Motorbike Touring in Scotland: St Mary's Loch, Wild Camping & A Sky on Fire

St Mary's Loch Motorcycle, Wild Camping Adventure - Catching the Northern Lights

When it comes to motorbike touring in Scotland, there’s one part of the country that will always have our hearts — the West Coast of Scotland. With its sweeping bends, dramatic scenery, and reflective waters, it’s hands down one of our all-time favourite places to ride.

This trip? Well, it was one for the books. No drama, no disasters – just two idiots, one motorbike, and a night under the stars that turned magical in a way we never expected.

County Durham to St Mary’s Loch – A Scenic Motorcycle Adventure

We set off from County Durham on a crisp morning, heading north on what would become one of the best motorbike routes in the UK. Destination: St Mary’s Loch, a hidden gem in the Scottish Borders. The roads? A rider’s dream – twisty, scenic, and (thankfully) mostly dry. Yes, it was cold (Scotland rarely disappoints in that department), but the scenic motorcycle route made every frozen fingertip worth it.

The ride along the A708 is something every biker should experience – gliding past forests, lochs, and hills that look like they’ve been hand-carved for adventure. It’s what motorcycle road trips in Scotland are all about.

Wild Camping by the Loch (and a Nectarine-Related Grievance)

Once at the loch, we looped the winding loch-side road a few times, hunting for the ideal wild camping spot — something quiet, flat, and with a view worth waking up to. Eventually we found it, pitched up, and settled in with a good old-fashioned motorbike camping BBQ (or braai, depending on your hemisphere).

Now — about the nectarines. I packed six. In a box. For safe travel. This was, apparently, an issue. I am not exactly the lightest packer on the planet so Deon was not impressed by the added weight of the precious fruit cargo, and the complaints came in fast. So, out of pure principle (and to prove a very juicy point), I made sure all six were eaten. Every last one. No nectarine left behind.

Northern Lights in Scotland – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Moment

Tucked up early in our sleeping bags, exhausted but content, I woke up in the middle of the night to “water the scenery.” And there it was. The Northern Lights in Scotland. No joke — the sky above St Mary’s Loch was pulsing with green, pink, and violet. I yelled Deon awake, and the two of us stood there in thermals, freezing and gobsmacked.

This wasn’t just a trip highlight — it was a bucket list motorbike adventure moment. We lay back on the cold ground, heads tilted skyward, hearts full. It’s easy to forget how much beauty is out there until it smacks you in the face at 2am in the middle of nowhere.

Riding Back – No Mishaps, Just Magic

The next morning we were up early, packed, and back on the road, following all wild camping best practices (leave no trace and all that). The ride back was every bit as thrilling — all sweeping bends, open views, and that fresh, crisp Scottish air blasting through your helmet.

And while this trip had been unusually smooth for us, it didn’t come without a surprise — but for once, it was an amazing one. No breakdowns, no forgotten gear, no last-minute campsite scrambles. Just two happy riders, full bellies, and a sky-lit memory we’ll be talking about for years.

Final Thoughts on Riding Scotland’s West Coast

If you're planning your own motorbike trip through Scotland, we can’t recommend St Mary’s Loch and the West Coast routes enough. Wild camping, winding roads, and surprises that make you fall in love with the open road all over again.

Sometimes, the most memorable motorcycle trips aren’t the ones filled with chaos, but the ones that remind you just how good this life on two wheels can be.