This is the North Coast 500 on steroids as we circumnavigate the awe inspiring northern coast roads, hopping across to the islands of Bute, Jura and Islay to decipher and taste the liquid gold that is Scottish whisky.
We begin our journey from Matlock Bath, biking Mecca and taste some of their own local nectar during our ‘Get to know each other’ dinner on our first night.
Our journey takes us to overnights in Clydebank where Scotland’s first commercial whisky distillery was established. Auchentoshen distillery is where we visit on the banks of the Clyde - another lowlands whisky that has a global following due to the fact they distil their whisky 3 times for a clarity that many others cant duplicate. Ferry to Bute and on to Tarbert to stay at the 4* Stonefield Castle built in 1837 and their whisky bar! Jura our next stop and then a ferry to Islay where we have two days to explore and visit the 8+ distilleries in the area !! On to Oban and the smallest distillery in Scotland right in the town. Northbound we pass the Glenfinnen Viaduct and through Glencoe to arrive at Gairloch Hunting Lodge with the Badachro distillery just around the corner! Marvel at the ruggedness of the most northerly coast roads - in contrast to the smooth whiskies of the highlands. Borgie Lodge - my own old hunting ground welcomes us for a night in luxury before we ride on to John O’Groats to get ‘that’ photograph.
If Wolf distillery at Thurso is open - we are DEF popping in there to say Hello ! I will relay the story over a post dinner whisky one night !
Dornoch next and we stay two nights so that we can visit a Fairytale castle and the well known Glenmorangie distillery, or pop in to The Whisky Bar at Dornoch Hotel.
We ride over the Forth Road Bridge (the newest one) and we can see all the bridges as we cross. Edinburgh is our home for two days as it is an historical, cosmopolitan and still very Scottish place to find yourself in. Castles, churches, myths and folklore all sit with modern galleries and artistic entities. At Leith docks - near the Royal Yacht Britannia - the first vertical distillery welcomes visitors.
We ride back to Matlock Bath on 24th May.
This is a ‘GOLD’ tour with carefully selected 4/5* accommodations with full breakfast each day.
Tour cost - ‘Gold Standard’ is £3750 and includes:-
Tour introduction dinner
Tour brief
14 nights accommodation single occupancy (double available)
Guided riding by experienced tour lead / first aid instructor
GPX files
All ferry tickets
Booking of Tours (distillery tours/castles costs not included in tour price)
Tour photography
Tour videos
Liquid GOLD gift
SILVER STANDARD - £2950
Tour introduction dinner
Tour brief
14 nights shared accommodation in 3/4/5*
Guided riding by experienced tour lead/fist aid instructor
GPX files
All ferry tickets
Booking of tours
(distillery tours/castles/entrance fees not included in tour price)
Tour photography
Tour video
Liquid GOLD gift
This is the North Coast 500 on steroids as we circumnavigate the awe inspiring northern coast roads, hopping across to the islands of Bute, Jura and Islay to decipher and taste the liquid gold that is Scottish whisky.
We begin our journey from Matlock Bath, biking Mecca and taste some of their own local nectar during our ‘Get to know each other’ dinner on our first night.
Our journey takes us to overnights in Clydebank where Scotland’s first commercial whisky distillery was established. Auchentoshen distillery is where we visit on the banks of the Clyde - another lowlands whisky that has a global following due to the fact they distil their whisky 3 times for a clarity that many others cant duplicate. Ferry to Bute and on to Tarbert to stay at the 4* Stonefield Castle built in 1837 and their whisky bar! Jura our next stop and then a ferry to Islay where we have two days to explore and visit the 8+ distilleries in the area !! On to Oban and the smallest distillery in Scotland right in the town. Northbound we pass the Glenfinnen Viaduct and through Glencoe to arrive at Gairloch Hunting Lodge with the Badachro distillery just around the corner! Marvel at the ruggedness of the most northerly coast roads - in contrast to the smooth whiskies of the highlands. Borgie Lodge - my own old hunting ground welcomes us for a night in luxury before we ride on to John O’Groats to get ‘that’ photograph.
If Wolf distillery at Thurso is open - we are DEF popping in there to say Hello ! I will relay the story over a post dinner whisky one night !
Dornoch next and we stay two nights so that we can visit a Fairytale castle and the well known Glenmorangie distillery, or pop in to The Whisky Bar at Dornoch Hotel.
We ride over the Forth Road Bridge (the newest one) and we can see all the bridges as we cross. Edinburgh is our home for two days as it is an historical, cosmopolitan and still very Scottish place to find yourself in. Castles, churches, myths and folklore all sit with modern galleries and artistic entities. At Leith docks - near the Royal Yacht Britannia - the first vertical distillery welcomes visitors.
We ride back to Matlock Bath on 24th May.
This is a ‘GOLD’ tour with carefully selected 4/5* accommodations with full breakfast each day.
Tour cost - ‘Gold Standard’ is £3750 and includes:-
Tour introduction dinner
Tour brief
14 nights accommodation single occupancy (double available)
Guided riding by experienced tour lead / first aid instructor
GPX files
All ferry tickets
Booking of Tours (distillery tours/castles costs not included in tour price)
Tour photography
Tour videos
Liquid GOLD gift
SILVER STANDARD - £2950
Tour introduction dinner
Tour brief
14 nights shared accommodation in 3/4/5*
Guided riding by experienced tour lead/fist aid instructor
GPX files
All ferry tickets
Booking of tours
(distillery tours/castles/entrance fees not included in tour price)
Tour photography
Tour video
Liquid GOLD gift
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