cyclehighlands team and the local trails.

Would I buy from them again? Yes, definitely.
Would I recommend them to others? Most certainly. 10/10