Glasgow Arrival

Arrangements will be made to collect you at the Airport and bring you to a 4 star city centre hotel in Glasgow. Depending on your arrival time and whether you simply want to rest or do some sightseeing you can either visit the sights around Glasgow or I could take you by car visit a whisky distillery, though because Scotland has stricter alcohol limits than the rest of the UK, just 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, you cannot ride or drive this day but you will see the whisky production process and sample the produce.

If you prefer to remain in the city then visit https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/ to see some of Glasgow’s attractions including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 

The National Trust for Scotland also have property around the city and throughout Scotland https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/search?q=glasgow

The Historic Environment Scotland site is also worth exploring to help identify places you might want to visit during your stay. https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/

The hotel's restaurant specialises in prime cuts from naturally-reared Scotch beef and if that doesn't appeal there are an abundance of restaurants nearby catering for every cuisine you can imagine.

Glasgow to Lauder

As you make your way between Glasgow and Lauder route options could head directly east, to the north or south such as into Lanarkshire and through the Borders. Along the way places of interest include the market town of Lanark and nearby the New Lanark Heritage Centre https://www.newlanark.org/

As you progress east your route could take you to the market town of Peebles which would make a nice lunch stop then onwards to visit some of the Border Abbeys such as Melrose and Kelso.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/melrose-abbey/

If you interested in oddities there is a road south of Kelso where you can cross the border between Scotland and England, but what is odd is that you are travelling north leaving Scotland as you enter England. 

At Kelso you will also find Floors Castle, Scotland’s largest inhabited Castle and home to the 11^th Duke of Roxburghe. It was built by renowned Scottish architect William Adam in 1721.
https://www.floorscastle.com/

Among the other stately homes nearby is Mellerstain House (1775-78) which is considered as one of Robert Adam’s finest works (son of William Adam above). It is the home of the 14^th Earl of Haddington https://www.mellerstain.com opening times are restricted so we must check it will be open if you want to visit.

Your accommodation for the next two nights is in private apartments within Thirlestane Castle.

East Lothian and Borders Circuit

You will be returning to the same accommodation tonight so you might want to consider a circuit heading east to Duns to visit the Jim Clark Museum https://jimclarktrust.com/jim-clark-motorsport-museum/

From Duns you could continue east to the coast but I suggest you head north across the Lammermuir hills where there are some vantage points that will let you look out to sea and you can view North Berwick Law, Traprain Law and the Bass Rock all ancient volcanic plugs.

Next you might consider visiting Hailes Castle
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/hailes-castle/
or Tantallon Castle
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/tantallon-castle/ both in ruins or if you prefer another museum then there is the East Fortune and the National Museum of Flight https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-flight
or Myreton Motor Museum
https://www.myretonmotormuseum.co.uk/

In this area you could also visit Athelstaneford the birthplace of the Saltire, the Scottish flag, see Ancient Standing Stones, visit Preston Mill https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/preston-mill or the seaside town of North Berwick and famous golf courses like Archerfield and Muirfield. This list could go on and on but suffice to say there is no shortage of things to see in East Lothian and the Borders. Either way I suggest you return to Lauder via the ancient Royal Burgh of Haddington where another William Adam building, the town hall, stands prominent where Market Street, High Street and Court Street converge. You then progress onwards through Bolton and Humbie to join the A68 then return to the castle.

Lauder to Ballater

I suggest you circumnavigate Edinburgh because the Edinburgh Festival will be on and at the best of times it is not easy for strangers to navigate through the city. You will find it easiest to use the city bypass, then make your way to the River Forth crossings, but, before crossing, you might want to consider visiting South Queensferry.

On reaching the north side on the Forth you could head west to see Dunfermline then onwards to the Conservation Village of Culross, Stirling, Crieff, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry before progressing into the Cairngorms or you could explore to the East where you might want to visit Aberdour, Falkland, St Andrews to name a few of the pretty historic towns and continuing north you might want to visit the cities of Dundee or Perth. A decision can be made on the day to catch the best of weather.  

Just north of Perth you will find Scone Palace https://www.scone-palace.co.uk/ and just north of Dundee Glamis Castle https://www.glamis-castle.co.uk/  either of which is worthy of a visit. Further north you shall enter the Cairngorm Mountain range where you will find the Glenshee Ski resort and pass through Braemar on your way to Ballater.

Depending on how many stops have been made along the way you may still have time to visit Balmoral Castle https://www.balmoralcastle.com/ which is open to the public at certain times of the year when the Royal Family are not in residence. This is not far from the 5 star inn that you will be staying at. Note that there are other castles worth of visiting that I've not listed between these two overnight stops. If you can access the Balmoral Estate for an evening run and you are willing to ride some poorly surfaced trails, then the path down to Loch Muick is interesting. 

Ballater to Brora

To reach Brora first consider the road between Cockbridge and Tomintoul which is usually the first to be closed when it snows because it is one of the highest mountain passed in the UK. It has good surface, nice curves and rises and falls and it crossed 4 mountain passes (a section is pictured left).

Further on you might want to depart the Old Military Road (A939) where signposted for Nethy Bridge. If so, take care because it is a very tight turn. It will continue to Coylumbridge where you could take the funicular railway up the mountains. This area is popular for skiing and other winter sports, and for hill-walking and mountain biking during the summer months.

Another option is to take a stroll through the Rothiemurcus Estate https://rothiemurchus.net/ which is one of the largest areas of natural forest in Britain. You could also take a stop in nearby Aviemore before turning north towards Inverness.

Beyond Inverness you could discover Beauly and its old Priory and the Victorian Spa town of Strathpeffer. Both towns are worthy of a visit as is the small fishing village of Portmahomack and the Mermaid at Balintore.

A shorter alternative route is to continue north from Tomintoul to Grantown and Spey and onwards to Nairn at the Moray Firth where you could visit Culloden or Ft George before turning to intersect the A9 as it approaches Inverness.

I have given several options above that you can see before you end the day at Brora, it will be partly weather dependent, but we shall plan your day carefully so you don’t try and cram too much in because progress on these roads will be relatively slow.

The hotel was created as a home for a wealthy flour merchant and baker by reknowned Scottish Architect Sir Robert Lorimer in 1913 and is not a newly refurbished hotel.

Brora to Altnacealgach

This route is the northern part of the NC500 and sadly that can mean heavy traffic on narrow roads. As you move from East to West you will notice a dramatic change in the landscape. Much on the land to the east is peat bogs so relatively flat whereas the west is mountainous.

Before you set off you may want to consider doubling back to visit Dunrobin Castle after which you should progress north to John o’Groats then turn west until you reach Tongue where you should follow the A838 to Durness. 

Along the way at Ceannabeinne Beach you might want to take the Golden Eagle Zip Line across, just bear in mind you need to walk back uphill to return to your bike https://www.durnesszipline.com/ a little later, just before you reach Durness, consider a stop at Smoo Cave on your right, best to read about it before descending. It can be a tough walk down and back up in riding gear and when some read about it they decide it’s not worth the effort. The Cocoa Mountain Chocolate Factory is straight on from Durness by about a mile then you will find a small industrial estate on the left. Return to Durness and at the junction re-join the A838 heading south and at Laxford Bridge you join the A894 to reach Scourie and onwards to Kylesku Bridge. The bridge and the Allt Chranaidh Waterfall are popular photo opportunities as is the ruin of Ardvreck Castle.

There were also some interesting geological discoveries along this road and if this interests you there are places to stop and learn more. Briefly though in the Cretaceous period, a land mass called Laurasia split into the continents of North America and Eurasia. Scotland is among the land masses that broke away from North America to later collide with Euroasia.

Accommodation is motel style overlooking a loch with dining at the neighbouring inn.

Altnacealgach to Erbusaig

Head south towards Ulapool, a former herring fishing port, which despite being 58^o north, the sheltered harbour and warm currents that flow up from the gulf allow palm trees to grow along the street.

As you continue on the A835 signposted to Inverness you will reach a junction pointing towards the A832 and Corrieshalloch Gorge, not quite on a Grand Canyon scale, this mile long gorge was created by the river Droma and it offers dramatic proof of how glacial meltwater can create deep crevasses though hard rock. It is a nature reserve, and one of the most dramatic gorges of its type in Britain. https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/corrieshalloch-gorge

At Drumchork overlooking Loch Ewe don’t forget to point to the island and ask you partners if they know its name. This is the Ilse of Ewe (sounds like I love you) and might bring a touch of romance into your day. Further on you pass through Poolewe and Gairloch then along the shore on Loch Marie to Kinlochewe where you probably want to join the A896 to Torridon and Shieldaig.

Just south of Shieldaig you have another choice to make. Continue straight on through a valley or turn right onto another narrow twisty coastal road. If you choose the latter it will bring you west to the hamlet of Fearnmore before deviating to the south. Along the way you will find a viewpoint car park where looking to the west you will see the islands of Rona to the west, Raasay to the south west, Skye nestling behind Rona and Raasay and on the horizon to the north west Lewis. The road continues to Applecross.

You will soon discover why this road is favoured by bikers and why trucks, campervans and the like are told to avoid. The Bealach na Ba is the third highest paved road in Scotland. It has very tight hairpin bends with adverse cambers that switch back and forth up the hillside with up to 1 in 5 gradients. It is therefore a technically challenging road and explains why I said you might want to consider the alternative less scenic route.

Either route will bring you to Loch Kishorn and around Loch Carron where there is another viewpoint car park overlooking the loch and with a view over to the ruins of Strome Castle. Continue until you reach a T junction where Plockton will be to your right and Erbuisaig to the left. The hotel sits on the waters edge in a sheltred bay.

Isle of Skye Circuit

I suggest you consider visiting Eilean Donan Castle https://www.eileandonancastle.com/ then make your way to Shiel Bridge and through Glenelg. This will lead to a turnstile ferry that will take you over to Kylerhea on the Isle of Skye https://skyeferry.co.uk/  From there if you head west you will reach Broadford.

Continuing north you will reach Portree, the island capital, and further on you will reach another popular photo stop at Kilt Rock. I often take riders across the road to the Quirang (another photo opportunity) and onwards to Uig, but if you hug the coast road around that is very pretty too and will bring you to the Skye Museum of Island Life http://www.skyemuseum.co.uk/  Some might want to take stop there or to tour Dunvegan Castle https://www.dunvegancastle.com/  

On the return you might consider going to the Fairy pools and onwards to Glenbrittle a popular camping spot. The road comes to a dead end just beyond there so you must double back. Another popular dead-end road brings you to Elgol. At the end of the day I suggest you make your way to Kyleakin and cross the bridge back to the mainland and back to the hotel.

Now, if you fancy an adventure, you could try the circa 10 mile trail that lead through Glen Brittle to Elgol. You join just up the road on your right before the phone box that will lead you to Loch Coruisk and from there a further trail leads to Camasunary and onwards to Elgol. I have walked part of this and think it should be navigable on a bike but you need to be a very capable rider because the trail is barely a foot wide in parts and several streams to cross. Then again as you will be riding my hired bikes that might not be something I want to suggest!

Erbusaig to Tobermory

There are many routes you can take from the Plockton area to Tobermory and all are good. You might head east to Invergarry then follow the great glen south to Ft William where you can either continue to Coran and take a ferry to Ardgour then continue to Lochaline where you take another ferry to Fishnish, or from Ft William you would head west past Glenfinnan to Lochailort and still take the Lochaline - Fishnish ferry or the Kilchoan to Tobermory ferry. All that aside though one of my favoured routes crosses the Skye bridge and heads to Armadale where you take the ferry to Mallaig. Continue to Lochailort and head to Glenuig and onwards to Salen then head for Kilchoan and take the ferry across to Tobermory.

These are all good routes, and each offers different attractions along the way. Here are some to help you plan.

Railways
Invergarry to Ft Augustus Railway https://www.invergarrystation.org.uk/
Jacobite Express - Ft Wiliam to Mallaig https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip

Engineering
Neptunes staircase near Ft William https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune%27s_Staircase

History
Glenfinnan Monument https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/glenfinnan-monument
Ruined castles such as Invergarry and Inverlochy or the old fort at Ft William. The Commando Memorial near Spean Bridge (left middle), Ben Nevis the UK’s highest mountain (left top)

Ferries
Coran to Ardgour https://www.highland.gov.uk/corranferry
Lochaline - Fishnish and Kichoan - Tobermory https://www.calmac.co.uk/

Regardless of the route taken from Tobermory we make our way to Glengorm Castle where your accommodation is the West Wing of the castle.

Isle of Mull Circuit

Some might want to take a rest day but I suggest you spend a day exploring Mull including taking a number of dead-end roads to reach remote spots. You could begin with a short journey to the Ulva Ferry Terminal. The ferry is passenger only so if you want to cross to Ulva and onwards to Gomerta crossing the ford between the islands note it is a walk and the return trip is about 17 miles, so if you fancy it, best you set aside the day just for that. Note there is no electricity on the islands so best go with a fully charged phone!

https://www.isle-of-mull.net/locations/ulva-ferry/

If that doesn’t appeal, then continue your journey to Fionnphort where you can cross to Iona. Leave the bikes and continue as foot passengers and be willing to walk but nothing is far away. The Abbey is less than half a mile from the ferry terminal. https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/iona-abbey-and-nunnery/

Whilst you really can’t go wrong on Mull because most roads are low traffic and reasonably surfaced, there are some potholes as there are throughout Scotland; however, there are some roads you might want to avoid though like the track up the side of Loch Frisa which is more hardcore and gravel than anything else. Progress will rarely be quick and you should expect a circa 150 mile island circuit to take 6 hours riding, factor in stops and it can make a long day.

The road from Tobermory as it approaches Dervaig had about 30 bends, many hairpins, in about a 3-mile stretch but beyond that you will find Calgary Bay which is a nice spot to stop and even has an ice cream kiosk.

The Old Byre near Dervaig http://www.old-byre.co.uk/ makes an interesting stop as does the Cheese Factory (J Reade & Sons  which you will pass on the road to and from the castle Sgriob-ruadh - Isle of Mull Cheese MacGochans beside the Tobermory Distillery https://tobermorydistillery.com/ is a nice spot for dinner https://macgochans-tobermory.co.uk/

Tobermory to Tarbert

To begin you make you way to Craignure to catch the ferry to Oban

McCaigs folly, that looks like the Colosseum in Rome, dominates the hill as you approach Oban. It was created by a local banker (McCaig) to preserve local craftsman’s skills but was never finished.

There are again many routes you could take from here to Tarbert. The route east to Lochawe then south to Inveraray is good, or from Oban through Glen Lonnan to Taynuilt is an interesting single track, and turning south from Oban on the A816 is the most direct route, I’d suggest you consider a bit of each.

Consider heading south from Oban and cross over Clachan Bridge, "The Bridge over the Atlantic" to the Island of Siel. You could carry on to Easdale which is a pretty village, but you will need to double back at some time because these are single track dead end roads. On re-joining the A816 continue south to the ruins of Carnasserie Castle (you can climb the tower) then take the road signposted Ford and there proceed to Portsonachan. The road will ultimately lead to the A819 where you turn south to Inveraray a model village created by the Duke of Argyll whose castle can be visited  https://www.inveraray-castle.com/ though some find https://www.inverarayjail.co.uk/ a more interesting stop.

Continue south to Lochgilphead where the A83 intersects the A816 that you started out on from Oban. Here you will cross the Crinan Canal which you may want to explore before continuing south to Stonefield Castle Hotel which is located just north to Tarbert.

Other places you could explore along route variations are St Conans Kirk https://www.stconanskirk.org.uk/  
the ruins of Kilchurn Castle, Dunadd Fort https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kilmartin-glen-dunadd-fort/ or the Beavers of Knapdale https://forestryandland.gov.scot/blog/meet-the-beavers-of-knapdale to name a few.

Tarbert to Castle Douglas

From Stonefield Castle head south through Tarbert and onwards to Claonaig where you catch a ferry to Lochranza on the Isle of Aran. Once on Aran I suggest you head south to Blackwaterfoot and from there you can either cut over the island or continue to follow the coast around to Whiting Bay then north to Brodick where you will catch a ferry to Ardrossan.

Once back on the mainland you head south to our next stop near castle Douglas. You will pass the towns of Troon, Prestwick and Ayr before you reach Alloway where you might want to visit Burns Cottage https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/robert-burns-birthplace-museum and later you will reach Culzean Castle also worthy of a visit https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culzean 

The easy route is to follow the A77 to Girvan then join the A75 to Newton Stewart and onwards to Gatehouse of Fleet. An alternative quieter road cuts across country to Barr then into the Galloway Forest Park at South Balloch where you turn south to Bargrennan. There are many other options such as via Dalmellington and Carsphairn at the end of the day you will be a award winning 4 Star Country House Boutique Hotel.

Newton Stewart to Glasgow

I suggest you head north-easterly towards Thornhill. From there consider crossing the Mennock Pass the highest crossing through the Lowther Hills. This will bring you through to Wanlockhead and Leadhills https://www.leadhills.scot/ The Wanlockhead Inn may be in the Scottish lowlands but its claim to fame is that it’s the highest public house in Scotland at 1531ft above sea level. The road will lead you to that A74M A motorway leading to Glasgow, but don’t join that. Pass beneath the motorway to join that B7076 that runs along side the motorway. If you exit at the next junction heading towards Tweedsmuir and onwards to Broughton and Biggar you will pass the source of the River Tweed.

In Biggar you might want to visit the famous Victorian puppet theatre https://purvespuppets.com/

From Biggar you head back to intersect the M74 just a little north of where you last saw it. From here you could again join the motorway for a speedy return to Glasgow but I think you will find the B7078 more relaxing and if you depart this for Strathaven, a historic market town, and from there to Chatelherault Country Park which was the Hunting Lodge and Summer House for the Dukes of Hamilton https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/chatelherault-country-park-p252521 then it is just 10 miles of motorway back to Glasgow where you return to the hotel we started this tour from.

Day of departure

Homeward bound or onward travel. After breakfast you will checkout of the hotel and be transported to the airport or station for onward travel. Those who have come on their own bikes will ride off.