Cycling the Hebridean Way in 8 Days is a relatively easy trip with a few smaller climbs, plenty of quiet roads and some shorter days in the saddle. A good level of fitness and cycling experience is however recommended. The support vehicle will be on hand should you wish to have a break too. The weather is unpredictable at any time of year so you will also need to have experience riding in all conditions, come rain or shine.
You will be cycling for between four and six hours each day but this is not a race! This is a leisurely group trip and we like to cycle as such. If you fancy a break from riding then your More Adventure Tour Leader should be able to pick you up in the support vehicle to avoid some sections (subject to any other issues they may be dealing with at the time).
We recommend you prepare before coming on the trip, anything cardiovascular will help as will of course cycling. Importantly you need to do some 4+ hour cycles so you will know what is required. You will need to get some hill practice in!
A link to our trip grades that explains in depth our star rating is here: www.moreadventure.co.uk/cycling-grades
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet at Inverness hotel or train station
Our trip begins in the evening at our hotel in Inverness. If you’re driving then we’ll meet you at the hotel and give details on where to park. If you prefer to arrive by public transport we can meet you at Inverness train station to transfer your bikes and luggage to the hotel. If you’re taking advantage of our bicycle and luggage transfer service, your More Adventure leaders will have your bikes and luggage ready for collection in the hotel. At the hotel you will be met by the More Adventure team for a trip briefing and evening meal in preparation for tomorrow’s ride.
Day 2: Inverness – Oban – Castlebay
After breakfast in our hotel we’ll load up the support vehicle with your bicycles and luggage, then begin our journey to Oban. In Oban we’ll board our first ferry to Castlebay on the island of Barra. Here you’ll see Kisimul Castle which was leased by the chief of the Clan MacNeil to Historic Scotland for 1000 years for the annual sum of £1 and a bottle of whisky! We’ll stay overnight in the pleasant village of Castlebay and get ready for our first day’s ride the following day.
Day 3: Castlebay – Vatersay – South Uist
(32 miles & 1800 feet⇧ or 52km & 550m⇧)
The start of the Hebridean Cycling Way is at the obelisk in the village of Vatersay, six miles south of Castlebay. From the obelisk we’ll ride north back over the causeway onto the island of Barra and ride along the incredibly scenic western coastal road with crashing waves, rocky outcrops and the chance to catch glimpses of marine wildlife below. Our second forty-minute ferry departs Ardmhor and crosses over to the island of Eriskay. We ride on Eriskay for only a short distance before crossing the impressive causeway north, keep your eyes peeled here for birds of prey, porpoises and dolphins. Our next island is South Uist which is where we spend our third night on our Outer Hebrides journey.
Day 4: South Uist – Benbecula
(30 miles & 750 feet⇧ or 48km & 250m⇧)
After breakfast in our hotel we’ll continue north through the island of South Uist, taking a few tiny backroads that are as rural and quiet as roads can be. The views out to sea are spectacular as our route passes numerous white sand beach coves looking across the shallow waters beyond. A highlight of the day is undoubtedly crossing Loch Bi, the largest loch in South Uist. The causeway is one of the oldest in Scotland, originally built in the 17th century to allow horse and cart to cross the island. We leave South Uist via a final causeway onto the island of Benbecula where we’ll spend the night.
Day 5: Benbecula – Berneray – Tarbet
(64 miles & 2800feet⇧ or 103km & 850m⇧)
The toughest and longest ride of our journey due to a diversion to Berneray, our route continues north today from Benbecula. We leave the island of Benbecula to the north over the single-lane North Ford Causeway which, at three miles long, is the longest causeway in the Outer Hebrides. The causeway ends at our next island, North Uist where we continue northwest along the stunning coastline to the white sandy beach at Balranald. This RSPB Nature Reserve is a wildlife-rich grassland haven complete with sweeping sandy beaches, a rocky foreshore, wild marshes and sculpted sand dunes. We continue east from here to the island of Berneray. Berneray is home to some of the Hebrides finest machair, low-lying grasslands made up of windblown shell sand. These unique machair coastal plains are incredibly fertile and are ploughed in rotation, giving a patchwork of crops and fallow of different ages which supports a wide range of flowers. It is from here that we catch our next ferry across the Sound of Harris to Leverburgh. As soon as we’ve arrived on the Isle of Harris we continue our journey north on a beautiful coastal road with dramatic views out to the island of Taransay and the clear waters of Luskentyre and Seilebost beaches. After a climb up and over the flanks of Beinn Dhubh, a dazzling descent leads to our destination, Tarbet, home to the famous Harris Distillery.
Day 6: Tarbet – Stornaway/Callanish
(37 miles & 2500 feet⇧ or 60km & 750m⇧)
Today’s ride begins with a short but sharp climb up from Tarbet then descends to the northern end of Loch Shiphoirt and through Aline Community Woodland. The Isle of Harris and the Isle of Lewis are actually two parts of the same island, forming the largest landmass of the Outer Hebrides. We’ll ride alongside Loch Eireasort for a few miles before arriving at our overnight destination either at Stornaway or Callanish (hotel dependent). Stornaway is the main town of the Western Isles and also the capital of Lewis and Harris. Founded by the Vikings in the early 9th century, Stornaway is now the largest town in the Hebrides and has plenty of restaurants and cafes for a relaxing evening before our final ride the following day.
Day 7: Stornaway – Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
(52 miles & 3100 feet⇧ or 84km & 950m⇧)
Our route today begins with a climb up from Stornaway then descends to Callanish, home to some entertaining alpacas and a selection of fascinating standing stones. The stones are arranged in a cruciform pattern and are thought to have been erected in the late Neolithic era, predating StoneHenge. In Bragar we pass an impressive archway made from whale bone. Beyond here a visit to the fascinating Blackhouse at Arnol is a must. Once the home of a Hebridean crofting family and their animals, this unique thatched house is preserved almost as the family left it when they moved out in 1965. We continue northeast to the very tip of Lewis to the famous Butt of Lewis Lighthouse which marks the end of the Hebridean Way. The beautiful red brick tower was established in 1862 and is purportedly located in the windiest spot in the UK! After coffee nearby you can either ride a slightly quicker way back to Stornaway (29 miles) or be transferred with your bike back to our hotel for our final night in the Hebridean Islands.
Day 8: Stornaway – Ullapool – Inverness
This morning we leave the Outer Hebrides and make our way back to the mainland. It’s a two-and-a-half hour ferry journey from Stornaway back to Ullapool from which you will be transferred with your bicycles and luggage back to Inverness where the trip ends. Alternatively it is possible to fly from Stornaway to Inverness or Glasgow for your onward travel home (not included). If you’re taking advantage of our bicycle and luggage transfer service, your More Adventure leaders will be driving your bikes and luggage to your home or chosen destination. If you’re flying or getting a train home, it may be possible for the team to help with transferring your bicycle and luggage to the airport or train station.
This itinerary is a guide only and can sometimes be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Whilst we endeavour to uphold the proposed daily mileages, this cannot be guaranteed due to changes to hotel bookings. The trip will run with a minimum of 6 people but please do not book any transport until the trip has been confirmed by email.
The single room supplement on this trip is £530, payable upon balance payment.
If booking for yourself only and do not have anyone to share a room with, you may be required to pay for the single room supplement due to covid-19 restrictions. If travel restrictions allow then there may be the option to share with someone else in the group but we will only know this closer to the trip. Please contact us if you have any queries.
FAQs
I would like to book for one person only. Can I share a room?
It may not be possible to share a room with someone from a different household and/or booking due to covid restrictions. If the rules change closer to the trip then we'll do our very best to put you in a twin room but we cannot promise this will be the case and you will be liable for the single room supplement.
How do I get my bike and luggage to Inverness?
We are running our ever-popular bicycle and luggage transfer for this trip and further details will be issued upon booking.
What does 'self-guided' mean?
You will be provided with the GPX files and route notes before the trip begins. You can ride at your own pace and really soak up this incredible region. Your More Adventure Tour Leader will brief you and the rest of the group each morning about the route including where the coffee breaks and lunches are. If you do not own a bicycle-mounted navigation device or bicycle computer, we can provide these for you for a small extra charge so please email if you require one.
How tough is the ride?
This is a relatively easy ride with three short days and two longer days. That said, we always recommend you are cycle-fit and have had plenty of time in the saddle to prepare.
What's the accommodation like?
On this trip we stay in a minimum of 3* hotels with comfortable beds, hot showers and plenty of character.
Can I arrive late on the first day?
Yes no problem. The first day is really only a chance for people to travel to Inverness so just send us an email with your arrival time and your leader will meet you first thing in the morning in the hotel on Day 2.
Is it possible to stay on the islands once the trip has ended?
Absolutely! If you wish to stay for longer on the islands once the trip has ended this is no problem at all, just let us know upon booking. We won't however be able to provide you with the transfer from Ullapool to Inverness on the final day but this is relatively easy to organise and we can advise once you've booked on.
I'm flying to Inverness with my bike at the start of the trip, can I bring my bike box on the trip?
Yes. Bike boxes and bags can be transported in the support vehicle throughout the trip.
Is there parking in Inverness?
There is parking in Inverness train station which is right next to the hotel we normally stay at (https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities/car-parking). It is currently £10 for the first three days then £5 a day thereafter.
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