Sunday, 13th July was the date in everyone’s diary that intended to ride along Loch Ness and beyond in the ninth edition of the T. Arnott Moffat Memorial Highland Road Run. The event is named in remembrance and honour of the former trials rider and Secretary of the Scottish ACU from 1955 to 1987.
Forty-six machines of all shapes and sizes took part, with fifty-nine for lunch at the popular Cameron’s Tea Rooms at Foyers, one of the first villages in Scotland to be supplied with electricity, due to the local hydro-electric supply.
The riders gathered at Dochgarroch and were treated to tea, coffee, biscuits, and fancy cakes at the start, courtesy of Loch Ness Restorations, plus the inevitable chat with like-minded folk.
Whilst the T. Arnott Moffat is held in the Scottish Highlands, it attracts riders from as far afield Shrewsbury, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, including the 1973 British Trials Expert, Clive Smith who has attended with his brothers Steven and Paul for most of the nine editions on his Vincent Rapide.
Newcomers, Carl and Clare Luby from Bingley, Yorkshire thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Course plotter and run organiser, John Moffat, son of T. Arnott made sure there were three ‘panoramic views’ during the run. These were breathtaking and all on the B class roads that the TAM run is now famous for.
Moffat said: “I try to use different routes each year so that the run does not become stale for regular attenders, I always manage to find something new which keeps the run fresh. I go for around sixty-five miles overall and always include the lunch stop at Cameron’s as Morag is so helpful and accommodating, she looks forward to our visit every year. In fact, our run stickers are proudly displayed on the entrance way!”
Dave Varley and his son Leigh have attended most of the runs and has his little dog in a specially made basket on his Yamaha Serow.
Russ Greig from Northumberland once again took part, this year using his MT350 Harley-Davidson, complete with rifle holster as supplied to the military, but he has also brought up his Kawasaki sports bike for previous runs.
The machines are a true variety, with Steven Ross from Glasgow riding his Lambretta Li125 in beautiful condition, while Ian Goodall arrived on his 2,458cc Triumph Rocket 3.
Ian Goodall said: “I had the best run up the A9 from Perthshire, the weather was just perfect”.
There is no doubt the sunny weather helped make the event so enjoyable, with riders in their tee-shirts at nine in the morning and again at the lunch stop where temperatures reached the mid-twenties.
Moffat added: “My Dad was a true motorcyclist, not just a trials rider, and he would have been delighted with the run and would have agreed that there should be no restriction on the machines entered, if they have two or three wheels, let them ride, no age restrictions either”.
Plans are already afoot for the tenth edition on 12th July 2026, so there is a date for your diary. Entries usually open between Christmas and the New Year period. The forms appear on here: https://trialsguru.net/t-arnott-moffat-memorial-highland-road-run/
Report and Photos: Dode Fraser