Scotland is your oyster if you’re a motorcyclist in springtime

Scotland ranks among the top motorcycling destinations in the world.

It has everything the keen biker could need. There are great roads all over the country.

The scenery is wonderful and everchanging – you only need to head up the A9 and witness Lowland Scotland changing into Highland Scotland to see that.

And because it’s a small country everything is packed into a compact package that can be easily explored.

That’s before you even mention the castles, wealth of history and fantastic range of places to stay.

And – strictly for after a day’s riding of course – all the whisky.

Winter is not a fun time for motorcyclists. Days are short and dark, and nobody like riding on icy roads.

Sunday saw the clocks go back, though, and we now have lighter, longer days giving bikers more time to get to their destination.

Of course, being Scotland, the weather could do anything but all you can do is dress for the occasion and hope for the best.

Spring at least gives you a decent chance of good weather and, if your trip is marred by rain, you can always plan to come back in the summertime.

From Tayside to Speyside you can make your own route through some glorious roads.

Take in the Grampian Mountains, Cairngorms National Park and mountain roads you will encounter some of the gentlest and beautiful routes to ever be ridden by bike.

Places world famous for their beauty, features or culture including Aviemore, Tomintoul, Grantown-on-Spey, Pitlochry and Inverness are all on the route here.

Head the other way and you can cruise through Fife towards Edinburgh.

If it opens on schedule in May, riders in late spring could be among the first to take a motorbike across the spectacular new Queensferry Crossing.

Explore the Highlands by motorbike.