Guys, good advice here from someone who's done this multiple times from NW England. Don't do that day 1 route in 1 day. Reason? You will be blown away by the scenery from the Erskine bridge onwards (just north of Glasgow) through Glencoe etc...Trust me its not to be missed and you'll be too fatigued after that many miles to take it in. Rest up around the Glasgow or Paisley area and do the 82 Northbound FRESH . You will enjoy it much more...anyway...enjoy 👍
Next time you don't have a hotel at John O'Groats I can thoroughly recommend the John O'Groats Guest House. We stayed there when we did the NC500 and it was great. Very welcoming and some of the best sunsets I have every seen. The ride is brilliant.
Watch out for the white arrows they paint on the road in the middle of corners, caught my friend out as they are very slippery and thick paint so there's a lip on them... you'll have a great time 👍
I use to live on the Devon cornish border and travelled up to the west coast of Scotland in a day. The west coast is really stunning with fantastic scenery and beaches. I stayed in town's like Inveraray, Oban and Ullapool. I think that you will have a blast of a time. While in Ullapool I went out in a boat and hand fed some seals 🦭 and even saw a glimpse of an orca (killer whale). I also stayed the night at Loch Ness hoping to get a glimpse of the monster, but unfortunately the only monster I saw was a Ducati. You'll love it.......let's hope that you have great weather every day.
Hi kate. Few lads and myself are heading to do the nc500 in 2 weeks time. Gonna do it clockwise. Just watched your episodes. Fantastic. Keep the vlogs coming.
Hi Kate me and my wife have just done the NC and it was fab, our GSA te was so much fun to ride, the wife has never been for a long ride like this and she has got the bug now, have fun ...
Enjoy your holiday Kate, you've earned it :) Got my Triple Black last month and am loving it.. got the gold rims on mine ! Big thumbs up to BMW for looking after you with the 2nd bike too :)
Your first day is very ambitious, hope it goes to plan, you’ll be knackered by the time you get to your hotel. Enjoy the adventure, you’ll love it, the roads are amazing.
Great content as ever Kate! Literally did the NC500 in between lockdowns last year was and is amazing you’ll love it. I stayed at the gairlock hotel for one night was a lovely hotel with great roads in both directions and a decent dinner on offer and breakfast. In Skye I would visit the old man of storr bit of a hike up there if your feeling it about an hour up and back, and if you have time do a loop around the very top of Skye the coastline is spectacular and so remote you won’t believe your still in the uk! Other than that there is loads of beaches and coves you can visit all around the coast, I would just say don’t try and cram in too much into each day as you will miss loads. We took 7 days to do the complete nc500 and I still felt that was a rush. All in all enjoy you’ll love it! Honestly as good as the alps in it’s own way in my opinion and yes iv done both 😁
Hi Kate. We did the NC500 4 weeks ago. You probably won't be overly impressed with the Caledonian. We thought it was a bit tired tbh. However. The next day we rode through Durness, Thurso Dunnet head and if course Jon o groats... ( after John o Groats though don't forget the short hop out to Duncansby Head ) and we stayed at a b&b in Keiss call the Castle View. It was absolutely stunning views there and the couple of girls that run it can't do enough for you. Best of luck, you're going to love it.
Did the NC 500 like you in a clockwise direction a few weeks ago.. Way way busier than previous trips. My advice is to book accommodation as every hotel we went to was fully booked. Prob have to book evening meals also. Everyone that would normally in Spain and Portugal seems to have hired camper vans and are driving the NC 500. Watch out for them…got my panniers clipped twice by peeps that really shouldn’t be driving motorhomes on single track roads. Have fun👍
Hi Kate, that's an amazing gesture by BMW, and for BIKESURE for sponsoring what looks like the trip of a lifetime. That was an impressive show of bike handling by Mike, giving your lawn a trim! The farthest north I've been is Blackpool, so I'm looking forward to seeing your footage. A confession. I too, thought Dieter was someone on a diet! Have a great trip with long sunny days.💗💑💗
Hi Kate, I recommend that you go north from Portree and do the right hand peninsula towards staffin and do a full loop. Staffin bay has a black sand beach and the quirang, remnants of ancient volcanoes, the scenery is stunning. 👍
You'll have an amazing time, we did nc500 3 weeks ago with blue skies. East Coast not greatest but needs to be done to enjoy West Coast after the North. We wild camped it all with no plan at all and loved it. Enjoy.
Hi Kate, your doing the right thing by cherry picking the best roads & staying away from the east coast, there’s much better roads to do. Anywhere on the West coast is amazing, you’ll have a ball. Stayed at the Caledonian a couple of years ago, it’s quite basic, but you’ll get a good nights kip & the bikes will be fine. The Cairngorms are amazing, brilliant roads & scenery, a good route is heading south from Nairn, down to Grantown on Spey, through Tomintoul, Ballater & down to Spittal of Glenshee & on to Blairgowrie. Try & get an extra day or 2 if you can & stay away from the M6, at least one way if you can, i always go through the Yorkshire Dales/North York Moors when i go, much more enjoyable. Have a great trip Kate, safe riding.
Have an amazing trip, I can hopefully follow in your bike tracks later this year now I have the tools for the job... Have a good one folks looking forward to the vlog... take care.
My favourite parts were the west coast , and the roads on the Cairngorms are amazing, applecross in the pouring rain was very sketchy, enjoy your trip Kate
Hi Kate. Would recommend once you do the Applecross pass (Bealach na Ba) you continue around the peninsula to Shieldaig, it’s a lovely road with more stunning scenery. The other one I’d recommend is the road again around a peninsula, so great sea and beach views is from Lochinver to Skylesku bridge which is often missed but is excellent. The view at Drumbeg view point is amazing so don’t miss it. This road is quite challenging in some places so you’ll both enjoy that. I’ve done 2 trips up there in Bonny Scotland in the last couple of months and cannot recommend it enough. Cheers and have a safe ride. Looking forward to watching your video 👍
did it in May, I went from Rotherham to Skye on the first day, knocked an hour and a half off your first day and glad I did. Stayed at Polbain for the second night via the Bealach n ba and round the coast which I would totally recommend. If you don't do the coast road you are missing out. WENT all the way to Wick on the third day then home in one go. Vfr800, great bike for the trip. It's old enough to drinkmin the USA lol Have a great trip
just after glencoe ,take a left onto the b863 it`s a loop of around 20 miles round loch leven, fantastic road , might of been better having the first night in fort william , lovely place
Hey Kate - great plan. Only thing would say having just got back from torridon is take care on the Bealach na ba. Stunning but if it’s busy can be a mare with campervans and cars coming down a single track road. Take your time and use passing places smartly would be my advice. Once you get to applecross you can do the loop around the coast which is stunning and it takes you back to Sheildaig which has a good bar that serves lovely food. Stopping at the kylesku hotel is also good. It’s next to kylesku bridge which is the one in all the pics. Hope you have a great trip. 😎
Best curvy dream road is Oban to Tarbert. Too much in a day your first day btw. Good routes your doing one big playground up there I alway head to same digs in Lochinver. Route down to Lairg is good one too
Looking forward to watching the vids. I hope you'll be taking in a couple of distillery tours while you're up there (with taxi back to the hotel of course). Cracking roads up there. I've not done the full NC500 but the roads on the west coast are amazing!
Boom kate awesome trip great plan yer day 1 is a monster, ye need to stop off at green welly shop cafe fuel stop, claghaic pub in glencoe another must.yer skye run well worth it.and yeah id miss oot john o groats take the road back doon to lairg.watch oot A9 snooze fest with avg speed cameras so avoid as much of it as ye can. Midge season noo so take a spray stop em nibbling enjoy yer trip.
I'm not far from you (Wigan area) I know you're already on the trip now but me personally when I head up from here instead of the M6 (boring) and A6 (too much stop and start) I head north east over the Yorkshire dales and into Durham and stay overnight in Northumberland. The A68 north to the border at Carter Bar is so much better than the crossing at Gretna in my opinion. Especially feeling fresh after a stop overnight in the north east. From there I take the A roads between Glasgow and Edinburgh avoiding the major roads and into the trossachs from the south east via the B818 (Carron valley reservoir) from west of Falkirk. Smaller roads and takes a while but able to do so due to splitting the journey to the highlands over 2 days. Hope you're having a great time!
Awesome! We did the 'boring bit' up the East to JoG and across the North a few years back. Really wanted to hit the west coast this summer but didn't get a chance- maybe next year. We also took our bikes across to Orkney for a day- really worth doing if you get a chance.
While I haven't done the NC 500. I know people who have and I've seen their photographs. The scenery on the West coast is spectacular. However there is a strong feeling of being somewhere exceptionally remote. If you breakdown you will really be on your own. So pack a first aid kit,extra clothes and kit to make fairly straightforward repairs.
Eh not nowadays,NC 500 is stupidly busy mostly camper vans and car owners clubs.These roads were great 10 years ago before the masses discovered them just too busy nowadays I'm sorry to say.
Just found you channel, subscribed looking forward to your trip. To avoid the A9 from Bonar Bridge after +- 3miles take the B9176 over the Struie and then you only have to do a very short stretch of the A9. The Struie Road is epic. I could go on forever, enjoy
Bloody awesome ride, hope the weathers OK and watch out for the midges with piranha teeth. Stopt in Elgin many moons ago had a job to do at a whiskey brewery, bloody awesome roads, stay safe 🏍👍👌
few places to recommend .... when your at John O'Groats... along the road about a mile go to Duncansby head to see the Sea Stacks , you have to walk over the top of the hill across frin the lighthouse but well worth it, not a long walk... gorgeous, Dunnet head... you will be passing anyway its the most northerly point in the UK..., when at Durness go to Smoo cave ... you will be passing that too... ...At Applecross have some food at the Applecross Inn ...really biker frendly and food is amazing, roads are amazing up there really spectacular.... cant go wrong what ever road you take ..... have a good time :D
Gairloch Hotel .... memories of shacking up with a rather tastie chef-ette there in mid 80's :-) Went for a week and ended up staying there the whole summer. It was an "education" ;-)
I actually watched day 1 of the trip before I knew you had made this video as I’m new to the channel. Thanks for all the great information. I’m sure a lot of people will take the same route. Kudos to BMW UK for helping to make this dream come true. Have a great trip. Jason.
Just got back from NC500. Saw 2 bike incidents. On was a big Harley thing where the guy had kind of slipped off the side of the road trying to avoid an on coming car, another was a BMW where a van reversed into him while they were both waiting in a passing layby. The raids can be VERY tiring so be careful.
I was knocked off in a passing place just outside Bettyhill when I lived up by Melvich. The guy reversed into me at about 15 mph from 10 yards away and knocked me flying off my MTS1200 which sustained £4k’s worth of damage and a year off the road. Be VERY careful as people do not know how to drive on singletrack. If you dont know yourself, do the due diligence before you go and it will pay dividends. Dont get hung up with loads of slow bikers either, that REALLY winds up the locals as they cant get past whilst in day to day business. Not everyone is a tourist up there, although you might be forgiven for thinking so these days. I moved to Yorkshire 7 months ago and the weather is WAAAAAY better here, but I think I’ll move back to Inverness soon. I miss the roads and the buzz of living there, even though its not the same as it used to be.
I left BMW at the wrong time 😂. I was one of their group experience drivers/riders till just after Christmas. All I did was to take the fleet out to people like your self so they could play and make an informed choice. I bet when you get back you’ll want to keep her! However thrh loan is for her it extended. You won’t regret it. All the best.
Also if you’re smashing out miles out on the 74 have a stop at Annadale Water! One of my stop offs in the way up for fuel and food. You can have a cheeky McDonald’s or Costa round a lake!
Hi just come back from Scotland this Sunday 4 July 7 day trip from skipton north Yorkshire we did day 1 up to kendle follow old road to shap do short stint on m6 come off at gretna follow a road to dumfries then onto paisley keeping off motorways eventually stopping in fort William far enough for day 1 then portree then ullapool then thurso then back down the middle from tongue to aviemore then Aberdeen then home we did it wrong way round it was amazing.your first day does look a bit to long.you need to take in all those wow moments.!! Enjoy😁
First day was ace!!! When we got to Scotland, the way up was a dream. It didn't feel too long because we're on armchairs let's face it 🤣 and the roads are just so perfect its not a chore 👍
Can’t wait to see the vids, I never bothered booking any overnight stops, just took my tent and wild camped or rocked up to a campsite late evening never got turned away even at 8pm in the torrential rain at Sheildaig
Hi Kate, you have some big days planned, Edinburgh to Gairloch a big day. I’ve ridden most of those roads they are great Cairngorms well worth spending time there lots of fab roads. I’ve stayed in the Gairloch hotel it’s a good base also stayed in the Caledonian hotel ifs fine plenty of better place to eat in Ullapool. On your way south have a go at the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle another good road Enjoy your time in Scotland
On your way back just after the Cairngorns, go through loch Tay towards killin. Good road. Followed by Callander - brig o Turk - aberfoyle. Worth the extra mins to the trip.
also on the a82 from the green welly stop before glencoe take a left on to the single track road to loch etive, this is a narrow single track about 15 miles long ( dead end) called the skyfall road ( where james bond was filmed ) on my divert list when i get up there, in august ,been told it fab scenery .
Have fun! Daytona do some great boots that have a extended heel that are a lot more useful than a low seat. Also means you can use on all bikes. Not cheap but great quality and comfort.
Someone mentioned moffat in the comments earlier, I agree!. On the way back, I can highly recommend going from Edinburgh along the A701 to get there…that road is absolutely delightful, full of beautiful sweeping bends where you can see miles ahead..and it’s usually nice and quiet!…you can then join up with the A74(M)…
Have an amazing time. So the seafood shack was really good, Halibut wrap, very nice. The hot chocolate place near Durness was super sweet. Also in Durness are the Smoo caves. But most of all have a great time
On your way down through Lairg after you pass through the village of Contin take the first right across the Baillie bridge into Marybank. From there you can carry on straight up the hill to the Orrin bridge or turn right and head up the Strathconnon valley/glen past several hydro dams. That road used to be the old road to the west, very scenic area. Right from Orrin bridge leads to the Orrin falls. From that area if you head through Muir of ord and Beauly that leads to Inverness without going on the A9. Alternatively you could head from Inverness to Nairn on the A96 you can then take the road to Grantown and Aviemore which snakes through the Dava moor. Much more fun than the A9 from Inverness to Aviemore. Enjoy your trip however you decide to experience it.
I'd recommend the road between Fort William and Mallaig, then the ferry over to Skye. Seafood in north-west Scotland is often landed that day. Some of the best in the world. And just to keep things confusing for the Sassenachs, just about every big town has at least one "Caledonian Hotel"
The Caledonian in Ullapool is OK, it's like a Post House from the 1970's but you're too young to remember those. Don't expect too much and you'll be OK, the beds are comfy and the rooms are cleanish. The breakfast was nice and the bar was open when we were there in June. Most places close at 8pm for food and beer so don't be too late getting to your digs. We had fish and chips from the chip shop just down the road from the Caledonian. There is a massive car park at the back of the Caledonian where all the bikes park, go past the Hotel on your left and turn first left then first left again. Remember to buy your NC500 Tshirt from reception for only £20 each. It looks nothing like the photographs inside by the way :)
Great stuff Kate, im taking my new 1250GS Triple Black to Scotland for its first trip in the next few days. For the Hotel at the top, i stayed at the Melvich a few years ago, was very good. Have a great trip.
Aye the roads are amazing and u guys will have a blast, when in the cairngorms defo go down the a93 fab riding road and amazing scenery, I'm lucky enough to live not that far away from it and love every ride, also check out braemar and a good coffee shop at the Glenshee ski centre, the a93 is the highest A class road in the uk so I'm told... Oh and defo remember to bring a midge net and some repellent spray, they are out in force just now and you will be so thankful for not being eaten alive
Two BMWs look very impressive, I'm planning to go up to Scotland, mainly around Loch Ness area, but I may end up going to other areas. I've looked on Google maps, and there's some very nice B&B's. Looking forward to following your adventures. If you could include Loch Ness, that would be great.
Just got back from the NC500 on my Kwak Versys 1k 3 weeks ago. Was amazing. One thing I would have recommended (I also did it west to east) is to go North from Applecross after you've done the Balach Ne Ba. Its a great coastal single track route. You're doing pretty much the exact route we did :). Highly recommend the Castletown Hotel for your stop near John O'Groates. We used it as an emergency stay instead of camping and we were impressed. 10 mins from John O'Groates and secure bike parking. Also just realised this was from june ROFL!! DOH!
"first off its triple black... My favourite colour" SAME 😂 I don't understand the hype with all the bright colours. Really enjoyed this! Excited to get my first 'big bike' just passed my a2 :)
If you want an extra coffee stop on day one, and God knows you'll need one, take a wee detour off the M74 near Moffat and head to The Green Frog. It's a nice little garden centre/fishery place that I try to include when I'm nearby. If you're doing that, you might as well take in the Dalveen Pass too. You can see the M74 from it so not to much of a detour. Only about 8 miles but lovely tarmac/corners and you'll be doing it in both directions to get back to the M74 👍
Sounds like a brill trip Kate. If you get a chance take the ferry up to Orkney - some amazing stuff to see there also (Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, sunken WW1 German ships). There’s a brilliant bike route guide for Scotland. Will dig out the author and details and send in a separate message - some brilliant roads, accommodation and places to eat in it. May help when you get past John O’Groats for the return journey. Cracking rides through The Cairngorms.
I just picked up a R1250GS TE Triple Black, similar spec to the one you have there, but without the can or 719 bling bits . Massive difference from my R1200GS TU. I’ll watch your trip with interest as I’ve not done the NC500 or NQNC500 yet.
Allow plenty of time, it will take a lot longer to get anywhere thank you think, that first day will be a slog & watch out at Glencoe the landscape is so stunning you forget to look where you are going!
Hi Kate I’m not going to ask when your in ullapool but I’m guessing you’re probably already on your trip but I have booked the same hotel for 2 nights just before we go to the western isles. But I could give you some awesome roads to try but I don’t know where to start 😂 But when in sky the ride from Dunvegan to Sligachan is awesome A863 back to the A87 if you’re still up there in 2 weeks we might cross paths have fun
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #1 НАЧАЛО ПУТЕШЕСТВИЯ [Новый сезон] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/380Q7gLWGvk/mqdefault.jpg)
After Inverness, along to Nairn and down the A939 towards ballater, then down A93 to Blairgowrie epic road !
Guys, good advice here from someone who's done this multiple times from NW England. Don't do that day 1 route in 1 day. Reason? You will be blown away by the scenery from the Erskine bridge onwards (just north of Glasgow) through Glencoe etc...Trust me its not to be missed and you'll be too fatigued after that many miles to take it in. Rest up around the Glasgow or Paisley area and do the 82 Northbound FRESH . You will enjoy it much more...anyway...enjoy 👍
Next time you don't have a hotel at John O'Groats I can thoroughly recommend the John O'Groats Guest House. We stayed there when we did the NC500 and it was great. Very welcoming and some of the best sunsets I have every seen. The ride is brilliant.
Watch out for the white arrows they paint on the road in the middle of corners, caught my friend out as they are very slippery and thick paint so there's a lip on them... you'll have a great time 👍
I use to live on the Devon cornish border and travelled up to the west coast of Scotland in a day. The west coast is really stunning with fantastic scenery and beaches. I stayed in town's like Inveraray, Oban and Ullapool. I think that you will have a blast of a time. While in Ullapool I went out in a boat and hand fed some seals 🦭 and even saw a glimpse of an orca (killer whale). I also stayed the night at Loch Ness hoping to get a glimpse of the monster, but unfortunately the only monster I saw was a Ducati.
You'll love it.......let's hope that you have great weather every day.
Seeing an orca must've been MENTAL, Dean! 👌🏾
@@lambethlongshanks4791 we were really lucky as there was a pod of orca's cruising by. That's the first time I've ever seen them in the wild
Hi kate. Few lads and myself are heading to do the nc500 in 2 weeks time. Gonna do it clockwise. Just watched your episodes. Fantastic. Keep the vlogs coming.
Welcome to Scotland! 🏴 🙏🏻
Hi Kate me and my wife have just done the NC and it was fab, our GSA te was so much fun to ride, the wife has never been for a long ride like this and she has got the bug now, have fun ...
Have a great time both ! Look forward to the videos 👍🏻
Enjoy your holiday Kate, you've earned it :) Got my Triple Black last month and am loving it.. got the gold rims on mine ! Big thumbs up to BMW for looking after you with the 2nd bike too :)
Your first day is very ambitious, hope it goes to plan, you’ll be knackered by the time you get to your hotel. Enjoy the adventure, you’ll love it, the roads are amazing.
we are setting off at 6am so will be past glasgow by 9am, we cant book into our hotel until 3pm earliest
Great content as ever Kate!
Literally did the NC500 in between lockdowns last year was and is amazing you’ll love it.
I stayed at the gairlock hotel for one night was a lovely hotel with great roads in both directions and a decent dinner on offer and breakfast. In Skye I would visit the old man of storr bit of a hike up there if your feeling it about an hour up and back, and if you have time do a loop around the very top of Skye the coastline is spectacular and so remote you won’t believe your still in the uk!
Other than that there is loads of beaches and coves you can visit all around the coast, I would just say don’t try and cram in too much into each day as you will miss loads. We took 7 days to do the complete nc500 and I still felt that was a rush.
All in all enjoy you’ll love it! Honestly as good as the alps in it’s own way in my opinion and yes iv done both 😁
Hi Kate. We did the NC500 4 weeks ago. You probably won't be overly impressed with the Caledonian. We thought it was a bit tired tbh. However. The next day we rode through Durness, Thurso Dunnet head and if course Jon o groats... ( after John o Groats though don't forget the short hop out to Duncansby Head ) and we stayed at a b&b in Keiss call the Castle View. It was absolutely stunning views there and the couple of girls that run it can't do enough for you. Best of luck, you're going to love it.
Did the NC 500 like you in a clockwise direction a few weeks ago.. Way way busier than previous trips. My advice is to book accommodation as every hotel we went to was fully booked. Prob have to book evening meals also. Everyone that would normally in Spain and Portugal seems to have hired camper vans and are driving the NC 500. Watch out for them…got my panniers clipped twice by peeps that really shouldn’t be driving motorhomes on single track roads. Have fun👍
Hope the weather treats you nicely, Scotland is beautiful. Have a great time you two.
I plan on doing scotland myself in August. Great vlog
Hi Kate, that's an amazing gesture by BMW, and for BIKESURE for sponsoring what looks like the trip of a lifetime. That was an impressive show of bike handling by Mike, giving your lawn a trim! The farthest north I've been is Blackpool, so I'm looking forward to seeing your footage. A confession. I too, thought Dieter was someone on a diet! Have a great trip with long sunny days.💗💑💗
Hi Kate, I recommend that you go north from Portree and do the right hand peninsula towards staffin and do a full loop. Staffin bay has a black sand beach and the quirang, remnants of ancient volcanoes, the scenery is stunning. 👍
...and the dinosaur footprints on Staffin beach.
@@NeonLuvBar I probably left those, last time I went there! 😂
More GS,s o deep joy. Triumph trophy se for me. Thank you. Incoming....
Epic part of the world to ride in by the way.
You'll have an amazing time, we did nc500 3 weeks ago with blue skies. East Coast not greatest but needs to be done to enjoy West Coast after the North. We wild camped it all with no plan at all and loved it. Enjoy.
I stayed at the Gairloch Hotel a few years ago, very comfortable and the restaurant was very good. The seafood shack is excellent!
Hi Kate,
your doing the right thing by cherry picking the best roads & staying away from the east coast, there’s much better roads to do.
Anywhere on the West coast is amazing, you’ll have a ball.
Stayed at the Caledonian a couple of years ago, it’s quite basic, but you’ll get a good nights kip & the bikes will be fine.
The Cairngorms are amazing, brilliant roads & scenery, a good route is heading south from Nairn, down to Grantown on Spey, through Tomintoul, Ballater & down to Spittal of Glenshee & on to Blairgowrie. Try & get an extra day or 2 if you can & stay away from the M6, at least one way if you can, i always go through the Yorkshire Dales/North York Moors when i go, much more enjoyable. Have a great trip Kate, safe riding.
Have an amazing trip, I can hopefully follow in your bike tracks later this year now I have the tools for the job... Have a good one folks looking forward to the vlog... take care.
My favourite parts were the west coast , and the roads on the Cairngorms are amazing, applecross in the pouring rain was very sketchy, enjoy your trip Kate
Take me with you 😜. Hopefully next year I'll be able to cross the pond and ride the NC500. Hope you have fun.
Hi Kate. Would recommend once you do the Applecross pass (Bealach na Ba) you continue around the peninsula to Shieldaig, it’s a lovely road with more stunning scenery. The other one I’d recommend is the road again around a peninsula, so great sea and beach views is from Lochinver to Skylesku bridge which is often missed but is excellent. The view at Drumbeg view point is amazing so don’t miss it. This road is quite challenging in some places so you’ll both enjoy that. I’ve done 2 trips up there in Bonny Scotland in the last couple of months and cannot recommend it enough.
Cheers and have a safe ride. Looking forward to watching your video 👍
Completely agree...
@@shaunbond6741 cheers matey 👍
The Seafood Shack in Ullapool is well worth a visit - highly recommend!!
That was recently voted one of the top seafood eateries in the UK 👍
Agreed its excellent
When i had a visit here i was vomiting 2 days after eating rotten mussels, be warned dont eat them if they dont open with cooking
@@rgthomson100 ummm thats not so good
@@rgthomson100 sorry to hear that, Rob. When I do them I always discard them if I have any doubts.
Looking forward to the vlogs! Safe ride!
did it in May, I went from Rotherham to Skye on the first day, knocked an hour and a half off your first day and glad I did. Stayed at Polbain for the second night via the Bealach n ba and round the coast which I would totally recommend. If you don't do the coast road you are missing out. WENT all the way to Wick on the third day then home in one go. Vfr800, great bike for the trip. It's old enough to drinkmin the USA lol Have a great trip
Only downside to borrowing that bike....... You'll probably want to buy it at the end of the ride !
Enjoy Kate + Mike
just after glencoe ,take a left onto the b863 it`s a loop of around 20 miles round loch leven, fantastic road , might of been better having the first night in fort william , lovely place
Hey Kate - great plan. Only thing would say having just got back from torridon is take care on the Bealach na ba. Stunning but if it’s busy can be a mare with campervans and cars coming down a single track road. Take your time and use passing places smartly would be my advice. Once you get to applecross you can do the loop around the coast which is stunning and it takes you back to Sheildaig which has a good bar that serves lovely food. Stopping at the kylesku hotel is also good. It’s next to kylesku bridge which is the one in all the pics. Hope you have a great trip. 😎
Good things happen to good people. Enjoy the ride. Big thumbs up for BMW (Spitzenklasse)👍👍
ride the road from Inverness to Ullapool...amazing. Ullapool is also a great place to use as a base.
Hello from New Zealand. Looking forward to your trip, especially the Ullapool district as my family traces to that area.
Great memories of riding my Honda Blackbird to the Isle of Islay and Skye👍
I picked my triple back today. What a machine!!!
Just got back from Scotland and the NC500 today. Its epic, you’ll have a blast.
You are going to have an amazing trip. So much stunning scenery and great roads to take in. Looking forward to seeing your vlogs.
Sounds like a great trip.Looking forward to see how you got on.
Mike's got skills 👍🏻👍🏻
Looking forward to some epic content..... Enjoy your adventure 😊
Best curvy dream road is Oban to Tarbert. Too much in a day your first day btw. Good routes your doing one big playground up there I alway head to same digs in Lochinver. Route down to Lairg is good one too
Hoping the heated seat has my back (side) 🤣
@@UsernameKate Put plenty stops in
@@Greggspies oh we've lots of stops planned 😊 cant wait!
Looking forward to watching the vids. I hope you'll be taking in a couple of distillery tours while you're up there (with taxi back to the hotel of course). Cracking roads up there. I've not done the full NC500 but the roads on the west coast are amazing!
Boom kate awesome trip great plan yer day 1 is a monster, ye need to stop off at green welly shop cafe fuel stop, claghaic pub in glencoe another must.yer skye run well worth it.and yeah id miss oot john o groats take the road back doon to lairg.watch oot A9 snooze fest with avg speed cameras so avoid as much of it as ye can. Midge season noo so take a spray stop em nibbling enjoy yer trip.
Look`s great! Have a good trip drive safe.
Looking forward to watch the video of your adventure. Take care and have fun with the time off from work.
I'm not far from you (Wigan area) I know you're already on the trip now but me personally when I head up from here instead of the M6 (boring) and A6 (too much stop and start) I head north east over the Yorkshire dales and into Durham and stay overnight in Northumberland. The A68 north to the border at Carter Bar is so much better than the crossing at Gretna in my opinion. Especially feeling fresh after a stop overnight in the north east. From there I take the A roads between Glasgow and Edinburgh avoiding the major roads and into the trossachs from the south east via the B818 (Carron valley reservoir) from west of Falkirk. Smaller roads and takes a while but able to do so due to splitting the journey to the highlands over 2 days. Hope you're having a great time!
Get in Kate, pullin' those "Who ya know" strings like o pro. Ride it like you stole it :)
Awesome! We did the 'boring bit' up the East to JoG and across the North a few years back. Really wanted to hit the west coast this summer but didn't get a chance- maybe next year. We also took our bikes across to Orkney for a day- really worth doing if you get a chance.
Oh wow! I'd love to travel to the Orkney Islands! Defo on the list 😊 sorry you didn't manage to get over this year but there's defo next year 👍
While I haven't done the NC 500. I know people who have and I've seen their photographs. The scenery on the West coast is spectacular. However there is a strong feeling of being somewhere exceptionally remote. If you breakdown you will really be on your own. So pack a first aid kit,extra clothes and kit to make fairly straightforward repairs.
Eh not nowadays,NC 500 is stupidly busy mostly camper vans and car owners clubs.These roads were great 10 years ago before the masses discovered them just too busy nowadays I'm sorry to say.
Just found you channel, subscribed looking forward to your trip. To avoid the A9 from Bonar Bridge after +- 3miles take the B9176 over the Struie and then you only have to do a very short stretch of the A9. The Struie Road is epic. I could go on forever, enjoy
Good luck
Enjoy your Adventure to the highlands!
The nc500 is so on my list to do ✌👊👍🏍
That looks like a heck of a good time...you guys are gonna have a blast
Bloody awesome ride, hope the weathers OK and watch out for the midges with piranha teeth. Stopt in Elgin many moons ago had a job to do at a whiskey brewery, bloody awesome roads, stay safe 🏍👍👌
few places to recommend .... when your at John O'Groats... along the road about a mile go to Duncansby head to see the Sea Stacks , you have to walk over the top of the hill across frin the lighthouse but well worth it, not a long walk... gorgeous, Dunnet head... you will be passing anyway its the most northerly point in the UK..., when at Durness go to Smoo cave ... you will be passing that too... ...At Applecross have some food at the Applecross Inn ...really biker frendly and food is amazing, roads are amazing up there really spectacular.... cant go wrong what ever road you take ..... have a good time :D
Gairloch Hotel .... memories of shacking up with a rather tastie chef-ette there in mid 80's :-) Went for a week and ended up staying there the whole summer. It was an "education" ;-)
We’re risking it and have booked Eurotunnel for August 17th. Hoping Merkel doesn’t crap all over our plans. 🤣
Looking forward to the vlogs. 🤓
boffwit might tho
I actually watched day 1 of the trip before I knew you had made this video as I’m new to the channel. Thanks for all the great information. I’m sure a lot of people will take the same route. Kudos to BMW UK for helping to make this dream come true. Have a great trip. Jason.
Thanks Jason!!!! 😊
Good video Kate. Look forward to your vlog and your journey.
Great to hear we're in for more great videos Kate, amazing!! Safe Travel!! 👍👍
Once you go black 1250, can you go back??
You will love it, epic roads & epic scenery, hope you get decent weather. Enjoy 👍
Just got back from NC500. Saw 2 bike incidents. On was a big Harley thing where the guy had kind of slipped off the side of the road trying to avoid an on coming car, another was a BMW where a van reversed into him while they were both waiting in a passing layby. The raids can be VERY tiring so be careful.
I was knocked off in a passing place just outside Bettyhill when I lived up by Melvich. The guy reversed into me at about 15 mph from 10 yards away and knocked me flying off my MTS1200 which sustained £4k’s worth of damage and a year off the road. Be VERY careful as people do not know how to drive on singletrack. If you dont know yourself, do the due diligence before you go and it will pay dividends. Dont get hung up with loads of slow bikers either, that REALLY winds up the locals as they cant get past whilst in day to day business. Not everyone is a tourist up there, although you might be forgiven for thinking so these days. I moved to Yorkshire 7 months ago and the weather is WAAAAAY better here, but I think I’ll move back to Inverness soon. I miss the roads and the buzz of living there, even though its not the same as it used to be.
I left BMW at the wrong time 😂. I was one of their group experience drivers/riders till just after Christmas. All I did was to take the fleet out to people like your self so they could play and make an informed choice. I bet when you get back you’ll want to keep her! However thrh loan is for her it extended. You won’t regret it. All the best.
Also if you’re smashing out miles out on the 74 have a stop at Annadale Water! One of my stop offs in the way up for fuel and food. You can have a cheeky McDonald’s or Costa round a lake!
Hi just come back from Scotland this Sunday 4 July 7 day trip from skipton north Yorkshire we did day 1 up to kendle follow old road to shap do short stint on m6 come off at gretna follow a road to dumfries then onto paisley keeping off motorways eventually stopping in fort William far enough for day 1 then portree then ullapool then thurso then back down the middle from tongue to aviemore then Aberdeen then home we did it wrong way round it was amazing.your first day does look a bit to long.you need to take in all those wow moments.!! Enjoy😁
First day was ace!!! When we got to Scotland, the way up was a dream. It didn't feel too long because we're on armchairs let's face it 🤣 and the roads are just so perfect its not a chore 👍
Can’t wait to see the vids, I never bothered booking any overnight stops, just took my tent and wild camped or rocked up to a campsite late evening never got turned away even at 8pm in the torrential rain at Sheildaig
Brutal miles first day, but well worth it! 🏍
You're missing a trick not doing the A9 . It's a great biking rd . Mike would love it . Long flowing bends and decent views
Good to see what route your taking and where you end up. Planning to do a similar trip from Bristol soon!
Hi Kate, you have some big days planned, Edinburgh to Gairloch a big day. I’ve ridden most of those roads they are great Cairngorms well worth spending time there lots of fab roads.
I’ve stayed in the Gairloch hotel it’s a good base also stayed in the Caledonian hotel ifs fine plenty of better place to eat in Ullapool. On your way south have a go at the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle another good road Enjoy your time in Scotland
On your way back just after the Cairngorns, go through loch Tay towards killin. Good road. Followed by Callander - brig o Turk - aberfoyle. Worth the extra mins to the trip.
also on the a82 from the green welly stop before glencoe take a left on to the single track road to loch etive, this is a narrow single track about 15 miles long ( dead end) called the skyfall road ( where james bond was filmed ) on my divert list when i get up there, in august ,been told it fab scenery .
You'll still love .. have a great time
Have fun! Daytona do some great boots that have a extended heel that are a lot more useful than a low seat. Also means you can use on all bikes. Not cheap but great quality and comfort.
Someone mentioned moffat in the comments earlier, I agree!. On the way back, I can highly recommend going from Edinburgh along the A701 to get there…that road is absolutely delightful, full of beautiful sweeping bends where you can see miles ahead..and it’s usually nice and quiet!…you can then join up with the A74(M)…
Another one. When you’re on Skye visit the Old Man of Storr, north of Portree. EPIC!!! (It’s a rock, not an old geezer).
That's on the north east peninsula route, fantastic place. I walked it last time I went hill walking. Great views and spotted a golden eagle too 👍
Have an amazing time. So the seafood shack was really good, Halibut wrap, very nice. The hot chocolate place near Durness was super sweet. Also in Durness are the Smoo caves. But most of all have a great time
On your way down through Lairg after you pass through the village of Contin take the first right across the Baillie bridge into Marybank. From there you can carry on straight up the hill to the Orrin bridge or turn right and head up the Strathconnon valley/glen past several hydro dams. That road used to be the old road to the west, very scenic area. Right from Orrin bridge leads to the Orrin falls. From that area if you head through Muir of ord and Beauly that leads to Inverness without going on the A9. Alternatively you could head from Inverness to Nairn on the A96 you can then take the road to Grantown and Aviemore which snakes through the Dava moor. Much more fun than the A9 from Inverness to Aviemore. Enjoy your trip however you decide to experience it.
Wow, amazing advice! Thanks 👍
@@UsernameKate Your welcome it was my local stomping ground on a Triumph Thunderbird Sports. You can’t beat a bit of thunder in the Glens 👍
oban is fantastic you will love it
I'd recommend the road between Fort William and Mallaig, then the ferry over to Skye.
Seafood in north-west Scotland is often landed that day. Some of the best in the world. And just to keep things confusing for the Sassenachs, just about every big town has at least one "Caledonian Hotel"
The Caledonian in Ullapool is OK, it's like a Post House from the 1970's but you're too young to remember those. Don't expect too much and you'll be OK, the beds are comfy and the rooms are cleanish. The breakfast was nice and the bar was open when we were there in June. Most places close at 8pm for food and beer so don't be too late getting to your digs. We had fish and chips from the chip shop just down the road from the Caledonian. There is a massive car park at the back of the Caledonian where all the bikes park, go past the Hotel on your left and turn first left then first left again. Remember to buy your NC500 Tshirt from reception for only £20 each. It looks nothing like the photographs inside by the way :)
My auntie lives in a croft on the opposite bank of lock broom to Ullapool. Fantastic part of the world. Really cracking chippy in Ullapool. Enjoy
Great stuff Kate, im taking my new 1250GS Triple Black to Scotland for its first trip in the next few days. For the Hotel at the top, i stayed at the Melvich a few years ago, was very good. Have a great trip.
Aye the roads are amazing and u guys will have a blast, when in the cairngorms defo go down the a93 fab riding road and amazing scenery, I'm lucky enough to live not that far away from it and love every ride, also check out braemar and a good coffee shop at the Glenshee ski centre, the a93 is the highest A class road in the uk so I'm told...
Oh and defo remember to bring a midge net and some repellent spray, they are out in force just now and you will be so thankful for not being eaten alive
Two BMWs look very impressive, I'm planning to go up to Scotland, mainly around Loch Ness area, but I may end up going to other areas. I've looked on Google maps, and there's some very nice B&B's. Looking forward to following your adventures. If you could include Loch Ness, that would be great.
Just got back from the NC500 on my Kwak Versys 1k 3 weeks ago. Was amazing. One thing I would have recommended (I also did it west to east) is to go North from Applecross after you've done the Balach Ne Ba. Its a great coastal single track route. You're doing pretty much the exact route we did :). Highly recommend the Castletown Hotel for your stop near John O'Groates. We used it as an emergency stay instead of camping and we were impressed. 10 mins from John O'Groates and secure bike parking. Also just realised this was from june ROFL!! DOH!
Sounds wicked, Enjoy love 🥂🥂
"first off its triple black... My favourite colour" SAME 😂 I don't understand the hype with all the bright colours. Really enjoyed this! Excited to get my first 'big bike' just passed my a2 :)
Looks awesome. Have a great time. 👍
Username Dad has a good signing voice, lol. Looking forward to the vlogs of the trip!
If you want an extra coffee stop on day one, and God knows you'll need one, take a wee detour off the M74 near Moffat and head to The Green Frog. It's a nice little garden centre/fishery place that I try to include when I'm nearby.
If you're doing that, you might as well take in the Dalveen Pass too. You can see the M74 from it so not to much of a detour. Only about 8 miles but lovely tarmac/corners and you'll be doing it in both directions to get back to the M74 👍
Mate, that looks like an awesome trip.. Have fun 😊
Sounds like a brill trip Kate. If you get a chance take the ferry up to Orkney - some amazing stuff to see there also (Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, sunken WW1 German ships).
There’s a brilliant bike route guide for Scotland. Will dig out the author and details and send in a separate message - some brilliant roads, accommodation and places to eat in it. May help when you get past John O’Groats for the return journey. Cracking rides through The Cairngorms.
I just picked up a R1250GS TE Triple Black, similar spec to the one you have there, but without the can or 719 bling bits . Massive difference from my R1200GS TU. I’ll watch your trip with interest as I’ve not done the NC500 or NQNC500 yet.
Allow plenty of time, it will take a lot longer to get anywhere thank you think, that first day will be a slog & watch out at Glencoe the landscape is so stunning you forget to look where you are going!
PS Kate. Dont forget to take tge midge spray 😊
Hi Kate
I’m not going to ask when your in ullapool but I’m guessing you’re probably already on your trip but I have booked the same hotel for 2 nights just before we go to the western isles. But I could give you some awesome roads to try but I don’t know where to start 😂 But when in sky the ride from Dunvegan to Sligachan is awesome A863 back to the A87 if you’re still up there in 2 weeks we might cross paths have fun
We have just stayed in the Caledonian hotel, there is a carpark round the back for the bikes, its basis but clean.
you will love it me and my mates did it last sept .oh and applecross is a must