TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Wallace monument
Red deer
John O’groats
Glencoe
Loch Ness
Bealach na Bà (pass of the cattle)
Isle of Skye
PRICES AND DATES
Includes
Note – this trip is self supporting, without a backup vehicle. We suggest packing your travel gear into pannier bags, then into flight capable luggage which can be left at the hotel for collection at tour end.
Excludes
Dates
2024
June 3 – 12 | Full – Private Group
June 14 – 23 | Tentatively full – please contact
September 13 – 22 | Full – Private Group
2025
June 20 – 29 | Tentatively full – please contact
July 18 – 27 |Open
September 12 – 21 | Open
ITINERARY
Optional Early Arrival Day
Edinburgh
No riding.
Accommodation in hotel.
Welcome to Scotland – the northernmost country of the United Kingdom with its three distinct regions: the Highlands and islands, the more heavily populated central belt including the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the Southern Uplands bordering England.
We will arrange for your pickup from the airport and transfer to our hotel on whichever day you arrive. Consider arriving a day early to allow for a more relaxed start to your riding vacation. Our first informal meeting will take place whenever all the riders arrive to make introductions to your fellow riders, Rob House the Tour Leader and go over any paperwork requirements.
DAY 1
Edinburgh
No riding.
Accommodation in hotel.
Today we will head into Edinburgh and immerse ourselves in the history and culture of this magnificent city. We will be dropped off in historic Old Town at the foot of Edinburgh castle to better absorb the cobbled streets, handcrafts, restaurants and local inns. A local map will be provided for those who wish to explore in a smaller group or in pairs.
We will meet again for lunch in Old Town and then immediately afterwards depart for a tour of Edinburgh Castle whose battlements tower over the square. This tour can easily absorb three hours of your time so we will have to be mindful of our transport back to our hotel in the late afternoon to meet up with our bikes and fill in the necessary insurances and related paperwork
DAY 2
Fort William
266km.
Accommodation in Fort William
Leaving the city behind we will quickly become absorbed in the Scottish scenery as we climb steadily into the Highlands and head towards the West Coast. We will ride through awe inspiring views of the Glencoe National Nature Reserve, where, according to Highland code, a clansman should give shelter to anyone, even to his sworn enemy.
DAY 3
Isle of Skye
258km.
Accommodation on Skye
‘Over the sea to Skye’, A Jacobite lament indicates our journey plan for today as we wind our way further along the Scottish coastline. We will pass stoic monuments to the fallen from WW2 and onto our first single track routes of the journey and cross the sea onto the Isle of Skye. Weather permitting there are private estate grounds to walk through in the afternoon and of course local whisky begging to be tasted.
DAY 4
Ullapool
317km
Accommodation in Ullapool
Weather will always have a bearing on the days riding in Scotland and, weather permitting, we will loop over a seldom travelled mountain pass and along more remote west coast single track routes with the wild Atlantic to our left. Our destination is the small fishing town of Ullapool and the gateway to the Northern Highlands. This is a perfect stopover location to stretch your legs alongside the small local community and explore this picturesque town nestled alongside Lochbroom.
DAY 5
Thurso
215km
Accommodation near Thurso
Topping out at the North Western tip of Scotland today we will wind our way through wild and windswept Durness, a landscape filled with ruins from a different age. Heather and peat bogs will become the predominant features along this beautiful and rugged coastline where trees struggle for purchase. Our accommodation is a country house, hidden in twenty acres of its own woodland.
DAY 6
Thurso
No Riding. Free day.
Accommodation near Thurso
A day of rest or a morning for further exploration – the choice is your today. The grounds offer walks alongside a flowing river and waterfall where you can sit and absorb the highland air, read a book or simply relax. If relaxing in a hot tub isn’t for you, there will also be a late morning outride to Dunnet Head and John O’Groats the most Northern and Eastern points of Great Britain respectively.
DAY 7
Loch Ness
193km
Accommodation by Lock Ness
It’s all about sighting the ‘wee beastie’ today as we begin wind south south and into softer lowland scenery. We will sweep down to Loch Ness and explore its history and associated folklore. Our accommodation is situated alongside Loch Ness with a side cruise down to Urquhart Castle on todays agenda. Keep your cameras handy for a selfie with Nessie!
DAY 8
Pitlochery
269km
Accommodation in Pitlochery
Skirting the remainder of the Loch in the morning we will visit the Caledonian Canal constructed in the early nineteenth century, connecting the East and West Coasts of Scotland. We will travel through more extraordinary scenery as we visit the Cairngorms Mountains, skirt the peaks of Ben Macdui and pass through Balmoral with its strong connection to the British Royal family on our route back through the mountains.
DAY 9
Edinburgh
266km
Accommodation in Edinburgh
A visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre on the banks of Loch Tay will help interpret Scotland earliest heritage dating back over 2500 years, showcasing skills and technologies carefully maintained and handed down through the ages. Our journey back to Edinburgh will also take us through The Trossachs National Park and past The Wallace Monument. We will check in the bikes and head out for our farewell dinner overlooking the Firth of Forth.
DAY 10
Fly Out
Breakfast at your leisure and a check out at 10 am. You will be transferred to the airport for your flights home. Should you wish to spend a few more days here, we will be more than happy to help you extend your stay.
