Grog - I only PM'd cuz I was writing such a looooooooong reply. (I lived in Scotland once, and was going a bit OT)

Keep us posted as to when you visit and where you'll be. Jan/Feb is going to be wet and dark and chilly, but it's always beautiful. If you need to rent bikes, I know Recycled Cycles has some ( www.recycledcycles.com ) as does Gregg's Greenlake Cyclery. (don't know their web, sorry)

the two big bike shops in Bellingham are Fairhaven Cycles and Kulshan Cycles. I don't know if either rents bikes.