Scotland bike ride
Islands & Highlands
Oban-Outer Hebrides-Ulapool-Skye-Mull-Oban
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Our tour started in Oban which we accessed by train from London. We stayed with Helen and Bill in Oban at both end of this fantastic ride.
Oban is a lovely small city. McCaig's Folly is up on the hill.
We waited for the late afternoon sailing from Oban to Barra
Arriving at Castlebay, Barra. The wind was up.
Riding to a B&B on the other side of the island
We completed the circuit of Barra next morning to catch a ferry north to South Uist
We could have easily have spent an other day on Barra to visit the various beaches.
South Uist is blessed with miles of beaches.
No fences, free roaming sheep.
The main road on South Uist is single lane in many places.
We chose to ride in the month of May (1994) which is reputed to be a dry month and we were not disappointed, even with NW winds associated with a high pressure system.
The peat fields provide fuel and flavour to whiskey
Navigating was simple, but it's always nice to know where you are.
Standing stones of Calinish on Lewis
The Garenin hostel on Lewis was a converted crofters house.
The setting of the Garenin hostel
View from the Garenin hostel
We bought fish from a traveling fishmonger and produce from another truck. Vendors run routes throughout the islands.
There was no shortage of peat fields
Peat harvest & sheep
Back on the mainland, our first stop was Ullapool.
We encountered more traffic as we got closer to the largest town on Lewis of Stornaway
It was good riding on the quiet west side of Scotland
This was a nice section
It felt somewhat remote
The local chickens expressed a keen interest in our plastic bags. One of the chickens took off with one and a wild chase ensued.
At this hostel, Sheila fed the chickens and ducks in the morning before we hit the road.
We hiked up to the Cuilin Ridge on Skye
The Cuilin Ridge
Uig Bay on Skye. We used front panniers to balance out our fairly light loads (we weren't camping) .
We bought fresh prawns straight off the boat and cooked them up that evening.
Harvesting peat
The Quirang on Skye was a pleasant surprise
It looked like part of a challenging golf course..
The Quirang on Skye on self-timer. Sheila bought a jumper at an Op (thrift) shop as it was initially cooler than we expected.
Skye road sign
Skye road sign
Skye road sign
We stayed in the blue house in Portree, Skye
Small ferry to/from Raasay
Raasay had beautiful riding and a comfortable hostel
We enjoyed staying in the hostels as many were quite interesting and they were not busy at all in May
Back on the mainland
Riding south on the mainland
Wide open views
The harbour of Tobermoray on the Isle of Mull
Mull roads were great riding
Thanks for the ride!
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