Yep, agree the further north you go the better it gets. Once you're passed Fort William you're starting to get into wilderness. Wester Ross is just awesome, it's like the moon, but with beautifully surfaced roads, no hedges or fences, fantastic biking land.
If you can take in Glen Coe on the way up it's worth it, just to give you your first taste of the scale of the Highlands.
Rolling across the north coast passed Dounreay glinting in the sun is quite eerie, and by the time you get to Thurso it feels like a really big place. Worth the detour to John O'Groats (or Dunnet Head for the lighthouse photo opportunity) just to see how close Orkney is, pop over on the ferry if you fancy.
Inverness down on the A9 is dull though but efficient if you want to get home, there are some scenic detours through Braemar and roundabout you can pick up.
Was up that way a few years ago and stayed at this place for a night
http://www.theoldinn.co.uk lovely people, great food and not badly priced. After a day in the saddle it was a much better option than the throwout bed on a floor being offered by the local B&B.
And that's my word of caution about accommodation, we went up in May, the place is already busy with walkers so maybe best to have a list of places to stay and check in advance.
the Visitscotland.com website's pretty good for B&B's and pubs and stuff, just there aren't that many way up north.
If you take hangers on, I'd love to join up with you for a day or two. Usually pop down to the Lakes/Nth Yorks in May but missed it last year and was planning a trip to Skye anyway.
