West Coast of Scotland Motorbike Tour - A guided motorcycle tour
Glasgow, Scotland
4 or 5* Hotel Glasgow - Dinner, Bed & Breakfast - en-suite Double/Twin room
Enjoy a flexible holiday with 3-7 days motorcycle riding. It could be a long weekend (arrive Friday depart Tuesday), a mid week break (arrive Tuesday depart Saturday) or a full week touring in the West of Scotland. Those travelling from afar may want a rest day before or after the tour which can be added. The 9 day option already includes rest day options giving 7 days riding. Each day we tour a different section heading to the North, South and West of Glasgow each day.
On this guided motorcycle tour you will ride some of the best motorcycle routes in the West Central Regions of Scotland
We have not set dates for this tour yet and there may have added a new variant, so, check our tour diary. If you are interested in this tour or something similar then please contact us and we shall set a date, alternatively, browse our upcoming tours to see what's new.
Bespoke tour variations available for groups of riders
Our Glasgow base affords us access to some truly breath-taking scenery that is within easy reach of the city. The area offers great roads for the motorcyclist and you need not venture too far to find back roads that are quiet, scenic and great fun to ride.
This tour is all about riding but it not only focuses on these great roads but returns you at the end of each days riding to a fantastic 5 star hotel. The Hotel du Vin at 1 Devonshire gardens comprises a terrace of Victorian town houses providing 49 timelessly styled bedrooms and stunning suites, all featuring luxurious hand sprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths and powerful drench showers, plasma TVs and DVDs. There may be occassions when we need to offer a substitute hotel. If that is the case it will be at least 4 star rates and you will be advised in advance.
This luxurious hotel has an enviable reputation for service and style, with stunning bedrooms and suites, bistro, bar, cigar shack and whisky room, there is only One Devonshire Gardens for escapes, weddings, golf and field sports.
The tour price includes Dinner, Bed and Breakfast and so at the end of your days riding you will discover that Bistro du Vin serves a classic, French styled, elegant and informal dinner. So sit back, relax and look forward to tomorrows journey.
Depending upon weather and skillset of the riders taking part the routes will use a selection of these:
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 Aberfoyle 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 Glasgow.
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 see 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 your hotel.
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 your hotel.
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 re-crosses 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.
Glasgow, Inveraray, Oban, Crainlarich. Glasgow (232 miles)
We begin with an easy ride along Great Western Road. This wide urban avenue allows riders to familiarise with their machine as the speed limit gradually increases from 30mph at the hotel to 70mph as we near the Erskine Bridge crossing. We cross the bridge to briefly take a short section of the M8 towards Greenock. On the far side of Gourock at Cloch we take a ferry across to Hunters Quay.
From here we take the road north past Holly Loch, Loch Eck and over to the east shore of Loch Fine. Travelling around Loch Fine we arrive at our first stop of the Day, Inveraray, where we stop for morning coffee.
We take the A819 road heading towards Dalmally to later join the Loch Awe road. This traverses the east shore of the Loch passing Portsonachan, Portinnisherrich and other small hamlets before joining the A816 which will take us to Oban, our lunch break for the day.
As we leave Oban we begin out journey east and will stop at Tyndrum for afternoon tea before heading South back to Glasgow via Arrochar, Garelochhead, Gartocharn and Bearsden.
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 Glasgow.
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 Connel 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 Glasgow.
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 your hotel.
Glasgow, Ballachulish, Dalwhinnie, Killin, Glasgow (252 miles)
We leave Glasgow on the A82 and head up the west shore of Loch Lomond stopping at Ballachulish for morning coffee. Next we pass through Ft William where the backdrop is Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest Mountain, until we reach Inverroy where we join the A86 which we follow along the shores of Loch Laggan before deviating south to Dalwhinnie a village famed for being the coldest in Scotland We stop at the Dalwhinnie Inn for lunch.
Our next leg of this journey brings us down the A9 until we reach the snow gates where we turn onto a quite B road that leads to Tummel Bridgeand onwards to Kenmore where we hug the north bank of Loch Tay to Killin where we break for afternoon tea.
The final leg of this journey follows the A84 to Kilmahog before taking the Dukes Pass to Aberfoyle and onwards route via Milngavie to Glasgow.
Glasgow Ayr, Thornhill, Lanark, Glasgow (217 miles)
This journey is a Scottish lowland experience. There is a stark contrast between the ruggedness of the northern mountain ranges and the rolling hills of the south. We begin by heading to the Clyde Tunnel and onwards across the Gleniffer Braes to Beith before meeting the coast at Largs. Here we alter course heading South to Ayr. On the south side of Ayr at Alloway we stop at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum for morning coffee.
We next head stout to Maybole before deviating to the East through Straiton along the Northern edge of the Galloway Forrest to arrive at Thornhill in time for lunch.
On our return we cross the Southern Uplands through Elnanfoot, Biggar and arrive at Lanark where we stop for afternoon tea before making our return journey along the Clyde valley back to Glasgow
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.
Price Variation
Prices may differ between weekend and weekday stays and between high and low season. The prices listed as the lowest they might be for this tour.
