Outer Hebrides ?

[Arsey]

Ok,probably a stupid question,but are the Outer Hebrides worth doing ?

We're planning a trip for June and Head Planner/Gadget Boy is inviting opinions on what to do.

Would you get the Oban-Barra ferry or the Mallaig to Lochboisdale ? We'd then ride up for a couple of days and then either get the Harris-Uig ferry or Stornoway-Ullapool.

Having done Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way 2 years ago,would this be an anti-climax ?

Ta

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Depends what your looking for but I toured them a few years ago and enjoyed it. I did the oban-barra stornoway-Ullapool options and looped over the top from there.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

If you get decent weather - its absolutely breathtaking. The beaches could be from the Caribbean and some of the scenery from the Moon.
If you haven't done it before - its definitely worth doing.
In bad weather though - its breathtaking in a different way.....


oh, and Lewis is a vaaaary strange place on a Sunday.

 

[Northern jock]

Well worth going to. I would start in Oban and island hop to Ullapool. They are all different so the more you can get to the better. Harris is probably top of my list but a good day on any of them is a grand day. Google beaches on North Uist for some good inspiration.

If you wanted to extend the trip but continue the island theme you can start on the Clyde coast across to Arran and get to Ullapool - via a fair few islands. They used to do Rover tickets with unlimited ferries in a fixed timescale, ideal for that if they still do them.

 

[Blackal]

Good roads, but fairly flat scenery. As mentioned - the beaches are superb (on a clear summer day - the beaches are white, sea - turquoise.... when viewed from transatlantic flights)

Trout from the lochs are some of the best fish ever tasted.

Watch out for the "Wee Free Fundamentalists" on the Sabbath - they are a bunch of miserable cnuts.

Al

 

[Northern jock]

This is Lochmaddy, shows just how much water there is on North Uist. And Sollas Beach on North Uist

 

[Posh Pete]

Well worth going to. I would start in Oban and island hop to Ullapool. They are all different so the more you can get to the better. Harris is probably top of my list but a good day on any of them is a grand day. Google beaches on North Uist for some good inspiration.

If you wanted to extend the trip but continue the island theme you can start on the Clyde coast across to Arran and get to Ullapool - via a fair few islands. They used to do Rover tickets with unlimited ferries in a fixed timescale, ideal for that if they still do them.

Have a look at the calmac website or give them a call. The folk on the phone are always very helpful. Depending on time available, you can hop your way all the way up the west coast. My suggestion would be to head for Oban and then Skye via Iona and Ardnamurchan. On your way to Uig, you can nip over and have a look at the Quiraing. Then Skye to Harris via Barra and the Uists. Finally back to Oban. No offence to the good folk of Lewis but I'd give it a miss. A wet Sunday in Stornoway is the ultimate holiday nightmare.

 

[AustinW]

I went a couple of years ago (just checked, it was over 4 years ago - jeez). Great trip ride: report here http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/ride-reports-pictures/77847-outer-hebrides-tour.html

 

[Arsey]

Thanks guys.Good advice !!

 

[Jumpjim]

I think we're going to have a nice ride from Loch Lomond to Mallaig... Catch the 1730 ferry to Lochboisdale and stay there for the night. Next day ride to Tarbert via the ferry from Berneray and stay in Tarber. Next day ride out around Harris then catch the 1600 ferry to Uig

Ferry times just look to work out better than the Oban route...?

 

[Micky]

Was up that way in the VW camper last September. Well worth a visit but as said depends on what you're wanting. I went across from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye. Sue (Gracie on here) had ridden up for a few days with me, and to see her son at Finzean near Banchory across on the east side. She left her Xcountry at the campsite near Mallaig and jumped on board.

Up Skye to Uig and across to Tarbert. Harris and Lewis are actually one chunk of land and not two separate islands

Returned the same way so as to pick Sue's bike up, or I would have gone north over the bridge from Skye to Applecross .... t'was a long drive from Mallaig up to Applecross. Harris is very mountainous, Lewis fairly flat.

But not before walking the Quiraing as Peter (scotboxer) suggests.

If it's an itch you need to scratch it. Spent five days across on the Outer Hebrides ... it was enough. Now Orkney is something different, going back there later this year

The distillery on Lewis ... only been operating four years ...

Bottling on the kitchen table

Personal showing round ...

Miss Milly enjoyed the Quiraing ...

Even the new knees did

 

[boatman]

If you can do it at short notice is when there is going to be a sunny settled spell ,then do it because in good weather it IS simply stunning.
I was lucky to be able to go in June a number of years ago ,(after the "gathering of the clan" up in Ullapool , how time flies)
In good weather Brill
In poor weather yuck

 

[gerarddwatts]

As said above, in decent weather its magnificent, in shite weather....its shite.

Must visits..

Luskentyre beach Harris, Callanish Stones(only reason to visit Lewis), both coasts of Harris....completely different, west very sandy , gorgeous beaches, east coast magnificently rocky and rugged...see Rodel Church.

Not the best biking roads you will ever find but a place to go once, unless, like me, you go at least once a year for fishing. Best to go in May....often better weather and the bird life in the machair is awesome in the spring early summer.

The Mallaig to Lochboisdale boat has been a winter only experiment that has now spread over into the summer timetables and I hope it stays....I would far rather ride to Mallaig than Uig. It has been dogged with reliability issues...60% failures in one 2 month period

To run through the Sound of Mull from Oban to Barra on a summer evening with bow riding dolphins is unforgettable. So is waiting in the pissing rain with your wife and bike for the next ferry out. Luck of the draw, but May and Sept tend to be better. I'm lucky in that I can be in Oban in a couple of hours, or Mallaig in 3.

 

[Arsey]

As said above, in decent weather its magnificent, in shite weather....its shite.

Must visits..

Luskentyre beach Harris, Callanish Stones(only reason to visit Lewis), both coasts of Harris....completely different, west very sandy , gorgeous beaches, east coast magnificently rocky and rugged...see Rodel Church.

Not the best biking roads you will ever find but a place to go once, unless, like me, you go at least once a year for fishing. Best to go in May....often better weather and the bird life in the machair is awesome in the spring early summer.

The Mallaig to Lochboisdale boat has been a winter only experiment that has now spread over into the summer timetables and I hope it stays....I would far rather ride to Mallaig than Uig. It has been dogged with reliability issues...60% failures in one 2 month period

To run through the Sound of Mull from Oban to Barra on a summer evening with bow riding dolphins is unforgettable. So is waiting in the pissing rain with your wife and bike for the next ferry out. Luck of the draw, but May and Sept tend to be better. I'm lucky in that I can be in Oban in a couple of hours, or Mallaig in 3.

We're going third week in May

 

[paintman]

Luskentyre beach Harris, Callanish Stones(only reason to visit Lewis), both coasts of Harris....completely different, west very sandy , gorgeous beaches, east coast magnificently rocky and rugged...see Rodel Church.

I would suggest the Black houses on Lewis are worth a visit as well ?

 

[gerarddwatts]

Sure your right...just up the road I think?

Make sure and fill with juice before about 6 on sat night or face a traipse all the way to Stornoway...

 

[paintman]

Sure your right...just up the road I think?

Make sure and fill with juice before about 6 on sat night or face a traipse all the way to Stornoway...

I bought petrol from the chip shop, I do hope it's still there.

 

[shuck raider]

There are number of Outer Hebrides Ride Reports on here, one of the best was from G.C. a few years ago

 

[Arsey]

There are number of Outer Hebrides Ride Reports on here, one of the best was from G.C. a few years ago

That's brilliant,ta.

 

[younger06]

Was up that way in the VW camper last September. Well worth a visit but as said depends on what you're wanting. I went across from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye. Sue (Gracie on here) had ridden up for a few days with me, and to see her son at Finzean near Banchory across on the east side. She left her Xcountry at the campsite near Mallaig and jumped on board.

Up Skye to Uig and across to Tarbert. Harris and Lewis are actually one chunk of land and not two separate islands

Returned the same way so as to pick Sue's bike up, or I would have gone north over the bridge from Skye to Applecross .... t'was a long drive from Mallaig up to Applecross. Harris is very mountainous, Lewis fairly flat.

But not before walking the Quiraing as Peter (scotboxer) suggests.

If it's an itch you need to scratch it. Spent five days across on the Outer Hebrides ... it was enough. Now Orkney is something different, going back there later this year

The distillery on Lewis ... only been operating four years ...

Bottling on the kitchen table

Personal showing round ...

Miss Milly enjoyed the Quiraing ...

Even the new knees did

That's the Irish language on that sign in the picture.
(please, no history lectures)
I know we have Gaelic links, but that's pure Irish.

Sent using a Jedi mind trick!