Scottish Day motorbike trips - A guided motorcycle tour
Glasgow, Scotland
Accommodation is not included on these day trips
Available April to September
These day trips are available between April and September and take a circuit from our premises in Hillington, Glasgow. They are designed to give riders a flavour or riding with McTours and will also appeal to those who want to give a gift to a rider and people making a short visit to Glasgow or surrounding area such as riders who are on a cruise ship stopping at Greenock. We can also offer limited number of day tours for ships calling at other Scottish ports including Leith or Rosyth.
On this guided motorcycle tour you will ride some of the best motorcycle routes within reach of Glasgow
A Rough Guide readers' poll named Scotland as the most beautiful country in the world and the west of Scotland has some of the prettiest scenery in the country. Much of this is easily accessible from our premises and these day motorcycle trips are designed to take riders on a short circuit to get a flavour of what is available.
Whilst we have listed some of the circuits we might take in reality we shall ask what you or your groups interests are, examine the weather and endeavour to take you on a motorcycle day trip that addresses your preferences whilst capturing the best weather available that day.
These day motorcycle trips not only provide riders with an opportunity to experience what we deliver on our tours and hopefully encourage you to return for a longer tour but they will be of particularly interest to passengers on Cruise Ships who want to find an alternative way to see Scotland during their short stop at Greenock.
If you are a cruise ship passenger we shall meet you at the docks in Greenock where we shall verify you have an appropriate license to ride the machines available for hire before taking you by car to Hillington (which is just off the M8 between Greenock and Glasgow). At the premises you will have time to browse West Coast Harley-Davidson whilst being kitted out with appropriate riding gear and being allocated your machine. At the end of the day we return to our premises before we take you by car back to your ship.
Look at this itinerary and discover some of the most interesting motorcycle routes in scotland
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Circuit 135 miles (about 4 hours riding)
This day drip eases riders into riding in Scotland by taking the M8 from Hillington to the Erskine Bridge and then some dual carriageway before joining two-way traffic near Loch Lomond. We shall make our first stop at the conservation village of Luss which nestles on the banks of Loch Lomond. It is a picturesque spot to stop and after some photographs have been taken we shall continue our journey north along the west side of the loch and onwards to Crainlaraich where we deviate course towards the east. We shall make a refreshment break stop at Killin and view The Falls of Dochart and the west side of Loch Tay.
The return leg of this journey brings us south to Lochearnhead where some might want to stop and picture Loch Earn, then we pass Loch Lubnaig and at Kilmahog we change direction again as we pass Lochs Venachar and Achray then take the Dukes Pass into Aberfolye where we shall make another stop. Aberfoyle has mane shops specialising in Scottish woollens and so you might want to purchase some gifts here. We then make our way to West Coast Harley-Davidson to return the bikes.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Extended Circuit 175 miles (about 5 hours riding)
This in an extended day drip of our Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park circuit. It allows riders to aee a little more of Scotland. The tour begins the same taking the M8 from Hillington to the Erskine Bridge then dual carriageway much of the way towards Loch Lomond. The first stop is still at the conservation village of Luss. Things change when we reach Killin because we now traverse the north shore of Loch Tay to Kenmore and make a stop at the Scottish Crannog Centre where you can learn about life in Scotland 2500 years ago.
The return leg of this journey brings us through Glen Quaich before reaching Crieff where we change direction to the west to make our way along Loch Earn to Lochearnhead. On this occasion, we make our next stop at Callander which like Aberfoyle has many shops specialising in Scottish Woollen’s. We then take and alternative route back to West Coast Harley-Davidson to return the bikes.
Argyle and Bute Circuit 150 miles (about 5 hours riding)
As with most of our routes we begin with a short trip on the Motorway and Dual Carriageway before joining two-way traffic because we find this helps those unaccustomed to tiding on the left side of the road adjust to UK driving. This route gives lots of variation possibilities after we take the 20 minute ferry crossing from McInroy Point, Cloch near Gouroch to Hunters Quay, Kirn near Dunoon allowing us to shorten the trip to 4 hours riding or lengthen the journey by about an hour depending upon weather and available time. The main highlights will remain the same such as the fantastic view you will find between Clachan of Glendaruel and Tighnabruaich when we stop to look down on Loch Ridden and across to the Isle of Bute. The road continues to Portavadie where we take a refreshment break.
Whilst the indicated route now takes a single track heading north along the eastern shore of Loch Fyne one of the alternatives we can take crosses to Tarbet to take the west shore up the loch. Another alternative cuts over from Otter Ferry to join the A886 when a faster route is needed. Either way we make our way over the Rest and be Thankful to Arrochar along the east side of Loch Long to Gareloch then cross to Loch Lomond before returning to the dealership in Hillington.
Campsie Fells to Stirling 85 miles (circa 3 hours riding)
This route will appeal to those on a tight schedule but want to experience both the city and country life of Scotland. As we head north through Glasgow’s west end we enter countryside and will cross the Campsie Fells from Lennoxtown through Fintry and over to Kippen. We continue past Doune Castle and the Wallace Monument to Stirling where we shall take break.
The return journey cross the Capmsies this time via Carron Bridge and will stop briefly on the Tak Ma Doon Road where you will have panoramic views across Central Scotland from the Forth Bridges in the East to Glasgow in the West. We shall then pass through Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch before reaching Bishopbriggs where we shall then make our way back towards Glasgow to join the M8 and complete our circuit at the dealership.
A touch of Wallace and Bruce history 100 miles (circa 3 hours riding)
This circuit will suit those with very limited time because we can complete this circuit including stops within 4 hours. We take the motorway a bit further than usual heading along the M8 and M74 before exiting onto the A71 and making our way through Nemphlar Moor to Lanark a town with strong connections to William Wallace. It was in Lanark in 1297 that Wallace began an uprising against the English that became the First War of Independence.
After a short stop in Lanark we make our way through the Clyde Valley and onwards to Strathaven than along the A71 we stop at Loudoun Hill where Robert the Bruce fought and won against the English in 1307.
Passing Galston we continue to Moscow and on through Fenwick, Stewarton, Dunlop and Lugton before crossing Uplawmoor and the Gleniffer Braes to reach Wallace’s birthplace in Elderslie before completing our route back in Hillington.
Inveraray, Connel, Glencoe 210 miles (about 5 hours riding)
For those who are in no great hurry and want to spend a day seeing great scenery then this day trip embraces a lot of what Scotland can offer. We head north along the shores of the Clyde Estuary through Dumbarton and passed Cardross where Robert the Bruce lived much of his life making our first stop at the conservation town Inverary. This town was remodelled by the Duke of Argyle in the 18th century and the majority of houses are white rendered with slate roofs. We shall take a short refreshment break before continuing north to Dalmally and onwards to Connell where we cross the bridge over Loch Ettive. At times when the tide turns the water below appears as it is boiling and suffers are known to sit out there on standing waves. The journey continues around Loch Creran and up Loch Linnhe to Balachulish where we break for lunch.
As we leave Ballachulish we enter Glencoe and will make a brief stop at the heritage centre where you can learn about life in the area and the Glencoe Massacre. Our journey will take you through Glencoe to Tyndrum and as we continue south we ride along the western shore of Loch Lomond where we shall take a refreshment break then onwards to complete our route back at Hillington.
Cardross, Inveraray, Dunadd Fort, Portsonachan, Luss 200 miles (circa 6 hours riding)
This route will appeal to those who have a bit more time available to explore because including stops it will take about 9 hours to complete. As we head north we momentarily stop at Cardross where Robert the Bruce’s had a manor house. This is where he died in 1329 but sadly no trace of any building remains. The journey continues through Helensburgh and past the Naval Base at Garelochead before we turn to the south at Loch Fyne to reach our first stop at Inveraray, a former royal burgh and the traditional county town of Argyll. The ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll Inveraray Castle is on the edge of the town which you will see on your right as we cross the hump back bridge just before entering town.
We continue our route south along Loch Fyne to Lochgilphead where we shall take a brief look at the Crinan Canal before visiting an ancient Royal Settlement. The Romans failed to conquer ancient Scotland which was then occupied by tribes known as the Picts, Caledonians and Epidis. The first settlers from the Irish tribe of Dal Riata in County Antrim arrived in Argyll around 400AD and one of their settlements was at Dunadd Fort. This mound rises proudly from Moine Mhor (great moss) a boggy area towards the southern end of Kilmartin Glen suggests that this might once have been an island. The fort is over 2,000 years old and became a royal power centre of Gaelic Kings in the 500s to 800s AD.
We change course again heading North and just past Kilmatin we deviate off the main road to ride up the eastern side of Loch Awe stopping at Portsonachan for lunch.
The return route takes us east to Crainlaraich before turning south to Loch Lomond. We briefly pull off the A82 to visit the pretty conservation village of Luss where you can walk out on the pier to take pictures of Loch Lomond. The route continues to bring you back to our office.
Route Variation
Please note that maps are indicative because it is not always possible to enter all the waypoints and on the day of departure as we need to review our routes based upon the latest traffic and weather information available making changes as and when necessary.
