Hillington to Kirn (26 miles, about 1 hour including ferry)

We collect rental bikes about 5pm and take a short motorway ride to the ferry crossing from Gourock to Hunters Quay arriving at the hotel about an hour later leaving a little time to explore Dunoon and surrounding area before dinner. 

Kirn, Bute, Argyll and Kintyre peninsula (156 miles - 5 hours riding)

We shall departure Kirn heading to Colintraive where we take the ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute where we visit Mount Stuart, a magnificent Edwardian property and home of the Marquess of Bute. 
We take a circuit arount the island then head back to the Rhubodach to Colintraive ferry to cross back to the mainland.

We travel through a very picturesque part of Argyle with views across the Kyles of Bute passing through Tighnabruaich before reaching Portavadie where we break for lunch before taking the crossing to Tarbert on the Mull of Kintyre.

Next, we head south to Caradale and onwards to Campbeltown taking the east coast road of the peninsula with views over towards Arran. We return along the west coast road taking in views if the Isle of Gigha with Islay and Jura beyond. We end the day at Tarbert.

Tarbert, Crinan, Inveraray, Dalmally, Seil, Oban (150 miles - 5 hours riding)

We head west towards Port Ban on the Kintyre peninsula before we begin our journey north. As we reach Lochgilphead we shall follow the course of the Crinan canal and then visit the ancient Dunadd Fort where the Kings of Dalriada lived (after the Romans left and before King David came to rule in 1124 Scotland comprised 4 kingdoms and Dalriada was one of those. It was an ancient Gaelic speaking land forming Ireland and the West of Scotland). We shall then make our way to Inveraray, a pretty model village and home to a prison and castle (both are tourist attractions).

We shall then head towards Dalmally and visit an interesting church, fairly modern but created to appear much older. We then join the shore road of Loch Awe riding along a narrow road with stunning views as we almost reach Dunadd Fort again. We make our way to Ardfern and then over to Crobh Haven Marina before crossing "the Bridge over the Atlantic" to Seil Island. We will also consider making the passenger ferry crossing to Easdale Island before continuing north to Oban where we end the day at the Best Western Muthu Queens Hotel overlooking the bay.

Oban, Mull, Ardnamurchan, Morar (140 miles - 5.5 hours riding)

We depart our hotel and make our way to the ferry terminal in Oban where we take the crossing to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. All of the roads we ride on the Island will be single track, we first make our way to Loch Beg and circle around Ben More and Loch na Keal with views over to Ulva and other smaller islands. We shall take a brief stop at the bridge crossing Eas Fors Waterfall before climbing up and over a road with several tight bends that leads to Tobermorry where we shall break for lunch.

After our lunch break we take the Tobermory to Kilchoan ferry crossing to the Ardnamurchan peninsula, the most westerly mainland of the UK and an area of Scotland that is particularly unspoiled because it is remote, has poor access routes and narrow roads.

As our route continues we shall take a stop at the Sands of Morar which featured in the movies Local Hero and Breaking the Wave. The quartz sand looks almost white with silver speckles and on a sunny day the beach and sea look more like the Caribbean than Scotland. We shall end the day at the Morar Hotel.

Morar, Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, Plockton (185 miles - 5.5 hours riding)

An early departure from Morar heading to the ferry from Mallaig across to the Isle of Skye where we take a circuit of the Island making our first visit of the day at Dunvegan Castle. Later we cross the Quirang, a dramatic pass formed from a landslip, before stopping to view Kilt Rock, a 90 meter tall basalt rock formation that resembles a pleated kilt. The nearby Mealt waterfalls the drop from Loch Mealt over the cliffs to the sea below is another popular photo opportunity.

After breaking for lunch near Portree we make our way to the last remaining operational turnstile ferry in the world to depart Skye.

On the mainland side we meander through Glenelg to Shiel Bridge then make our way back towards Skye stopping at Eilean Donan Castle for pictures. The castle is one of Scotlands most photographed and sits three sea lochs meet; Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. The castle was rebuilt in the 1920's and 30's and has been used in numerous films. We end the day just north of Kyle of Lochalsh in the pretty village of Plockton.

Plockton, Applecross, Torridon, Ullapool, Lochinver, Kylesku (200 miles - 6 hours riding)

Today we make more progress because there are no ferry crossings. All our riding is on the mainland and in great remote areas along the North West coast.

We depart the picturesque village of Plockton taking a circuit around Loch's Carron and Kishorn before crossing the Bealach na ba a winding, single track road through the mountains leading to Applecross where we take a refreshment break.

From Applecross we hug the coast to Torridon before crossing to Kinlochewe then along the southern shore of Loch Maree to Poolewe. We progress onwards to Loch Ewe where some might want to visit the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum then onwards to Ullapool and Lochinver and end the day near Kylesku.

N.B. Many of the roads on this route are single track but there are shortcuts along A roads if anyone is struggling.

Kylesku, Durness, Tongue, John o' Groats, Brora (190 miles 5 hours riding)

This route will take us along the most northerly roads in the highlands. First we depart Kylesku heading north to Durness where we meet to north coast of Scotland. A little along the coast we stop a Smoo cave and from here we follow the northern coast line past Tongue to Borgie Lodge where we take a refreshment break.

Our route continues East passing Dounreay where the UK's first fast breeder atomic reactors back in 1955 for safety reasons because of the remoteness from large population centres. We continue in the Britains most North Easterly habitation where we shall take a lunch break.

Our journey now deviated to the South as we make our way past Wick, Helmadale to end the day at the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora.

Brora, Ft Augustus, Ft William, Glencoe, Loch lomond, Glasgow (215 miles. 5.5 hours riding)

Leaving Brora we stop for a tour of the home of the Earl of Sutherland, Dunrobin Castle, then continue our route South as we make our way back to Glasgow. We pass through Dingwall and Beauly and we make our way to the Great Glen, joining Loch Ness at Urquart Castle which makes a nice phote stop as do the Locks in Ft Augustus and later at Neptunes Staircase all along the route through the Great Glen.

We break for coffee in Ft Augustus and after passing through Glencoe village we shall stop for lunch at the Clachaig Inn. Then we pass through the mountains and onward to the Loch lomond National Park where we make our final stop for the day at the pretty village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond.

This brings us within 30-45 minutes of Glasgow where we end the journey. Customers can opt for a 4-5 star city centre hotel or those catching a flight might prefer one by the airport to end this tour.