Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle holiday

Day 1 – Arrival at the hotel in Glencoe 

Today is the start of your Scotland self guided motorcycle tour. So plan your route, get up nice and early, have breakfast, load your bike and depart for the beautiful lochside town of Glencoe.

You’ll be staying in a comfortable hotel situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. If you prefer to arrive at the hotel earlier to settle in, the check-in usually starts at 14.00ish.

Day 2 – Free day or optional day ride ( Approx. 200 miles)

Following a hearty breakfast, the first optional day ride on our Scotland self guided motorcycle tour will take you across the stunning rural countryside, along the shimmering lochs and through traditional highland towns and villages.  

The ride will be a combination of great biking A roads, minor country roads, and even less minor mountain highways and byways. There are plenty of places for refreshment breaks and several optional visits to tourist attractions to keep it interesting. 

You’ll commence your journey by following the shores of Loch Leven, crossing the famous Ballacullish Iron Bridge and continuing along the fantastic forest-fringed biking road towards our first port of call – Fort William. Fort William is surrounded by sandy beaches and dramatic hills, making it a perfect place for a bit of stroll and perhaps the first post-breakfast cup of coffee. Fort William is also a mecca for all sorts of outdoorsy people. So, the more fit and energetic ones may not be able to resist the temptation to have a quick run up Ben Nevis (if you fall for that one, you’ll fall for anything).

Next, if you fancy it, you’ll have the option of visiting Invergarry Castle. The visit will take you back to the times of Braveheart, the times when the Chieftans of the Clan MacDonell of Glengarry ruled the region. 

You’ll arrive at Fort Augustus and the legendary Loch Ness as you continue with your ride. Here, suppose the rightful hierarchy of road travellers is observed and respected – bikes have priority over cyclists, cars, campervans, coaches – especially coaches… and everybody else, for that matter. In that case, you should be able to park your bikes in front of the riverside café by the lock and have a cup of well-deserved coffee and a scone or two with mandatory jam and cream. And perhaps with a bit of luck, you might even see Nessie.

On the return leg of your ride, pending on time and your inquisitive tendency, you can opt to visit the famous Tomatin Whisky Distillery and have another pit stop at the renowned highland ski resort of Aviemore. Or you can ride directly back to the hotel. 

Day 3 – Glen to Uig (Approx. 140 miles)

Today, your Scotland self guided motorcycle tours continues to the next destination. You’ll be departing from one of the most beautiful lochs in the highlands and heading towards one of the most beautiful islands on the west coast – Isle of Sky. Your glorious journey includes riding through the breathtaking scenery that will keep getting more stunning with each twist of the throttle. 

The Isle of Sky is home to some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes. Its mountain ranges, dramatic coastline, captivating history, and miles of great biking roads make it a perfect destination for our next base.

You can stop to visit one of the Scotlands most visited and recognised castles, Eilean Donan Castle. Situated on an island overlooking the meeting point of Loch Alsh, Loch Long and Loch Duich, it is also one of the most photographed castles in the world. The castle is a convenient place for us, bikers, to stop distance-wise. It has motorcycle-allocated parking, café and of course, toilets.

You should arrive at your comfortable hotel just in time to get ready for a well deserved afternoon drink. 

Day 4 – Optional day ride or boat trip ( Approx. 90 miles)

Today is your second day off on the Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour. You’ll have a choice of parking your bike and relaxing for a day. Or going for a half a day ride around the island. 

Those who don’t fancy riding but would prefer to do something can join one of the popular wildlife boat excursions. During the trip, you should be able to see puffins, white-tailed sea eagles, dolphins, minke whales, basking sharks, and if you are lucky orcas (apparently, if you do see orcas, that day you should buy a lottery ticket as well).

The more energetic ones who would prefer to go for a spin may opt to follow our suggested ride. The sort of circular route around the island we’ll include the visits to the traditional fishing town of Portree, the rugged rock formation of Old Man of Storr and an award-winning castle of Dunvegan. 

To start with, following some great traffic-free coastal roads, accompanied by the stunning sea and mountain scenery, you’ll arrive at the first port of call. The mini-Dolomites-looking Old Man of Storr is a large pinnacle of rock that dominates the sky and can be seen for miles around. The Old Man of Storr is also one of the most photographed landscapes on the island. 

Situated on the east side of Isle of Sky, Portree is the island’s capital and your second destination. The town was created by Lord MacDonald as a fishing port and is only about 200 years old. But with its charming atmosphere and many cafés and restaurants overlooking a sheltered bay, it is a perfect spot for a bit of stroll and a cup of coffee. 

You’ll bring your ride to its conclusion by visiting the Highland estate steeped in history and clan legends, Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. After having a look around and a cup of coffee, a leisurely ride will take you back to your hotel just in time for an afternoon drink. 

Day 5 – Uig to Ullapool ( Approx. 180 miles)

Day five of your Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour is marked by a great ride along the first section of the legendary biking road – NC500. Today’s journey is also a great reminder of how fortunate the Brtish bikers are to have such an excellent biking country on their doorstep. The 500 miles (516 to be exact) of NC500 brings together stunning coastal scenery of endless seas, white sandy beaches, wild mountains and tiny fishing villages affording a wealth of unforgettable biking experiences. 

Your destination for today is the rustic coastal town of Ullapool. The town is nestled on the shores of Lochbroom, one of the least spoilt natural environments in the UK. The region surrounding Ullapool is often described as a paradise with a ‘Scandinavian twinkle in winter and Canadian-style beauty in summer’. 

Your hotel will welcome you with comfortable rooms and a traditional evening meal.

Day 6 – Free day or optional boat trip (Approx. 140 miles)

Today is another day off on your Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour. There are several options for how you can use your free time. 

Some might be tempted to explore the town on foot. Some might join a boat trip to Loch Broom and the Summer Isles. The Summer Isles are famed for their outstanding beauty. The isles range from little more than a pile of rocks sticking out of the sea to the full-size inhabited Tanera Mor island. The isles and the waters surrounding them are home to many species of sea birds, eagles, porpoise, dolphins, whales and seals. So “ahoy shipmate”, get your sea legs steady, your camera ready and enjoy the day at the sea.

There are always some who prefer to go for a spin. Our proposed ride will take you across the highlands towards another traditional fishing town of Tain. Time permitting, in Tain, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the world-famous Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery. As you start looping it around following some fantastic biking roads, once again, you’ll cross the highlands, passing the peaty brown waters of Loch Glascarnoch, Loch Droma and Loch Broom, you’ll return to the hotel. 

Day 7 – Ullapool to Thurso ( Approx. 140 miles)

Today your Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour continues to your next destination. After a hearty Scottish breakfast, you’ll depart Ullapool in Highlands and head towards Thurso, also in Highlands. However, the Caithness region surrounding Thurso, known for its vast open spaces and big changeable skies, is frequently referred to ‘as lowlands beyond Highlands. 

Today’s mileage is not huge, allowing you to take your time to enjoy a relaxing ride along another section of the iconic NC500, stop as often as you like and take in the majestic scenery. On today’s route, the navigation is simple – you’ll keep the sea on your left and the land on your right, and you can’t go wrong (well, we hope). 

You should arrive at your comfortable hotel just in time for an afternoon drink. 

Day 8 – Free day or optional day ride (Approx. 80 miles)

Today’s day off on your Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour is all about one ride – a visit to the northern-most point of the UK mainland, John O’Groats. It is fair to say that most bikers only heard of John o’ Groats because of its iconic sticker-covered signpost overlooking the harbour. Some would even question that – is it worth riding all the way to this wind-swept far corner just to get a photo of a signpost? However, it is a major tick-the-box biking destination and stopping-off point on the NC500. 

Especially if this ride can be twinned with a previous or future trip to its counterpart, Lands End in Cornwall, so, today’s ride offers a perfect opportunity to poke that selfie stick at the sign and enhance your biking portfolio. Therefore, for that reason alone, it’s definitely worth it. From John O’Groats, you’ll follow the coast road for a little while, explore the beautiful Caithness coastline, loop it around and return to your hotel. 

Those who don’t fancy riding or had previously visited John O’Groats can park their bikes and explore Thurso on foot. The town centre is a hive of all sorts of traditional Scottish shops, eateries, cafés, bars and restaurants. There are also many other ‘must-sees and dos’ in the town centre, around the Thurso Bridge and along the River. If you are interested in history, the famous well-house of Meadow Well and a fine public library are worth a visit. 

Day 9 – Thurso to Pitlochry (Approx. 200 miles)

Today is your last transit day to the final destination of your Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour. The remaining section of the iconic NC500 will be guide you to the Victorian Highland town of Pitlochry. On your way, you’ll be surrounded by stunning coastal and mountain scenery, passing through many traditional fishing villages and charming market towns.

You’ll also cross over three long magnificent bridges, Dornoch Firth Bridge, Cromarty Bridge and Kessock Bridge, before leaving the coast behind and once again heading into the Highlands. To mark the end of this part of your tour in style, you can stop for a break in Inverness, the starting and finishing point of the legendary NC500.

Your traditional Highland hotel will welcome you with a comfortable room and a gourmet evening meal. 

Day 10 – Free day or optional day ride (Approx. 160 miles)

Today is a good day to celebrate the last day ride of your Scottish Highlands self guided motorcycle tour and get high (high on riding, that is). You’ll take the old military road and ride over the narrow, twisty Cairnwell Pass. It is the highest main road in the United Kingdom. It reaches a dizzying height of 2199 ft (670m). 

From here, you’ll continue towards the ski area of Glenshee, Braemar and eventually end up at the Royal Balmoral Castle. The castle has been the Scottish home to the Royal Family since 1852. It has fantastic grounds, gardens, exhibitions, a gift shop and a café. The Royal Lochnagar Distillery is less than a mile away and is open to visitors. The rest of the ride, you’ll spend meandering along the Highland highways and byways, stopping as often as you fancy. And when you have enough, you’ll return to the hotel.

If you prefer to stay more local, two famous whisky distilleries are nearby. The Blair Athol is one of the oldest distilleries and has a fantastic visitor centre. The Edrador is a micro-distillery. The last time we visited, only three people worked there.

If you happen to be a beer lover, you might find a working brewery at the Moulin Hotel a more attractive option. 

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