Scotland

Cycling is an extremely popular sport and more and more people are discovering the pleasures of taking a cycling tour in preference to other types of vacation. Most choose to tour areas where the ground is rather flat and any hills are but gentle slopes while others prefer to visit areas which offer much more of a challenge. The Isle of Harris in the Western Isles (also known as the Outer Hebrides) of Scotland continues to increase in popularity for cycling tours and vacations and is well worth consideration if you are a competent and athletic cyclist.

Found off the west coast of Scotland in the United Kingdom the Western Isles/Outer Hebrides are a group of over 200 islands (although only a few are inhabited). It is possible to tour most of the main islands from Barra and South Uist in the very south, up to North Uist and across to the Isle of Harris which is joined to the Isle of Lewis in the North. During the tour you will find that there are a number of single track roads to negotiate, several causeways and bridges as well as one (and maybe more) ferries.

Many people choose to start their Hebridean tour in the Uists moving northwards until they reach the main town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis where they will catch a ferry back to the mainland. Approaching the islands from this direction introduces you to a gentle start along the flatter roads of South Uist before you reach the much hillier North Uist and then, crossing over by ferry, to the even hillier Isle of Harris. As you move towards North Harris you will notice the hills becoming steeper until you are faced by a steep climb into a small mountain range. Once atop it is rather flat until you descend and onto the Isle of Lewis which consists mainly of flat barren moorland. If you choose to go beyond Stornoway the scenery becomes more dramatic and, at times, something of a challenge but well worth the effort.

Cycling in the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) necessitates the need to understand a few safety measures and considerations. It is of extreme importance that you fully understand how easy it is to get sunburnt on the islands, even on what appears to be a dull day the UV rays still manage to get through to cause their damage. Please take great care not to allow yourself to become too distracted by the incredible scenery and always pay attention to the road and other traffic. Rather than cause obstruction simply pull to one side, move away from the road and then spend as much time as you like taking in the wonderful views.

Single track roads are still common in many parts of the Hebrides and you need to understand how to use them properly to ensure yours and others safety. The roads on some of the islands can twist and turn and traffic can suddenly appear from nowhere so always keep an eye and an ear out for it. Do not hog a single track road by riding aside each other as this can be dangerous but mostly very annoying to other road users. Use the passing places to allow all traffic (from behind and oncoming) to pass by pulling into those on the left and pulling over to the left when they appear to your right.

The Outer Hebrides are a religious place with the southern parts (mainly South Uist) being mainly Catholic and the northern islands being Protestant. This leads to a number of differences with the most obvious being that in some parts of North Uist and nearly all of the Isle of Harris and Isle of Lewis, nearly everywhere is closed on Sundays. It is therefore incredibly important that you ensure that you will have everything you need over the weekend before Saturday evening.

Although there are now a few places that open on Sundays in Stornoway you should ensure that you arrive before then, especially if you are needing to visit the local bicycle shop for spares or repair (they also rent out bikes). Stornoway is only a small town and should be explored on foot, and, if you have time, make the effort to take a stroll in the Lews Castle grounds if the weather is nice.

If a full cycling tour of the Western Isles is beyond your capabilities but you enjoy cycling you may want to consider having a vacation on the Isle of Harris where you can cycle to some of the finest beaches with ease. There is plenty of superb accommodation available on Harris with plenty of B&B’s, guest houses, self catering properties, a couple of hotels, hostels and places to camp.