Glasgow to Mull 175 miles about 4.5 hours in the saddle

Departing from Hillington take M8 to Erskine Bridge and onwards to Loch Lomond. Cross military road to Garelochead and onwards to Arrochar, over Rest and be Thankful and take a short break at Inveraray.

Head south to Lochgilphead then north to the Isle of Seil for another short break before progressing to Oban where we take a late afternoon ferry to Craignure.

From there we head to the north of the island and stop at Dervaig, Isle of Mull at the Bellachroy Hotel where dinner is also served.

Mull circuit 145 miles about 6 hours in the saddle

We explore Mull including taking a number of dead-end roads to reach remote spots. We 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!

The rest of us will continue our journey to Fionnphort where some might want to cross to Iona. Like Ulva there is no vehicular ferry so you need to be willing to walk but nothing is far away. The Abbey is less than half a mile from the ferry terminal.

On the return leg we shall explore some of those secluded spots such as Moy Castle and although we are doubling back a lot the bends and views are different in each direction so it will seem like a new experience.

The track up the side of Loch Frisa is more hardcore and gravel than anything else but makes an interesting change to the single track tarred roads that we have been riding and we end the day returning to our hotel with some hairpin bends on a single track road.

Tobermory, Strontian, Glenfinnan 175 miles about 5 hours in the saddle

Depart Dervaig to Tobermory and onwards to Fishnish Ferry to Lochaline. Then continue to Strontian to follow the north shore of Loch Sunart to Salen and from there north to Kinlochmoidart before turning east to Glenfinnan where we take a break.

Heading East towards Ft William we break off at Neptune's Staircase taking the road along the west side of the River Lochy and crossing at Gairlochy to continue north to Invergarry. Next we head westerly to make a further stop at Eilean Donan castle before ending the day at Plockton, our base for the next two nights.

Isle of Skye circuit 215 miles about 7 hours riding

This will be around 215 miles about 7 hours riding

Depart Plockton and make our way to Shiel Bridge then through Glenelg to take the turnstile ferry over to Kylerhea on Skye and head west to Broadford for a coffee break stop.

Continuing north to Portree and onwards to Kilt Rock for a short photo stop, we then cross the road to the Quirang (another photo opportunity) and onwards to Dunvegan Castle for lunch. Some might want to take a castle tour. Next we turn south to the Fairy pools and onwards to Glenbrittle a popular camping spot.

Now, those who fancy an adventure 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. The rest of us will follow the road to Elgol to meet up with those more adventurous or we might join mountain rescue to come to their aid!

We end the day making our way back to the hotel via the Skye Bridge.

Strathcarron , Applecross, Shieldaig, Strathpeffer, Aviemore about 5.5 hours in the saddle

Depart Plockton, we make our way around the lock to Strathcarron and onwards to Applecross via Bealach na Ba one Scotland’s most scenic and most dangerous driving routes though a fun road on motorbike! 

Next we hug the coast around to Shieldaig then across country to Kinlochewe, Auchnacheen and onwards to Strathpeffer before turning south to Beauly, Inverness and then the backroads to Aviemore where we stop for the nightin one of the MacDonald Hotels.

Tomintoul, Braemar, Tummel, Fortingall - 200 miles about 5.5 hours in the saddle

Depart Aviemore and head north east to Tomintoul then over to Cock Bridge and take a coffee break stop at Braemar before continuing south through Glenshee then deviating west to Calvine where we head on to Tummel Bridge and onwards to Loch Tay via Fortingall where we can stop for lunch

The hotel is currently for sale and so I’ll need to check that it is open. If closed we can break at Tummel or Kenmore. Fortingall is rumoured to be the birth place of Pontious Pilot and the Fortingall Yew tree one of the oldest trees in Britain, with modern estimates placing its age between 2,000 and 3,000 years old.

We will stop for afternoon tea at Aberfoyle and end the journey at Milngavie where each will make their own way home and those from further afield can either stop for the night or take up offers of spare rooms from Glasgow based riders.