Scotland motorcycle trip – lochs, ferries and coastlines Pt 3

This is the third and final part of the write up following my recent Scotland motorcycle trip. If you want to check back on earlier posts use this link for Part 1 and this link for Part 2.

Without doubt it had been an excellent trip and exceeded my high expectations.

I’ve been to Scotland many times. As much as I like the cities – they are a world apart once you get to the West Coast and the Highlands.

Demographics

Scotland has a population of about 5.5 million. The nature of its rugged geography leads to its sparse population. Extensive mountains and a wet climate are some of the reasons that contribute to this. Most of the population (about 70%) live in the ‘central belt’. This leaves the Highlands and Islands pretty empty and the ideal place to head to.

In fact Scotland has some of the most sparsely populated areas in Europe. From a biking point of view this helps make Scotland a wonderful place to visit.

Gairloch to Buckie

The penultimate stop on this Scotland motorcycle trip was to be in Buckie. Buckie is a traditional coastal town and a former major fishing port on the Moray Firth in north east Scotland. I had booked into a fabulous Bed & Breakfast in the centre of Buckie – Struan House and I’ll write a little more about that later. But if you are ever up that way and need a place to stay Struan House is the best. Top quality accommodation, superb service and great value – this was to be my fourth stay there.

On the North Coast 500 route

Although I have been to Scotland many times I can’t say I have ever followed the well known North Coast 500 route (NC 500).

Over the years I have covered much of it due to the places and routes I have chosen. In fact I think the only part of the Scottish coastline I haven’t done is about a 160 miles stretch between Ullapool and John O’Groats. Although I hope to cover that part either later this year or next.

The road that leads from Gairloch to Ullapool is part of the NC500 route and it really is magnificent. Maybe it’s as good as it gets. I had a truly wonderful days riding and another day that weighed in with an easy 9.5 out of 10 score.

My route

The route on this leg of the Scotland motorcycle trip took me towards Kinlochewe, Achnasheen and Strathcarron. Then it was onto Garve and the pretty seaside town of Lossiemouth, then to Buckie. But that was not before a stop at Port Gordon for pictures of the grey seals from the colony of the 900 or so who visit and live there.

Picture set 1 – leaving Gairloch and heading for Ullapool

Picture from an absolute first class section of road and the first 90 to 100 miles were just biking heaven. Checkout the pictures of the first leg of the journey below

Picture Set 2 – what a pretty village

I also stumbled across the remarkably pretty Victorian Spa village of Strathpeffer. It was an ideal place to stop for a break, a coffee and a few pictures.

Robert Louis Stephenson visited Strathpeffer in 1880. He said: ‘Near here is a valley, birch woods, heather and a stream… no country, no place was ever for a moment so delightful to my soul.’  Visit and I think you will find it easy to see why he said that.  

Picture Set 3- heading for Buckie on the Moray Firth

The pictures in this set are from the back end of the ride from Gairloch. I called at the seaside town of Nairn, a place where my wife and I had spent a few days a couple of years ago.

After Nairn it was Port Gordon and the grey seals, then it was  Lossiemouth  before my destination of Buckie. Check out the pictures below.

Picture Set 4 – Great accommodation at Struan House – one of the best on the Scotland motorcycle trip

I have stayed at Struan House a few times before, I think this was my fourth stay. This accommodation is one of my all-time favourite stops.  Struan House is a lovely building, superbly fitted out by the owners Robert and Giffy. It’s welcoming, homely, provides magnificent breakfasts along with safe and secure bike parking and at a great price. It’s just the best.

I think on each occasion I have stopped here it’s been to break a journey from over on the west coast before heading to Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway about 250 miles or so south of Buckie.

That was exactly my plan on this trip. Have a look at the picture set below and note that I fully embraced the 2026 Work Cup with my purchase of the FIFA endorsed limited edition Africa Lynx spray!

On the road to Moffat and my final stop of the Scotland motorcycle trip

My last stop of the trip was at the The Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat. Moffat is a small town on the banks of the River Annan and with a population of around 2,500. I have stayed in Moffat many times and this was my second stay at The Buccleuch Arms. My first stay there was in May 2025 – I really don’t think you can stay at any other hotel that is so perfectly set up for bikers. My route down to Moffat was superb.

From Buckie I headed for Keith, Tomintoul – the highest village in the Cairngorms National Park. After that it was towards Cock Bridge so that I could travel the A939 Lecht Pass high in the Grampian Mountains before heading for Braemar, Glenshee, Blairgowee and onto Moffat.

I had the most magnificent of biking days and I rated it at a very solid 9.7 (the high score for the trip).

I have travelled across the Cairngorms before but never this route – the route is part of the SnowRoads and if you’re a biker (or even if you’re not) you just won’t be disappointed if you make a route that takes them in.

Picture Set 5 – the SnowRoads and Moffat a superb part of a Scotland motorcycle trip

End of the trip and back to St Mary’s Loch before heading for home

On my final day of this Scotland Motorcycle trip I decided that I would leave early and head in the opposite direction to home by making the 15 mile journey to Tweedsmuir before turning off onto a single track road to take in Talla Reservoir and Megget Water.

It’s a road and route I have done a few times before on different bikes and it just feels like a pretty special place.

The bonus is that it dropped me back on the A708 – the road I talked about in Part 1 and that runs alongside St Mary’s Loch. So I got to do one of my favourite UK roads a second time as I headed back to Moffat and then finally turning to take a pretty routine and direct route home.

Fantastic trip and cake to end the Scotland motorcycle trip

It was a superb and wholly enjoyable trip. I rode a total of 1,628 miles and came home to a superb ‘award winning’ ‘welcome home cake’ my wife had made for me that was as spectacular as the trip. A magnificent and sticky stem ginger cake! Who on earth could ask for more.

Check out pictures of Talla, Meggets and THAT cake in the final picture set below.