The route describes a cycle tour I took July 7th to 15th 2010. I caught the train to Glasgow from Preston, Lancashire and then on to Ardrossan for the ferry to Arran where the tour started in earnest. I have described the route as partly hilly - partly flat but in fact much of it is undulating, easy riding though overall one climbs more than one might imagine. Note the distances include ferry crossings, actual miles ridden as around 420.
The hilly parts are as below:
1. Brodick to Lochranza - good climb about 5 / 6 miles into the route. I got up this but it hurt, long with blind summits rather than especially steep plus it was very early in the tour.
2. Lochawe section - as my route shows I took the western, forest road. On the map it looked to save some miles and avoid sections of the A83 main road to Oban, I was staying with friends in Taynuilt so couldn't follow the perhaps more obvious A816 route. I met a local forester in a Lochgilphead cafe who advised it was " a little worse than what you've done." If I had read the map more closely I could have avoided some very hard climbing - 14% in places - by using the road which follows the east side of Loch Awe. I would recommend this to anyne following my route.
3. On Barra the eastern section, assumming one cycles clockwise round the island, about four miles after the airport turn there are two steep climbs. If you take the anti-clockwise route a mile out of Castlebay you'll find a massive climb which is best avoided in my view.
4. Leverburgh - Tarbert - Stornoway, Isle of Harris and Lewis section there is a lot of climbing, some around 12-15%. It sounds and looks tough but is quite manageable for a good cyclist. I was fortunate to have a beautiful day, my legs were good and I found this the most enjoyable section of the route, great riding, stunning scenery and warm! For the less experienced I would break the journey in two, stopping in Tarbert but be aware the hardest part is Tarbert - Stornoway
5. Ullapool to Black Bridge - climbed this section into the teeth of an east wind, directly in my face and just about managed 7mph. It may not be hard without the wind but for me this was the worst section.
Some general comments may help. The general route was suggested by another cyclist, who I must thank here as I would not have considered this myself. This is a fabulous ride with a chance to warm the legs up on the Argyll section before reaching the Outer Hebrides where much of the cycling is blissfully quiet with very few cars. Road surfaces are good in the main and travel between the islands by causeway and ferry is very simple. Deciding on your basic route and buying advance ferry tickets to suit "Hopscotch Tickets" will save money. However the route is quite variable with plenty of options to get back to the mainland via some of the other islands. As weather can be unpredictable this can be useful. If going again I would buy a Hopscotch ticket sufficient to get to Harris and then decide on the remainder of the route. It really all depends on how long you have and how you are travelling home.
Remember these islands are remote, carry food, water and energy gels /
drinks to get through the day. You will find cafes / shops but where
can be unpredictable.
XC weather is more accurate for forecasts than the BBC, which is
useless in fact in this area.
The Hebrides are stunningly beautiful and the best way to see them is cycling. The route I have mapped ignores the many "dead ends" I deliberately took to see views. I would suggest turning off the road when it takes your fancy is very worthwhile.
To see the best of South Uist this is necessary as the main road misses everything worth seeing.
The route I chose through North Uist was not inspiring, the day was dull and the terrain mainly peat bog and scrub with a backdrop of mountains. Had the sun shone it may have felt different, however one is rewarded by stunning views towards the end of this section which more than compensated for the miles that had gone before.
If riding from Ullapool to Inverness - pretty much unavoidable if catching a train home - the A835 is not as bad as I had been told to expect. Little traffic but very remote, after Ullapool nothing till Black Bridge and the very welcome Aultguish Inn. From here the road is largely down hill to Inverness. About 10 miles outside Inverness watch for NCN Route 1 signs and follow these. It's important to avoid the extremely busy A835 / A9 section in to Inverness. My mapping shows I followed this but in fact I followed the cycle route and bikemap doesn't have sufficient detail to show the exact NCN Route 1 which goes straight to the railway station. I STRONGLY recommend this route for entering Inverness.
Later I will add suggested B&B's, cafes etc. When I do this the B&Bs / hostels noted will be recommended though I have to say Berneray hostel was both busy and had some rather unpleasant, slightly aggressive undertones to the atmosphere. It didn't feel right, though the location is superb and the facilities more than adequate.
