Magellan Motorcycle Tours

North Coast 500, Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye

Scotland and England

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North Coast 500, Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye

Scotland and England

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Spend 12 days exploring the magical scenery of Scotland, the famous NC500, the glorious isle of Skye and the National parks of North England.

Find out more about the Magellan team.

Scotland is beautiful, historic, and extremely hospitable. It is a country of rugged landscapes, where you’ll ride through hills and glens, past soaring mountains and deep lochs, while experiencing the incredible 'North Coast 500' route. With a visit to Scotland’s capital city to enjoy its excellent fare, a day trip to the rugged Isle of Skye, and finally a ride south to explore the National Parks of northern England and the famous ‘Cat and Fiddle’ road, this is the best way to discover what these stunning regions have to offer.

Self Guided Tour
12 Days
1750 miles
Peak District, or London, UK.
HIRE BIKE AVAILABLE

BEST TIME TO GO

May to October

Your tour starts from home on your own motorcycle, or London on a rental motorcycle. From here, ride to the Peak District National Park before embarking on a beautiful ride through the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From here, you journey into the Lake District National Park, riding the length of Windermere and Thirlmere on the way to Derwentwater. Heading north, you visit a well-preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall, where you can still see visible turrets and the outline of a Roman fort, before venturing into Kielder Forest and the Northumberland National Park.

You then cross into Scotland and cruise to the capital city, Edinburgh, where you have a day off to explore this ancient city. Back on the bikes, you ride over the Firth of Forth and head northwards into the Highlands, passing through endless forests and climbing out of the Lowlands after Perth. This route is packed with castles and distilleries, and we’ve included two of the most famous ones for you to enjoy.

Billy, Magellan Guide

If you have never toured in Scotland you have been missing out. From rugged landscapes, heritage sites and castles all the way through to the most amazing roads! The North Coast 500 snakes its way through some of the most incredible places. You just have to see it!

Talk to us about Scotland and England

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Talk to us about Scotland and England

🇬🇧 +442039621162 9am - 5pm GMT, M - F
🇺🇸 +1 206-558-0990 5am - 12pm EST, M - F

Send an Enquiry

Book Consultation

Speak to us on WhatsApp

Visit the battlefield at Culloden, where the Jacobite uprising of 1745-46 was brought to a bloody end by the Duke of Cumberland. From here, you hop onto the famous North Coast 500 route, heading to the most northerly point in the UK, with a stop at the largest inhabited castle in Scotland. You then follow the spectacular NC500 around the top of Scotland and down the west coast to the Isle of Skye, where you’ll spend the day exploring the island’s rugged landscape, beautiful coastal roads, picturesque fishing villages, and the jagged Cuillin mountain range.

Back on the mainland, you ride east and join the Great Glen at Invergarry. Following this immense valley, which runs for over 60 miles from Inverness to Fort William, you pass the mighty Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, before continuing on to Glencoe, the Trossachs National Park, and finally Oban.

Ride along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, through the Trossachs National Park, and south past Glasgow to visit Gretna Green, where generations of English lovers were married against their parents’ wishes. From here, you follow a 2,000-year-old Roman road before turning into the Lake District National Park.

Heading south through the Lakes, you ride to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and pass through the Forest of Bowland, before continuing south to the Peak District National Park. You then pass through the market town of Macclesfield, where a series of waypoints will take you up and over the legendary ‘Cat and Fiddle’ road to Buxton, and onwards to your final hotel stop of the tour.

Historic Scotland, lochs, glens, castles, distilleries, mountains and the beautiful North Coast 500 route combine to give a fabulous touring experience of England and its beautiful northern neighbour.

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Tour highlights

Spend a day exploring Edinburgh, the ancient capital of Scotland, often called the ‘Athens of the North’. Visit the site of the Glencoe massacre and the battlefield of Culloden.

Walk in the footsteps of Roman legions as you follow roads they laid out, and explore Hadrian’s Wall, the ancient barrier erected almost 2,000 years ago to keep out the marauding Scots.

Ride the Great Glen, the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, the North Coast 500, and the infamous ‘Cat and Fiddle’ road in the Peak District.

'We are missing everything about the trip...the motorcycle, the scenery, the food and the list goes on. Firstly we would like to thank you and everyone at team Magellan for organising our tour... We enjoyed the route you had set and the choice of hotels were something we looked forward to everyday! .... Overall we had a great time. We will talk to you soon when we plan our next trip.'

S & L. Vikram

Visit the home of Tomintoul Glenlivet whisky, the Talisker distillery (founded in 1830 and still going strong), and the signpost at John O’Groats, along with the hotel where Drambuie was invented.

Explore the jagged Cuillin mountains and the rugged landscape of the Isle of Skye. Visit numerous castles and the famous blacksmith's shop in Gretna Green, which for centuries conducted marriage services for eloping under-age English couples.

Ride through the Peak District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Cairngorms National Park, the Trossachs National Park, and the Lake District National Park.

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Tour Map / Itinerary

Full Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival

Ride to the Peak District National Park.

Day 2 191 Miles

Heading north, you ride through the Forest of Bowland and visit Lancaster Castle on the way to your hotel in the picturesque Lake District National Park.

Day 3 158 Miles

Leaving the beauty of the Lake District National Park, you head to the border with Scotland via Hadrian’s Wall, passing through Northumberland National Park and onward to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh – the “Athens of the North”.

Day 4 Explore Day

A day off the bike to explore Edinburgh. Visit the Castle overlooking Princes Street Gardens, climb Calton Hill for a view of the city, or the Scott Monument. Walk through the ‘Auld Toon’, take a ghost tour, and visit the churches of St Giles, Greyfriars, and the Canongate.

Day 5 172 Miles

Leaving Edinburgh behind, you head north to the original Scottish capital of Perth, and continue through the Cairngorms National Park to your hotel on Loch Ness.

Day 6 210 Miles

Following the iconic bikers' route, ‘The North Coast 500’, you ride to the most northerly point in the British Isles, John o’Groats. Continuing along this spectacular coastal ride, you pass castles and cross narrow causeways en route to your coastal hotel.

Day 7 193 Miles

Heading west on The North Coast 500 once again, you turn south and follow the scenic ‘West Coast Drive’ to the beautiful Isle of Skye.

Day 8 180 Miles

Experience the rugged and remote beauty of Scotland as you ride a coastal circuit of the Isle of Skye. The dark, brooding Cuillin mountains dominate the landscape, and you’ll visit Dunvegan, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, as well as the world-famous Talisker whisky distillery.

Day 9 207 Miles

Back on the mainland, ride the full length of Loch Ness and Loch Lochy, keeping an eye out for a glimpse of Nessie. Pass Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles, before visiting the site of the Glencoe massacre on the way to your hotel.

Day 10 220 Miles

Heading south again, ride through the rolling Trossachs National Park and along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond on the way to your hotel over the border in the tranquil Lake District National Park.

Day 11 190 Miles

Three national parks are on the agenda today. You’ll start with the Lake District, followed by the Yorkshire Dales, and finally the Peak District. In the last of these, you’ll ride the famous ‘Cat and Fiddle’ road down to your hotel near Ashbourne.

Day 12 Departure

Spend the morning exploring the stunning Peak District before heading home.

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What's included

If you select motorcycle rental, insurance and breakdown cover are included.

Accommodation for 12 nights in high-quality hotels.

Full use of all hotels’ leisure facilities.

Detailed route plans and maps.

GPS routes (Garmin / Tom Tom).

Detailed daily itinerary including sights and suggested coffee and lunch stops.

What's not

Fuel.

Toll charges.

Admission charges.

Occasional hotel parking charges.

Meals and drinks other than specified above.

Travel/Breakdown insurance.

Common questions about this trip

Where does this tour start from?

The tour starts from the Peak District National Park, but if you are renting a motorcycle, the tour will begin at our rental facility in the southeast of England, near London. If you’re bringing your own bike, you’ll just need to make your way to the Peaks for the first evening of the itinerary.

When is the best time of year to do this trip?

We select tour dates to make the best of the weather while also avoiding the crowds of peak season. However, since it’s the UK, you could experience sunshine, rain, or anything in between. A sensible mix of vented gear, waterproofs, and base layers should cover all eventualities. We provide a full kit and packing list, and we’re happy to offer advice on packing for any of our trips.

More information

For general information on planning and preparing for motorcycle trips including what to pack please see our Prepare for your trip section.

More Information

Magellan Hub

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Bike Option	Single Rider Price (Total for 1 rider, 1 bike)	Rider & Passenger (Total for 2 riders, 1 bike)	Two Bikes, Shared Room (Total for 2 riders, 2 bikes)
Own Bike	£5995	£8590	£10790
HD Ultra Limited	£9595	£12190	£17990
HD Street Glide	£9595	£12190	£17990
/BMW K1600 GTL	£8875	£11470	£16550
BMW R1250GS	£8395	£10990	£15590
BMW R1250RT	£8395	£10990	£15590
BMW S1000XR	£8395	£10990	£15590
BMW R1250RS	£8395	£10990	£15590
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro	£8395	£10990	£15590
Triumph Bonneville T120	£8395	£10990	£15590
Honda CMX1100 Rebel DCT	£8395	£10990	£15590
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro	£8155	£10750	£15110
Ducati Multistrada V2S	£8155	£10750	£15110
Triumph Speed Twin 900	£8155	£10750	£15110
Yamaha Tracer 9 GT	£8155	£10750	£15110
Triumph Tiger Sport 800	£8155	£10750	£15110
BMW F900XR	£8155	£10750	£15110
BMW F850GS	£8035	£10630	£14870
BMW F800GS	£8035	£10630	£14870
BMW F800GS (low)	£8035	£10630	£14870
BMW F750GS	£8035	£10630	£14870
Triumph Tiger 850 Sport	£8035	£10630	£14870
Triumph Bonneville T100	£8035	£10630	£14870
Yamaha Tracer 7 GT	£8035	£10630	£14870
Triumph Tiger Sport 660	£8035	£10630	£14870

North Coast 500, Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye

Scotland and England

North Coast 500, Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye

Scotland and England

Tour highlights

Tour Map / Itinerary

Full Itinerary

Full Pricing

Common questions about this trip

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