SCOTLANDFriday May 29th - Saturday June 6th, 2020 (8 nights, 8 days)
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This tour takes in some of the best and most breath-taking scenery of the Highlands and West Coast of Scotland.
Think big skies, mind-blowing landscapes of majestic mountains and mysterious lochs, craggy castles, wild glens and lively cities - and you've got the Scottish Highlands. Staying in traditional Scottish hotels (minimum three-star), we will have two, two-night stays allowing you time to relax at the hotels or explore the surrounding area or historic towns. The tour starts and finishes at Carlisle and there is an option to stay at a hotel here before and/or after the tour on a B&B basis. A number of rooms have been reserved. This tour will be accompanied by a support van to carry your luggage, so you don’t have to worry about securing it on your bike and riding with it for the duration of the tour. If you wish to join the tour at a later date or leave early, this is possible providing a minimum of five consecutive nights are booked. Prices will be adjusted accordingly. 
Day 1. Friday May 29. Carlisle to Port Patrick (approx. 120 miles)
We start the day departing at 10.30am from the Crown Hotel in Carlisle. We head north to Gretna Green, then west along the Solway Firth before skirting around Dumfries and make a stop at the Galloway Forest Visitor Centre. From here we continue to Wigtown – known as Scotland’s’ book town – and we pass Bladnoch, a whisky producing village. We then follow Auchenmalg Bay, towards Stranraer and on to Portpatrick, a sleepy fishing village on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway. Dinner with wine is included tonight at our four-star hotel overlooking the North Channel. Day 2. Saturday May 30. Port Patrick to Inveraray (approx. 150 miles) This morning we hug the coast and head north past Ballantrae – where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote “The Master of Ballantrae”. We continue along the coast with views across to Ailsa Craig (on which blue hone granite is quarried to make curling stones), and then on to a stop in Girvan. We skirt around Ayr and continue north to the Firth of Clyde where we take a short ferry crossing to Dunoon and then the mountains and lochs beckon. Running alongside Loch Eck and Loch Fyne until we reach Inveraray, the home of the Duke of Argyll. Tonight’s four-star hotel & spa is just a short walk from the centre of this pretty harbour town and tonight you are free to eat out. Day 3. Sunday May 31. Inveraray to Fort William (approx. 110 miles) South around Loch Awe this morning, and then to a stop in Oban – a pretty port town also known as the Gateway to the Isles. Continuing north, we run along Loch Linnhe towards just north of Fort William where our four-star hotel stands on the bank of the Caledonian Canal and overlooks the famous Neptune’s Staircase. Dinner with wine is included tonight. Day 4. Monday June 1. Fort William to Loch Ness (approx. 170 miles) To Loch Ness today, but the long way round! We head to Mallaig and catch a ferry to the Isle of Skye and after a few stops to take in the amazing scenery we arrive back on the mainland via the Skye Bridge. We’ll have a stop at Eileen Donan castle – probably one of the most photographed castles in Scotland and known for being featured in the 1986 film “Highlander” and also as MI6’s Scottish headquarters in the Bond film “The World is not Enough”. From here we make our way to Glen Shiel, Loch Clince and finally follow the edge of Loch Ness to our two-night stay at our three-star hotel, the only hotel on the banks of the Loch. Dinner with wine is included tonight. Day 5. Tuesday June 2. Day off or a run out to the Moray Firth, Cromarty and back to Loch Ness (approx. 90 miles) A choice today, have a day at the hotel relaxing, take a boat trip Nessie spotting or take a ride-out north along the Moray Firth to Cromarty, a small seaport on the Cromarty Firth, once a WWI naval base. Then on to Culbokie and over the impressive 1,464 metre long Cromarty Bride to Evanton. From here we return, via Conon Bridge, to Loch Ness in time for dinner, which once again is included tonight. Day 6. Wednesday June 3. Loch Ness to Ballachullish (approx. 120 miles) North today via Inverness and Aviemore where we have a break among the Cairngorm Mountains. We move on to Newtonmore, a village used in the BBC series “Monarch of the Glen and which is only a few miles away from the geographical centre of Scotland! From here we head to just outside Ballachullish and our three-star hotel situated in a breath-taking lochside setting at the foot of dramatic Glen Coe. Dinner with wine is included tonight. Day 7. Thursday June 4. Ballachullish to Crieff (approx. 140 miles) This morning we ride through the beautiful Glen Coe. Located within the awe-inspiring Lochaber Geopark in the Highlands, the deep valley and towering mountains of Glen Coe were carved out centuries ago by icy glaciers and volcanic explosions. The road through Glen Coe takes you through the heart of an ancient volcano. Glen Coe has featured in films such as James Bond's “Skyfall” and several Harry Potter movies. From here we start to travel south to Loch Lomond – at 23 miles long it is the largest lake by surface area in the UK. We ride the entire length with a stop in Luss, a conservation village on the loch bank. We continue through the Trossachs National park to the village of Balquhidder and Rob Roy’s grave. From here we follow the banks of Loch Earn before a final stop in Comrie, another conservation village. Our four-star hotel for the next two nights is set in a 900 acre estate and has a spa, golf course, off road driving & quad biking activities. Dinner with wine is included tonight. Day 8. Friday June 5. Day off A choice today, you can enjoy the facilities of the hotel or visit nearby Perth and/or Stirling as both are only a short ride away. Both these historic cities have castles, museums and places of interest including the Black Watch Museum and the William Wallace (Brave Heart) Memorial which overlooks the 1297 battlefield. On return to Crieff, dinner with wine will be waiting on the final night of the tour. Day 9. Saturday June 6. Crieff to Carlisle (approx.140 miles) You can depart homeward this morning or head back to Carlisle for a final night. Total tour mileage approx. 1,040 Please ensure you have read our Terms & Conditions
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Prices
Rider sharing a room £1,495 ......................................... Rider & pillion £2,995 ......................................... Rider, single room £2,295 ......................................... Pre tour hotel in Carlisle Thursday May 29
Post tour hotel in Carlisle Saturday June 6
Price Includes:
Thank you for a fabulous week . The roads were twisty, the weather kind and the company great fun. Looking forward to seeing you next year |