Explore the Western Isles by bike
A six day tour of the Western Isles, starting and ending in Inverness, with bikes and transport provided by Ticket to Ride, the Highland’s leading bike hire and bike transport specialists.
The islands off the west coast of Scotland - the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides - make up one of the most beautiful, unspoilt, friendly, exciting and interesting areas to cycle in Europe. The roads can be very, very quiet, the scenery exceptional and the feeling of exploration overwhelming. We have suggested a 6 day tour, but, of course, you are free to take as little or as much time and you want to enjoy this wonderful part of Scotland.
Ticket To Ride Highlands can provide high quality bike hire and transport for you and your bikes to and from the start point of your tour, in this case taking you from Inverness to Oban for the ferry to Barra, the start of your Hebridean adventure, and picking you up in Ullapool on the Scottish west coast, at the end of your trip, to take you back to Inverness.
You can use Ticket to Ride’s bike hire and bike transport service to easily get to and from your Hebridean cycling adventure. Here is our suggested itinerary, but we’re as flexible as you, so just let us know if would like something different.
Time of year - we suggest any time from April to October, although many people travel outwith this time.
N.B Ferries and accommodation - although, as a foot passenger with a bike, you are able to simply turn up and book onto ferries, please do check all ferry times before you go, and we suggest you book your accommodation in advance too.
Day 1 - Arrive Inverness and make your way to the Ticket to Ride bike hire centre in Bellfield Park, IV2 4SZ. We can also collect you from Inverness airport or train or bus stations. At TTR headquarters we will sort out your hire bikes, if you are hiring, and any other equipment you need. Our minibus and bike trailer leave from the park at 10.30am to catch the Oban to Barra ferry. The spectacular islands scenery and wildlife make the 5 hour ferry trip fly by and you’ll arrive in Castlebay on Barra in time to book in to your accommodation. There are hotels, B and Bs and a hostel in Castlebay. Foot passengers from Oban to Barra pay about £12 for the trip and bikes go free.
Day 2 - In the morning visit the Kisimul castle, you’ll have been wondering if you could do that ever since you sailed past it on the way into Castlebay the night before. Then cycle south down to Vatersay (6 miles) where the island’s tombolo, a narrow neck of land, has pristine white beaches scalloped out each side of it. Head north, up the west coast of Barra, where there are lovely beaches around every corner. It’s well worth making a short detour to visit the tiny Cockle Strand airport (14 miles from Vatersay) , if you’re lucky you’ll see planes landing and taking off on the UK’s only beach airstrip. You’re aiming to arrive at the Barra - Eriskay ferry (4 miles from the airport) by 15.30, the ferry costs about £7 and bikes go free. Arriving in Eriskay about 16.30, head north over the causeway, watching out for otters, to South Uist (6 miles or so) to find your accommodation, there are plenty of places to stay in South Uist but it’s worth booking ahead. Total miles - 30
Day 3 - Only three islands in the one day today! Following the road north up the west coast of South Uist, you’ll be surrounded by the fertile ‘machair’, formed by sands blown onto the peat beneath and covered with flowers in the spring. The machair runs the whole length of the island and is fringed by an almost continuous beach. Cross the causeway to the island of Benbecula, sticking to the west coat road for more lovely beaches, and then over the causeway to North Uist. All of the Western Isles have a special atmosphere. North Uist feels like the very edge of Europe, the very edge of the world, undiscovered, wild. Don’t worry, wild it may feel, but there are still plenty B and Bs and a fine hostel to stay in. Total miles - 35
Day 4 - Head around the west coast of North Uist for some of the most lovely beaches in the Europe. There is one of the most scenic, and photographed, cottages in all the Western Isles, and wildlife galore. Over the wee causeway to Berneray, from where you catch the ferry over to Leverburgh on Harris. The ferries run frequently through the summer and must be one of the most scenic routes in the world. Landing at Leverburgh, take a detour southeast to Rodel to see the really lovely, old church there. Then retrace your steps back to Leverburgh and take the west coast route around Harris. You pass the exceptional Scarista and Luskentyre beaches (in the Western Isles a beach has to be something special to get a mention, and these two really are special) before getting to Tarbert for the evening. Total miles - 40.
Day 5 - Make sure and eat your porridge this morning, you’ve got some hills to climb today. Heading north from Tarbert you soon come to the ‘big hill’. The cycle up Clisham is not that bad and, even in your lowest ‘granny’ gear, doesn’t last that long, and what a view from the top. Then it’s a straightforward, roller coaster trek across the island of Lewis to a well earned beer or two in the capital, Stornoway. Total miles - 35
Day 6 - It’s an early start on the last day of your trip, catching the ferry from Stornoway over to Ullapool on mainland Scotland. The trip takes about 3 hours, getting you into Ullapool about 10.00. The Ticket to Ride bike bus will pick you up at the Ullapool ferry terminal and have you and your bikes back in Inverness by midday, in time to catch your train or plane home.
