Newhall Mains

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Start in the courtyard. Just let the team know you’d like a bike and they’ll have one ready. The e‑bikes are well suited to the local roads, with enough power to flatten out the hills and good grip for single-track tarmac. Helmets and basic instruction are included. You’re not preparing for an expedition, just a short ride that lets you see more than you would on foot.

You’ll head out via the north entrance. The road leaves the estate quietly, with trees either side and a few farm buildings still in view. The firth appears quickly through gaps in the hedgerow, giving you glimpses of Udale Bay before you’ve even reached the first stop.

It’s worth taking it slow for this first stretch. You’ll pass the old Balblair church site as you ride, and the light over the water tends to shift by the minute. It’s only a few miles in total, but enough to make you feel like you’ve set out.

Udale Bay Viewpoint

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Once you’ve collected your e-bike in the courtyard and ridden out through the north entrance, it’s only a short stretch along the B9163 before the view opens up. The road is flat, lined with hedgerows and farmland, and then suddenly the water of Udale Bay is in front of you. Pull in at the small viewpoint. There’s space to leave the bikes while you look out across the firth.

This is an RSPB reserve and one of the best places on the Black Isle for birdwatching. In autumn, thousands of pink-footed geese gather here, filling the sky and the shoreline. Through the year you might see oystercatchers, curlews, and wigeon in the shallows. The bay is tidal, so what you see depends on the water level. At high tide the birds are closer in, while at low tide the flats stretch far out.

It’s a quiet stop, just the sound of water and wings. Take ten minutes here before carrying on. The road keeps close to the bay, and in less than a mile you’ll see the red sandstone walls of Kirkmichael Church ahead. That’s the next stop on the circuit.

Kirkmichael Church

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From the bay, keep riding along the B9163 and you’ll reach Kirkmichael Church in just a few minutes. The red sandstone walls stand close to the road, with the firth behind and fields pressing in on either side. What you see now is the result of a long restoration. For years the roof had collapsed, the site overgrown. The local trust brought it back, carefully conserving the medieval stones and opening the church to visitors.

Inside, the nave holds a collection of carved grave slabs and effigies that date back to the Middle Ages. Some are simple, marked only with a cross. Others carry intricate designs and symbols, worn but still clear enough to trace. There are also mausolea built later, reminders of families tied to this stretch of coast for generations.

The kirkyard itself is worth walking through. Look for the yew tree with a medieval cross nearby, and the headstone of novelist Jane Duncan. Across the road is the Minister’s Well, a natural spring that has flowed for centuries and still runs clear today.

Lock your bike against the fence, step slowly through, and take your time here. When you leave, the loop continues south, heading back toward Newhall by the other gate.

Return to Newhall Mains

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From Kirkmichael, continue along the B9163. The road keeps close to the bay for a short while, then bends inland through farmland. The ride stays easy, with little traffic and long views across the fields. You’ll pass scattered cottages and stretches of hedgerow before the entrance to Newhall appears again, this time from the south.

This completes the loop, using both gates of the estate. It’s only a few miles in total, but the route links together water, wildlife, and early history without straying far from where you started. With the e-bike, the whole circuit can be done in under an hour, even at a steady pace. There’s still time to stretch it into a longer outing if you want — carry on past Balblair, add a detour inland, or simply rest back at the Mains.