A 5 hour route on paper but with all of the sights to see and opportunities to stop for photographs, I would allow at least 8 hours. I have chosen some smaller roads that pass through very remote areas allowing you to see some of the best scenery that The Highlands of Scotland has to offer. Within no time of leaving you'll be travelling alongside the Cromarty Firth and then over the Cromarty Bridge and on to some great viewpoints at RPs 5/6 that look over Dornoch Firth. After crossing over the Kyle of Sutherland it's time for a coffee at the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre. The Falls of Shin waterfall is famous for being one of the best places in Scotland to view salmon leaping upstream.
As you join the A838 the landscape becomes more remote and the road is only single track but the scenery is breathtaking. There are great open views towards mountains as you ride along the shore of Loch Shin and then the road alongside Loch Stack has you riding below the 721 m giant called Ben Stack. The route arrives at the coast with the opportunity for some lunch at The Anchorage Cafe in Scourie, there is fuel here too.
After lunch the route follows the coast and passing many inland lochs and on to the spectacular curved Kylesku Bridge. Drumbeg Viewpoint and then the beautiful Clashnessie Bay are next before heading back inland and past the ruins of Ardvreck Castle. More breathtaking scenery as you head towards the ferry port of Ullapool. There are cafes, restaurants, shops and fuel all available here. Without any other stops you are 1 hour away from Inverness.
From Ullapool you will follow the shore of Loch Broom and onto 2 more beautiful waterfalls; The Black Water Falls and then Rogie Falls just after Loch Garve and then 20 minutes later you will be back in Inverness.