A Goldwing in Scotland: Simon's 2,850-Mile Touring Adventure
POSTED: 21/09/2026
When you think of a Honda Goldwing, long-distance touring probably comes to mind. But what happens when you take one of the UK's most scenic — and twisty — touring destinations and put the Goldwing through its paces?
For our customer Simon, a week exploring Scotland proved to be his first major trip on his Goldwing, covering an impressive 2,850 miles along the way.
And perhaps the most interesting part of the story? Simon never thought he'd be a Goldwing rider in the first place.
“I never thought I would be a Goldwing rider, but I am smitten with this amazing bike.”
From Devon to the Highlands
Every year, Simon and his friend Chris head off on a long-distance motorcycle adventure together. Between them, they've covered much of the UK, as well as trips to Spain, Ireland and the Isle of Man on a variety of motorcycles. This year, Scotland was the destination Simon was keen to explore.
Travelling from Plymouth, Devon, Simon made his way north to meet Chris in Tarbet, Argyll and Bute, taking two days to cover the journey. From Tarbet, the pair set off into the Highlands, heading towards the Isle of Skye via Glencoe, with stops at the Green Welly Stop, the Three Sisters and Fort William.
The weather had other ideas, turning what started as a calm, dry day into the wettest of the trip. Despite the rain, Simon says the Goldwing “never missed a beat”.
The following morning, they crossed to Skye on the Glenelg Ferry, the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world, before exploring the island and riding the Quiraing Pass.
They then headed towards Dingwall via the famous Applecross Pass (Bealach Na Ba), where Simon discovered that the Goldwing was more than capable of handling the tighter roads. “Even for a large motorcycle, the Goldwing felt very nimble, and I had loads of fun on the twisties.”
Exploring northern Scotland
Using Dingwall as a base, Simon and Chris spent the next few days exploring further north, covering around 250 miles a day. Their route took in Ullapool, the Quinag Trail, Kylesku Bridge, Durness, Tongue and Lochinver, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the scenery.
One of Simon's favourite roads was the narrow, twisty route to Lochinver, where the spectacular views were followed by another important part of any good motorcycle trip: food.
A stop at the Lochinver Larder meant Simon could sample one of its famous pies, including the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties variety. For Simon, though, it was the scenery that continually stood out. “Every turn or crest of a road revealed spectacular views.”
The final part of the trip took the pair through Aberdeenshire, Strichen and Fraserburgh, before riding through the Cairngorms National Park and beginning their journey back towards Tarbet.
The road Simon couldn't get enough of
Of all the roads they travelled, one stood out for Simon: Dukes Pass.
The 7.5-mile A821 through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park gave him the perfect opportunity to discover just how capable his Goldwing could be on the twisties... “The Goldwing is no sports bike, but it handles amazingly.”
Simon says he could ride Dukes Pass every day and not get bored. After getting used to the size of the bike, he found himself enjoying the corners so much that even scraping his feet and pegs became part of the fun. “I have had to get used to scraping my feet and pegs on the ground going around corners and having a whale of a time.”
Would Simon recommend Scotland on a Goldwing?
The answer is a definite yes.
For riders who enjoy challenging roads, Simon's advice is to get out onto Scotland's tight, twisty routes and discover what the Goldwing can do. But if taking it easy is more your style, that's where the Goldwing's touring credentials come in. The bigger roads offer the chance to settle in, enjoy the scenery and simply let the miles roll by. “The Goldwing will keep on going, and the only reason to stop is for coffee or a photo opportunity.”
And perhaps that's what Simon's first big trip on the Goldwing demonstrated most. It's a motorcycle that can cover serious distances, while still offering plenty of fun when the road gets tighter and more technical.
For someone who never expected to become a Goldwing rider, 2,850 miles around Scotland seems to have been a pretty convincing introduction.
Simon is already hoping to return, with the east coast and Edinburgh still on his list to explore. He's also working through lots of footage from the trip, with plans to share the roads and scenery on YouTube. We'llcertainly be keeping an eye out for those.
Thinking about touring on a Goldwing?
Simon wasn't sure the Goldwing was for him either — until he tried one.
If you're curious about what a Goldwing can offer, take a look at our Honda Goldwing Specialist page or get in touch with the Bridge team to find out more.
Call us on 01392 260200, request a callback or visit us.
Follow Simon’s Goldwing Journey
Want to follow along with Simon’s Goldwing adventures? You can find him on Instagram, where he’ll be sharing more from his travels, with videos coming soon to his YouTube channel.
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