From our Hebrides correspondent
In July, John took his bike to the Outer Hebrides! He had a fabulous trip with a company called Wilderness Scotland which he highly recommends (and they do all sorts of other activity trips as well as cycling). On Day 1, the group of five (all strangers apart from one married couple) was collected from Inverness by two guides and transported via road and ferry to South Uist where they stayed two nights in the Polochar Inn.
On Day 2, the group cycled across the causeway to Eriskay and took the ferry to Barra where they cycled round the whole island with an extension to Vatersay (another causeway) where the Hebridean Way begins (see post header). Over the next few days they covered the whole Way (about 155 miles) with many add-ons. John thinks he cycled about 239 miles.
Day 3 was a 52 mile cycle up the chain of islands comprising South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, and Berneray from where the ferry took them to Harris and a lift in the van to their hotel in Tarbert.
Day 4 was a circular tour of Harris, down the rocky east coast known as the Golden Road, where seals were spotted, and up past the beautiful beaches of the west coast.
Day 5 saw the steepest climb to the top of Clisham as the group passed from Harris into Lewis – which, though classed as separate islands, occupy the same landmass. Accommodation for the next two nights was near the ancient stone circle of Callanish.
On Day 6, the group completed the Hebridean Way by cycling from Callanish to the Butt of Lewis.
I can detect both relief and a sense of achievement amongst the participants. Some chose to celebrate with a refreshing (freezing?) swim.
The final day was a shorter cycle to Stornoway for the ferry to Ullapool on the mainland. I wrote about the Iolaire disaster after we visited Stornoway in the summer of 2018. This particular memorial did not exist then as it was created for the centenary in January 2019.
A lift back to Inverness completed the tour. John had a wonderful time and cannot praise the company and the guides enough. As for me, I was green with envy at the photographs he was sharing each evening. I have very happy memories of past trips to the Hebrides – but I will be glad never to have to tour them by bike!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Well done John! Quite a feat!
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What an amazing trip. I recently spent a half day cycling round Richmond Park and felt it the next day so I take my hat off to John, covering that sort of distance and still smiling! The whole route looks beautiful, we are on the move again next year and I have floated the idea that I wouldn’t object to the top end of Scotland. The possibilities to explore would be fabulous.
Out of curiosity, is there a story to the whale bones? I’ve seen the replica ones at North Berwick I find them intriguing … and a little disturbing, thinking of the industry they came from!
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The top end of Scotland would be a lovely place to live! The whale bone arch is a result of a botched killing in the 1920s – see https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/whale-bone-arch
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Great photographs – all of them – and a wonderful trip, but not for me. I am sorry to say that bikes are just out for me. However, I would do the trip by car, coach and I even thought about doing it on horseback – one horse to ride and one horse as a pack horse. Anyway, Himself looked as if he was having a great time, so that’s good.
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He had a wonderful time! The horse is an interesting idea.
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Thoroughly enjoyed that, it took me back to our own adventure
wheelsfreedom.blogspot.com
best wishes, Marky
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Thank you – I shall head over to read it later.
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Anabel, I enjoyed that trip with you and John. Definitely loved the cycling though I am with everyone else, I passed on the swim. Ten points for his bravery or madness 😉 No doubt you enjoyed the scenery from a different viewpoint.
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I enjoyed it at a distance, turning green with envy at the photographs he was sending home each night. Though no envy of the cycling or the swimming!
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I thought you would’ve seen that area in your wanderings? Great photography and I did realise you weren’t physically there. A senior moment!
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I have seen it in the past and would love to see it again. This time I was at home.
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If someone else was pedalling it would be fun on a bike, but not sure those options are available!!
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We have tried a tandem in the past. Not a good idea!
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Like most of your contributors so far, Anabel – would love to take the trip and see all those things; but possibly by car, luxory mini-bus, sedan chair, or some other mode of transport requiring the bare minimum of effort! 🙂
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Quite! We toured by car a couple of times and that was great – fabulous walks, so not at all a lazy option. Sedan chair sounds a bit bumpy …
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That’s an impressive amount of cycling, but I’m with you, Anabel. Not for me!
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We are the sensible ones!
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I look at all these beautiful scenes and think it must be lovely to just cycle along admiring the countryside. But I agree with you, I wouldn’t want to actually do it. Well done, John!
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I loved our trip there a few years ago which did not involve bikes, so I’m happy just to have seen it through his eyes this time!
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What an awesome trip. I can imagine the sense of accomplishment. But celebrating with a freezing cold swim?! Brrrrrr!!!
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I know, what a crazy thing to do!
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That looks a fantastic trip. Hope he got good weather for it. A few friends of mine cycled it years ago in winter conditions and the wind, snow, and rain was so strong day after day that 20 miles at a time in one day was a major effort and no trees to shelter under. Blown clean off their bikes at times but kept going. I was very glad to miss it.
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The weather was mostly good, not much rain. That counts as real luck in the Hebrides! Even in summer he could have experienced conditions not far off what you describe.
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I’m so pleased that John still managed to take some gorgeous photographs for your blog. Really outstanding. Looks like a great cycle ride – if you have the energy and the will. I think I’ll pass on this one but my admiration for those who did it is off the scale!
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I feel the same – the effort is beyond me!
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What a wonderful place to go cycling! Very envious! 😀
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I’m envious of the beautiful place, not so much the cycling!
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We loved our tour of the outer Hebrides… by car. Those beaches are stupendous but a swim…? Bonkers!
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No, you wouldn’t catch me in that sea either!
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Looks like a fantastic place to visit and ride around. Despite that Caribbean blue water, I expect it’s none too warm!
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No, even on beautiful sunny days like some of the ones shown the temperature bears no resemblance to the Caribbean!
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I assume John took his electric bike? Those distances would kill me on any other bike. 🙂
What a gorgeous area. I can’t believe the Caribbean blue water. In Scotland. Awesome adventure and photos, John!
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Yes, he took his own e-bike. Many west coast Scottish beaches could double for the Caribbean – until you step into the gale force wind!
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What a great trip! Are you sure you don’t want to get a bike so you can join him next time?
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Still a great big No!
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Wow. I really fancy doing that! Blast you Anabel for putting ideas into my head. 😂 I’d have to get bike fit before I could contemplate something like that, mind
Looks like John has lost a few kg with all that cycling too.
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Yes, he has lost over 1/4 of his body weight! Sorry for planting ideas …
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Well done, John…beyond my current capabilities
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He is intrepid.
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Certainly
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That’s great for John but I never would tour by bike. I actually hate biking and can’t bike anyway due to my joints. It looks amazing with the castles and the beautiful scenery. The whalebone arch is amazing!
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It is an amazing place. I love it, but would also not do it by bike.
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Beautiful photos and what a quiet way to see the countryside. Hard work but it looks well worth it! Kudos to John for doing it and thanks Anabel for sharing it. I know for sure I could not do such a ride!
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Me neither! But I was very jealous of him for going to the islands.
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A great trip. John has a lot of endurance and a very adventurous spirit.
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He does! Keen as mustard. And a little obsessive 😉.
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Hi Anabel – and John – thanks so much for this delightful tour around with you on your very recent trip to the Hebrides, The company sounds professional and helpful … I loved seeing all the photos – I too would like to visit one day – but not on a bike! Cheers Hilary
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Safer on Shanks’s pony I think.
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Glorious! Another friend did these cycle trips – they are a wonderful way of seeing the country. I recommend reading Marram by Leonie Charlton for another view of the islands – this time by horse. Highland ponies, I think 🙂
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I think I would like touring by horse even less than by bike! Though we did a couple of cycle tours in France when I was much younger and keener.
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Gorgeous photos!
Kudos to John! The only way I could survive a bike tour like this is if I had an e-bike 🙂
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Ah, he does have an e-bike. Maybe I didn’t mention it here, because it featured in the last post.
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Lots of lovely photos here, it looks like a great tour and I’m glad John enjoyed it 🙂
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He had a whale of a time!
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I definitely couldn’t do the bike tour, but would love to tour around the Hebrides one day
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We’ve twice done a wonderful tour by car. Beautiful walks.
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😊
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