Photo: ✰ Saul Bandera Brotheridge / Pexels / Pexels LicenseBiker-Friendly Places to Stay in Scottish Highlands
8 biker-friendly stays in Scottish Highlands
The Inn at Strathyre
The Inn at Strathyre is in the village of Strathyre, on the A84 between Callander and Lochearnhead, in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The A84 is one of the main routes from central Scotland into the Highlands, running past Loch Lubnaig with good bends and big hills on both sides. Balquhidder Glen and Loch Earn are a short ride north, and the Duke's Pass through the Trossachs is close. No bike parking is on record, so check when you book. A good first night if you are heading north from Glasgow or Edinburgh.
hotelThe Smiddy Bunkhouse
The Smiddy Bunkhouse is part of the Snowgoose Mountain Centre at Corpach, just outside Fort William, at the foot of the Ben Nevis range. It offers bunkhouse, hostel and apartment rooms, all self-catered, which suits small groups of riders on a budget trip. Corpach is where the A830 Road to the Isles leaves for Glenfinnan and Mallaig, and the A82 through Glen Coe is a short ride south. No bike parking is on record, so ask about it when you book. Bring food or shop in Fort William, as there is no restaurant on site.
Biker B&B @ Route U55
Route U55 is a biker B&B in Breakish, near Broadford on the Isle of Skye, about 7 miles (11 km) from the Skye Bridge. The owner rides a motorcycle, so you can expect proper local advice on the island's roads, from the run north to Portree and the Trotternish loop to the single-track lanes of Sleat. Broadford has fuel and shops, which is worth knowing on an island where fuel stops are far apart. Breakfast comes with the room; for dinner, Broadford is the nearest choice. Skye is busy in summer, so book well ahead.
hotelThe Commercial Hotel
The Commercial Hotel is a village inn on The Square in Tarland, in Aberdeenshire, owned and run by a local family. Tarland is in the Deeside hills, a few miles north of the A93 and Aboyne. From here the A93 runs west through Ballater and Braemar to the Cairnwell pass at Glenshee, and the A939 over the Lecht to Tomintoul is within reach, so the Snow Roads scenic route is on the doorstep. No bike parking is on record, so ask when you book. As an inn, food and drink are on site.
hotelSilverhowe B&B
Silverhowe is a bed and breakfast on the Perth Road in Pitlochry, close to the town centre, in Highland Perthshire. Pitlochry sits just off the A9, and some good riding starts here: the A924 east over the hills to Kirkmichael and Bridge of Cally, the B8019 past the Queen's View along Loch Tummel, and the Pass of Killiecrankie to the north. The hosts welcome riders. Ask about parking for the bike when you reserve, since the details are not on record. Pitlochry has plenty of places to eat within walking distance.
hotelStrontian Hotel
Strontian Hotel is a hotel and pub in Strontian, at the head of Loch Sunart, with views over the loch. You reach it by the Corran ferry across Loch Linnhe from the A82, then the A861 west. From here the single-track B8007 runs out to Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of the British mainland, more than 30 miles (50 km) of slow, scenic riding with passing places. The A861 north to Salen and Lochailort is quiet and twisty. Parking for bikes is not on record; ask the hotel. Fill up before you cross the ferry, as fuel stops are few.
hotelThe White Stag Inn
The White Stag Inn is in Strathyre, on the A84 between Callander and Lochearnhead, the main road north-west from Stirling towards the Highlands. The road along Loch Lubnaig and on to Lochearnhead has fast bends and big views, and from there you can head north to Killin and Glen Dochart or west towards Crianlarich and the A82. The inn has rooms, real ales and food, so you can park up and stay put. Bike parking is not on record, so confirm it first. A handy first night out of Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Richmond Arms Hotel
The Richmond Arms Hotel is on The Square in Tomintoul, one of the highest villages in the Highlands, inside the Cairngorms National Park. Tomintoul sits on the A939, and the run south-east over the Lecht to Cock Bridge is one of the steepest and most exciting main roads in Scotland; the Snow Roads scenic route links it with Braemar and Glenshee. Speyside and its distilleries are a short ride north. No bike parking is on record, so ask how bikes are kept overnight. The Lecht road can close in bad weather, so check road status before you set off.
We may earn a commission.
The Scottish Highlands is one of Europe's great motorcycle touring destinations, and the North Coast 500 has given it the marketing framework to reach riders who would previously have passed it over. The 830-kilometre loop around the northern coastline from Inverness delivers everything the hyperbole promises: single-track roads, Atlantic ocean views, dramatic mountain passes, and an almost complete absence of the crowds that burden equivalent destinations in mainland Europe. The driving experience is unique — passing places, sheep on the road, and midges in summer — and the accommodation, once basic, has improved dramatically in recent years.
Key Roads
The North Coast 500 clockwise from Inverness takes you first up the Kessock Bridge and north through the Black Isle and Easter Ross to Dornoch. The east coast section through Caithness is fast and open — the flatness is surprising this far north. The north coast proper begins at Thurso: single-track roads with passing places, dramatic cliff scenery, and the Atlantic constantly in view. The section from Tongue to Durness, with Smoo Cave and the Kyle of Durness crossing, is the most rugged stretch of the entire loop.
The western Highland section south from Durness through Ullapool and Torridon delivers the most technically demanding riding of the NC500. The Bealach na Bà — the pass of the cattle — climbs to 626 metres with gradients to 20% and tight hairpins on the eastern approach from Kishorn. It is the UK's most famous motorcycle pass and justifiably so. The summit drops into the Applecross peninsula with views across to Skye.
The A82 through the Great Glen, and the roads around Loch Ness, are the most-travelled routes in the Highlands but remain good riding — the loch is 36 kilometres long and the road follows it for the entirety. A diversion to Glencoe on the A82 south of Fort William adds one of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland.
What to Expect
Scottish weather is the primary variable. Rain is possible every day of the year and is inevitable over a multi-day tour. The midges (biting insects) are at their worst June to August in still, damp conditions — DEET repellent is mandatory if you are stopping anywhere off-road in summer. The single-track roads require patience: passing places are frequent but you will sometimes wait for oncoming traffic. The road surfaces vary considerably — the main A-roads are well-maintained but some of the smaller coastal roads are rough in places.
When to Go
May and June before the midges peak and the summer tourist influx. September for lighter traffic and autumn colour. July and August are the busiest months on the NC500 — accommodation books out months in advance and the passing places see significant campervan traffic. The Bealach na Bà can be closed in severe weather at any time of year. Check conditions before attempting it in April, October, or November.
Biker Facilities
Accommodation on the NC500 has improved significantly since the route's promotion. Inverness is the full-service hub: all accommodation types, mechanics, and parts suppliers. On the route itself, Ullapool, Durness, Tongue, and Dornoch all have motorcycle-friendly accommodation. Book well in advance for July and August — availability is genuinely tight. The Applecross Inn, accessible via the Bealach na Bà, is the NC500's most celebrated pub-restaurant and worth a reservation.
Route guide
Snow Roads Scenic Route by Motorcycle: Glenshee, Braemar and the Lecht
Route guide
Glencoe and the A82 by Motorcycle: Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Fort William
Route guide
Isle of Skye and Applecross by Motorcycle: Glen Shiel, Trotternish and the Bealach na Bà
Route guide
Trossachs and Loch Lomond by Motorcycle: The Duke’s Pass, Loch Katrine and Glen Ogle
On the road today? Find biker stays near your current location.
Near me →Know a biker-friendly spot we've missed in Scottish Highlands?
Add a spot