Peterhead to Glencoe: Jim Horne's Two-Day Highland Loop

This is the second route from my friend and Cannonball legend Jim Horne in Real Riders, Real Routes. His first, the Peterhead Whisky Loop, is a big day out. This one goes further west, right across Scotland to Glencoe, with a night in Tyndrum. Read Jim's full interview for his story.

Day 1: Peterhead to Tyndrum

Day 1 322 km · about 1,340 m of climbing

Day 1 leaves Peterhead on the A975 by Cruden Bay, then heads inland through Newmachar and Kintore to Banchory. From there the Slug Road (A957) runs over the hill to Stonehaven. The A92 follows the coast south through Inverbervie and Gourdon to Montrose, then the route turns west through Forfar and Kirriemuir and across the Strathmore farmland to Dunkeld.

Dunkeld Bridge over the River TayPhoto: peter robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Loch Tay and the Falls of Dochart

From Dunkeld the road follows the Tay through Logierait to Aberfeldy and Kenmore. Instead of the main A827, the GPX takes the narrow south Loch Tay road through Acharn and Ardeonaig. It's single track in places and slow, but quiet, with the loch beside you most of the way. Watch for oncoming cars at the blind crests.

Loch Tay from Kenmore, where the south shore road beginsPhoto: Keith S Brown, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At the west end of the loch is Killin, where the River Dochart pours over the rocks right next to the bridge in the village. There's parking nearby and it's worth ten minutes off the bike.

Jim's photos from the Falls of Dochart

Killin and the River Dochart

The last stretch runs up Glen Dochart on the A85 to Crianlarich and on to Tyndrum, the overnight stop.

The Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum

The Green Welly Stop on the A82 is a well-known meeting place for bikers, with fuel, a restaurant, a snack stop and a bike park with space for up to 50 bikes. Fuel is open from 7am to 10pm. The family-run business has been put up for sale after 61 years, but it is trading as normal, so check opening times before you rely on it.

The famous boot at the Green Welly Stop

Where to stay in Tyndrum

Hotel links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day 2: Tyndrum to Peterhead

Day 2 375 km · about 1,580 m of climbing

Rannoch Moor and Glencoe

Day 2 starts with the best bit. The A82 climbs from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy and across Rannoch Moor, then drops past Buachaille Etive Mòr into Glencoe. It's one of the great roads in Britain, so stop at the lay-bys for photos, not on the road.

Jim's Ducatis on the A82 towards Glencoe: his Streetfighter and his Multistrada

Buachaille Etive Mòr, the gateway to GlencoePhoto: MJ Mac, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fort William, Spean Bridge and Laggan

From Glencoe the route crosses the Ballachulish bridge and runs up Loch Linnhe to Fort William, a good place for fuel and food. Just past Spean Bridge is the Commando Memorial, where the Commandos who trained in this area during the Second World War are remembered, with Ben Nevis behind.

The Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge

The A86 then runs east along Loch Laggan, past the Laggan Dam hydro scheme and over to Newtonmore and Kingussie. It's a fast, flowing road with big views.

Laggan Dam, part of the Lochaber hydro scheme

Speyside and home

From Aviemore the route goes by Nethy Bridge and over the hill road at Bridge of Brown, just north of Tomintoul, then down Glenlivet to Dufftown in the heart of whisky country. From there it's Keith, then quiet roads through Fyvie, Oldmeldrum and Ellon back to Peterhead.

The Old Craigellachie Bridge, ten minutes from the Macallan distillery

What's in the GPX

One GPX track for the whole loop, made in Kurviger. It works with Garmin, TomTom, Calimoto, OsmAnd and most other navigation apps. If your device prefers shorter files, split it at Tyndrum. Check the route in your app before you ride. These are the main stops along the way:

#	Stop	Day	Why stop
1	Peterhead	Day 1	Start and finish on the north-east coast
2	Stonehaven	Day 1	Down the Slug Road to the harbour town
3	Montrose	Day 1	The A92 coast road south through Gourdon
4	Forfar	Day 1	West across Angus towards the hills
5	Dunkeld	Day 1	Telford's bridge over the Tay
6	Aberfeldy	Day 1	Into Highland Perthshire
7	Kenmore	Day 1	The quiet south Loch Tay road starts here
8	Killin	Day 1	Falls of Dochart, right by the road
9	Tyndrum	Day 1	Overnight stop and the Green Welly
10	Bridge of Orchy	Day 2	Up onto Rannoch Moor on the A82
11	Glencoe	Day 2	Buachaille Etive Mòr and the glen
12	Fort William	Day 2	Fuel and food under Ben Nevis
13	Commando Memorial	Day 2	Spean Bridge, with views to Ben Nevis
14	Laggan Dam	Day 2	The A86 along Loch Laggan
15	Aviemore	Day 2	Through Strathspey via Newtonmore and Kingussie
16	Bridge of Brown	Day 2	Hill road just north of Tomintoul
17	Dufftown	Day 2	Speyside whisky country
18	Keith	Day 2	East through the farmland of Moray
19	Ellon	Day 2	The last run home to Peterhead

Before You Go

• Remember to lock your bike overnight if there's no secure parking available.
• The south Loch Tay road is narrow and single track in places. Use the passing places and watch for oncoming traffic.
• The A82 through Glencoe is busy with coaches and camper vans in summer. Start early on Day 2.
• Watch for deer, sheep and gravel, and check the weather on Rannoch Moor. It can change fast.