Whilst on motorbike tours of Scotland, you’ll have plenty of time to explore all of the other attractions that the country has to offer. From museums to historical sites to Loch Ness and stunning architecture, you’ll have an endless array of things to see and do during your journey.
During Scotland bike tours, you’ll visit a number of the country’s most popular and amazing destinations. Visit the capital city of Edinburgh, Pitlochry, Fort Augustus, Inverness, Dornoch, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Fort William, Liverpool.
Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh - Reception, transfer, and city tour
As you land in Edinburgh, you shall be met at the airport and transferred you to your hotel, which would be close to the city center. For best use of time, you are advised to take a flight that lands in the morning of Day 1 - hotel check-ins are mostly in the afternoons. After you check-in and a bit of rest, you would go to a Bus Top tour of Edinburgh, the spectacular capital of Scotland, full of history and culture. Viktorianz will leave you on the Royal Mile to explore the city yourself and return to your hotel. Today or next day would be the day you pick up the bikes.
Day 2: Ride to Pitlochry on country roads
This morning you pack your bags, put on your riding gear and have an early breakfast. If the bikes were not picked up the evening of Day 1, you would be transferred to the bike showroom to pick up your pre-allotted motorcycles. The basic motorcycles on the offer are very good standard 650 - 800 cc bikes. The higher models such as BMWs from 700-800 cc to 1200-1600 ccs are available at additional costs. Your guide rider from Viktorianz would take you on highway road across the Firth of Forth (name of the river) - an estuary (firth) that separates FIFE to North and LOTHIAN to South.
You then swing to the back roads across to some beautiful Lochs (lakes) and glens (valleys) on to Queen's viewpoint. The ride then progresses to Pitlochry to your 16th-century hotel. As you get to this medieval hotel lodge, there is more waiting to happen.
Day 3: Ride to Commando Monument, Fort Augustus, and Loch Ness
You continue your ride into North Highlands - through the inner roads. Your first stop would be at the Commando Monument - this handful of men, who changed the war history of Second World War - the Commandos were raised and trained here. You further ride to the beautiful town of Fort Augustus - this is where the famous Loch Ness starts - maybe you could spot the water monster of the Ice Age - the 'Nessie'. Loch Ness has more water in it folds, than all the lakes and rivers of Scotland put together; mesmerizing indeed. You ride along the western edge of the Loch to reach Inverness and the Glenmorangie distillery. Night halt is in a typical seaside town of Dornoch. This place is closer to the Arctic circle than London.
Day 4: Ride to North Coast and Ullapool
This day begins early and you ride to Northern and Western coast. The small country roads with isolated dwellings are fascinating to ride. The estuaries of Tongue and amazing oceans of the North Coast are such a pleasure to ride. As you leave the scenic North Coast, you get a feel of a seaport, as you reach Ullapool, while it is not so. Its the Lochs all along. This is town you halt for the day. Do not miss some live Scottish music in one of the bars.
Day 5: Ride to Isle of Skye, Ellean Donnan, and Fort William
This morning you do a beautiful ride when you travel the West Coast on to the most beautiful Isle of Skye. Riding through this world-renowned isle with probably a lunch halt, we return to the James Bond castle of Ellean Donnan in the afternoon. It is the most beautifully located castle guarding the ancient waterway and has a picture-perfect setting. Take a tour of the castle and then, ride on through historical site of Glencoe to Fort William. Your hotel overlooking the Loch is yet another beautiful evening to cherish.
Day 6: Ride to Edinburgh, Train to Liverpool and Ferry to the Isle of Man
Here you are on the last day of your ride. You turn up early today and ride the expressway via Sterling to Edinburgh. Take time to return your bikes, do the necessary paperwork and move to the Waverly Train Station for your train to Liverpool. Once in Liverpool, you would board a pre-booked ferry to the Isle of Man - reaching there by late evening. You shall check-in into your pre-booked accommodations here and be ready to witness the opening of the races the next morning.
Day 7: Day 1 of Isle of Man TT Races: Witness the Opening Day
So here you are right next to the most dangerous motorcycle racing track in the world. For last over 100 years, on an average more than 4 death occur every year - either racing or watching them. No wonder they say that it is the most dangerous and spectacular sporting event on planet Earth. You would be part of the passionate motorcycling community that comes to witness this sporting wonder. As of today, this is the tentative program:
- Saturday ( tentative schedule - may change )
- 11.00 - RST Superbike TT Race (6 laps)
- 14.00 - Sure Sidecar TT Race 1 (3 laps)
- 15.30 - Superstock/ Supersport/ Lightweight practice (2 laps)
Day 8: Day 2 of Isle of Man TT Races: Mad Sunday
The races are held on all alternate days. This is a free day for you to explore the Island at your own pace. A lot of motorcycling action happens all over the track - no wonder its called the Mad Sunday. The racing track is open to all - and it is a madhouse. It's a day Viktorianz leaves you to find your own action. You could take public transport and visit various segments of the world-renowned TT Course.
Day 9: Day 3 of Isle of Man TT Races
There are many spots on the track you could see the race from. This is the day you could choose to be on a different spot to watch the action. As for Day 3, Monday, the tentative schedule is:-
- Monday, ( tentative schedule, may change)
- 10.45 - Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 (4 laps)
- 12.25 - Sidecar qualifying (2 laps)
- 14.15 - RL360 Superstock TT Race (4 laps)
- 16.05 - Lightweight qualifying (1 lap)
- 16.25 - TT Zero qualifying (l lap)
Day 10: Departure From Isle of Man to Liverpool or Edinburgh
On this final day, you rise early and take a pre-booked ferry out to Liverpool. And that is where you say goodbye to this unique experience. Based on your flight schedule, you would arrive at Edinburgh and check-in into your hotel closer to the airport. Please feel free to ask for any arrangements you want Viktorianz to do - beyond or before the tour planned above. You could further extend your stay at Edinburgh, catch a train to London for a holiday or call your family to either of these places for extended family vacations. Happy to help at any time.
Day 11: Fly out of Edinburgh
You would have arrived last night by ferry or a flight from IOM and stayed at Edinburgh Hotel. This morning or by noon - you check out from your hotel and will be transferred to the airport at scheduled timings.
Skill level required for this tour: Intermediate
- can ride for three to four hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
