Route round Harris....Are the roads all passable or unmade tracks?

[Jumpjim]

I'm planning our trip up to the Outer Hebrides and back for May and looking at a route for an afternoon on Harris after reaching Leverburgh at 1430.

I thought I would use the afternoon time for a ride out and considering doing the following route which I have on Motogoloco.

That loop up through the hills.... I can't see on Google earth whether its a good road or not or just a track. Anybody on here got any idea?

And is Stornaway worth visiting or would you stick further south on Harris?

Ta.

 

[gerarddwatts]

I'm sure you will find it is hill roads and not for bikes.

If you want to while away an afternoon, go up the west coast, stopping to look at Rodel Church, then on stopping for tea and biccies at the Skoon Art Cafe on your right, wend your way up and head back down the east coast towards Leverburgh, taking a detour to Luskentyre Beach on your way. The difference between the west coast road (Golden Road) and east coast road is remarkable.

If you are stuck for time I would miss out Stornoway...Lewis entirely in fact, with the exception of the Callanish Stones. Stornoway is just a harbour/town, and not a particularly attractive one at that.

 

[gerarddwatts]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.0...4!1sjUkRg0zjXRA5fcAL-1dEPQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

is your proposed route at the top off the A859, and a gaze at Google maps doesnt show your route as a road all the way at all!

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1454871092593!6m8!1m7!1sjUkRg0zjXRA5fcAL-1dEPQ!2m2!1d58.00348321887952!2d-6.76488539592559!3f335.52!4f-1.5400000000000063!5f0.7820865974627469" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I tried.....

 

[paintman]

The best thing about Stornaway is the ferry back to Ullapool.

 

[Jumpjim]

Best we avoid that one I think. The chap on the RT1100 may not appreciate it

Thanks for the advice on Lewis...Ties up with everything I've read online so I think we will swerve that end and enjoy the beaches further south. I'll stick the routes up on here when they're complete and I'm always up for suggestions or modifications.

 

[Mr K]

The best thing about Stornaway is the ferry back to Ullapool.

There's a canny Chinese takeaway and a brewery

 

[Arsey]

Best we avoid that one I think. The chap on the RT1100 may not appreciate it

Thanks for the advice on Lewis...Ties up with everything I've read online so I think we will swerve that end and enjoy the beaches further south. I'll stick the routes up on here when they're complete and I'm always up for suggestions or modifications.

Shame.The chap on the Africa Twin was looking forward to it....

 

[dean0n0]

There's a canny Chinese takeaway and a brewery

The only Tescos as well....

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Stornaway is very missable. Stunning beaches further south.
Luskentyre is my favorite.

 

[Jumpjim]

Can't wait having just watched this....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h0FlnNqx8WI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

and this...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/prWFHbfAFwA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[gerarddwatts]

Great films....the bottom one is a long way from Harris tho'! Best run in the UK!

 

[fringe]

Great films....the bottom one is a long way from Harris tho'! Best run in the UK!

Both by Mo Thomson, he is top quality at this stuff - as evidenced!

 

[Jumpjim]

Also looking forward to the run from Skye down to Mull

Proposed route here if anyone is interested. Looks very picturesque round there....

 

[Arsey]

Great films....the bottom one is a long way from Harris tho'! Best run in the UK!

Looks more like GOTC territory to me !!!!

 

[gerarddwatts]

Exactly that...remember lunch in the mist and it cleared to sun all the way back to Ullapool??

 

[Arsey]

Exactly that...remember lunch in the mist and it cleared to sun all the way back to Ullapool??

Yup !! Did it in 2009 and 2010.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Also looking forward to the run from Skye down to Mull

Proposed route here if anyone is interested. Looks very picturesque round there....

If it were me I would keep on at Broadford, turn right to Kylerhea, on the wee ferry to Glenelg....probably see sea-eagles on the way, over the Mam Ratagan to Shiel, through Kintail, turn right over the top of the Garry, Spean Bridge, Fort William, then either right and rejoin your route, or along to Corran over the water and down to Lochaline.

 

[bhud]

The route down the east coast of Harris is worth the effort it is single track.

 

[Big Jets]

Ammundsuie Castle(pardon the spelling) is well worth a visit when we were over there was a mass of Salmon tring to get into the River system amazing sight As Gerard mentioned Callanish is not to be missed.

 

[Jumpjim]

Great suggestion Gerard. We've done the Klyerhea ferry twice and the A87 (What a road... ) to the Spean Bridge so were looking for a different route. I've replanned via the Kilchoan ferry to Tobermory just to shorten the track mileage a bit, and the run to Kilchoan looks beautiful.

I've planned in a stop at Castle Tioram and Castle Duart just to ram some culture into the heathen bunch I'm going away with

Any good cafe / coffee stops enroute that anybody particularly recommends? [Latest route ]