With the McDonald's Morlich Hotel as your base, the journey truly begins at the BP petrol station. This way, you can start with a full tank. You'll largely follow the A9 to Inverness, where you'll see the Kessock Bridge looming in the distance. This bridge, over a kilometer long, carries the A9 across the Beauly Firth. Its tall pylons dominate the Inverness skyline, especially when lit at night.

In Charleston, leave the A9 and head for the smaller roads, following the banks of the estuary to Muir of Ord. Enthusiasts can visit the Glen Ord Distillery, the only place where single malt whisky is still produced on the Black Isle. Singleton, in all its variations, is probably their most famous brand. A tasting would be better left for another time, because with this journey ahead...

Via the A832, you'll find yourself in the River Bran valley. This river feeds several lochs and also powers hydroelectric power stations. Fortunately, the latter is largely unnoticed, as the valley exudes complete tranquility and pure wilderness. This naturally attracts hikers, but motorcyclists also appreciate this road alongside the winding river. Don't forget to stop at one of the viewpoints to capture this moment and enjoy the tranquility.

It's a bit of a search for a place to drink, but in Kinlochewe, the local gas station/coffee shop/pub/grocery store... is the savior. And it must be said, the coffee is excellent. If your gas tank starts to sound a bit hollow, here's a good tip: fill it up! The next gas station might be Applecross.

Now you're leaving the wider roads behind. The A896 winds its way between the hills to the west coast and is part of the famous North Coast 500. You'll find yourself in a completely different world. This is one of Scotland's most beautiful and dramatic roads, cutting right through the wild heart of Wester Ross. Outside of peak season, the traffic is surprisingly light.

Near the village of Torridon, the road bends to the left. Animal lovers—particularly deer lovers—can pause here and walk along a small path to the Deer Park. The visit itself is free. Red deer are notoriously difficult to spot in the wild, but they have been bred here for decades. The animals are therefore easy to approach by attracting them with food. The small adjoining museum teaches you more about the animal and its habitat.

Drive a little further and you'll find a small parking lot with a unique view of Loch Torridon. This 25-kilometer-long body of water is actually an inlet, formed by glacial processes—that is, the action of a glacier and/or ice cap.

Then briefly leave the A896 and follow the sign for Shieldaig. This charming village of about 100 people lies right on the shores of Loch Shieldaig and deserves at least a nomination for the prize of most beautiful village in the Scottish Highlands. From the benches on the shore, you can look out over a small island – Shieldaig Island – covered with pine trees planted in the 19th century to make ship masts.

After leaving the village, you finally leave the A896. A sharp right takes you onto the C1091. This coastal road from Shieldaig to Applecross was only built in 1970 as an alternative to the Applecross Pass, which is often closed in winter. This picturesque, yet narrow road is only 38 km long and takes over an hour to drive. No hardship, as it gives you time to enjoy the spectacular scenery. Be careful on the sometimes blind bends, as you might suddenly find yourself nose-to-nose with a motorhome driver who's also trying their luck. Crossing the road is a real feat.

And then, in the distance, you suddenly catch a glimpse of our ultimate destination – Applecross. Your empty stomachs will likely already be complaining, but the Applecross Inn knows how to handle that. This renowned establishment has an excellent reputation, so finding a free table requires a bit of luck. If you do manage to do so, you'll get real value for your money. For a long time, the village itself was only accessible by sea, until the Bealach na Ba – mountain pass – was built in 1950. Although many tourists have since found their way to Applecross, it still exudes a certain seclusion. If necessary, you can fill up your tank after your meal on the way out of the village.

And then comes the highlight of the trip, Applecross Pass, or Bealach na Ba. It means Pass of the Cattle in Scottish Gaelic. This narrow route—with passing places—features several hairpin bends and extremely steep sections of up to 20%. It's said to be one of the most spectacular and notorious roads in the UK. To be fair, there are others with that reputation in the UK, but it certainly deserves to be called spectacular. Once you reach the eponymous viewpoint and its parking lot, stopping is almost mandatory, especially in clear weather. Then you have an excellent view of the Isle of Skye, Raasay, and even the Outer Hebrides. In really bad weather, it's best to avoid this road because it's too dangerous, and it's actually closed more than once. After the viewpoint, the view doesn't diminish. On the contrary, the descent is breathtaking, and not just because of the hairpin bends and gradients.

But all good things must come to an end. You return to a more civilized world, and especially in Lochcarron, there are a few opportunities to refuel and stock up on other supplies. The pace can pick up a bit, and not much later, you can take a break at one of Scotland's most iconic castles. Eilean Donan Castle is situated on a small island where three inlets meet, near the village of Dornie. It was originally built in the 13th century as protection against the Vikings and a defensive outpost for the Mackenzie clan. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, so it no longer looks entirely historically accurate. The castle is open to the public for a fee, but coffee is only available in the visitor center and its café.

Slowly but surely, we're nearing the end of the journey. But after visiting all those lochs, you simply can't miss the most famous loch in the world. Guess the name yourself ;)
You'll follow the shores of this lake for another thirty kilometers or so. Don't forget to look to the right every now and then. You might still spot Nessie somewhere, even if it's been a while since she's been seen.

And so you end up in Inverness. Perhaps you'd like to reward yourself for your efforts and get a craving for an ice cream. An Talia tearoom, at the northernmost tip of the lake, is an excellent choice.

Aviemore isn't far away. To avoid the A9 as much as possible on the way back, you follow the B851 for a while, and then it's over. What a day, what a drive!!! Unforgettable.