Post by Phil on Dec 22, 2013 17:51:35 GMT
I managed to get away for 9 days in August, so I thought a wee jaunt to the outer Hebrides would nice, so a bit of studying on Google maps and a rough route was planned.
So I loaded the camping gear onto the bike and caught the 7-15am ferry from Larne - Troon then took a nice route along the coast to Gourock and onto the short ferry crossing to Dunoon across the Clyde then followed the A815 / A83 to Inverary then the A819 / A85 to Colnnel then the A828 to Ballachulish then the A82 to Fortwilliam and Invergary, then the A87 to the Kyle of Lochalsh and over the bridge to Skye and on to Uig to catch the ferry to Lochmaddy on North Uist.
Of course it had to piss down from Troon and it stopped a few miles before Invergary
A coffee break on the A87. Nice views
Over the bridge to Skye
The roads to the highlands were first class, I got to Uig in good time to catch the 6pm ferry to Lochmaddy on North Uist but it was running late and wouldn't sail until 7-30pm, so here's a couple of photos of the harbour.
I didn't get off the ferry until almost 10pm and had originally planned to wild camp on the island but one of the locals took me to a small campsite not far away which was run by a crofter, a lovely site which had only been open from last year, spotlessly clean toilets and showers and also a campers kitchen with an electric cooker, kettle, microwave, washing machine and tumble dryer (you have to put £3 in an honesty box to wash & dry your clothes) not bad for £7 a night.
So I put the tent up in the fading light and went into the kitchen to make myself some grub.
Next morning awoke to these lovely views
The islands of North & South Uist, Bernery and Eriskay are joined together by one mostly single track road with passing places which is in surpisingly good condition, with roads branching off with most turning into rough tracks but there are some awesome views on these tracks.
At the time I was there, mid August, there was very little traffic.
A war memorial for islanders
There are wild ponies roaming around and these ones were reluctant to move out of my way
At the end of the track after the tarmac stopped I came across this little harbour
Some rain clouds, luckily it didn't rain
The islands have some lovely empty beaches, these are Uist and Erskay
I stayed for 3 nights on North Uist then got the ferry from Bernery to the Isle of Harris & Lewis (warning, check ferry times and prebook as this ferry gets very busy in August and depends on a high tide ) and pitched my tent on the Lickisto Blackhouse Campsite
www.freewebs.com/vanvon/ owned by John & Harvey £10 per night, a lovely spot although it is midge central when the wind isn't blowing.
I took loads of photos of Harris & Lewis but unfortunatly a fault on the camera memory card caused it not to save the photos and I didn't notice until I was on the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry :cursing: but luckily I had a spare card.
If you're planning to do the Hebrides then an Island Hopscotch 11 ticket costs £73-60
www.calmac.co.uk/tickets/island-hopping/hopscotch-11-skye-uists-harris-and-lewis.htm
So back on the mainland and a coastal route from Ullapool the A835 then the A832 towards Gairloch the the B8021 through Melvaig and follow the single track to the Rua Reidh Lighthouse Guesthouse & Hostel
www.ruareidh.co.uk/index.htm
I managed to get a bed in the hostel for 2 nights for £13 per night.
The nearest other building is 3 miles away and the views from the single track are outstanding, almost fell off the bike several times looking around me.
The best view of Ullapool, the road out of it.
What can I say about this place, the best hostel / B&B I've ever stayed in
Time to do some exploring
The A832 from Gairloch to the A835 (main road to Ullapool) is a lovely sweeping road just made for a sports bike (should have brought the VFR)
I returned on the A832 and turned onto the A896 to Torridon and followed the single track over the mountain to a lovely little harbour
Time to start heading further south, this wee jaunt is almost over
Stopped off in Fortwilliam for the night in the campsite and done the reverse of my route from Troon to catch the 8-15pm ferry.
I was lucky with the weather, apart from the first day I didn't get anymore soakings
Dearest petrol was £1-54 per litre
A thing to be aware of is fill up with petrol when you can, I stopped at Applecross for petrol and the garage didn't have any and I seen other garages with signs saying no petrol.
But it was a great wee trip.
So I loaded the camping gear onto the bike and caught the 7-15am ferry from Larne - Troon then took a nice route along the coast to Gourock and onto the short ferry crossing to Dunoon across the Clyde then followed the A815 / A83 to Inverary then the A819 / A85 to Colnnel then the A828 to Ballachulish then the A82 to Fortwilliam and Invergary, then the A87 to the Kyle of Lochalsh and over the bridge to Skye and on to Uig to catch the ferry to Lochmaddy on North Uist.
Of course it had to piss down from Troon and it stopped a few miles before Invergary
A coffee break on the A87. Nice views
Over the bridge to Skye
The roads to the highlands were first class, I got to Uig in good time to catch the 6pm ferry to Lochmaddy on North Uist but it was running late and wouldn't sail until 7-30pm, so here's a couple of photos of the harbour.
I didn't get off the ferry until almost 10pm and had originally planned to wild camp on the island but one of the locals took me to a small campsite not far away which was run by a crofter, a lovely site which had only been open from last year, spotlessly clean toilets and showers and also a campers kitchen with an electric cooker, kettle, microwave, washing machine and tumble dryer (you have to put £3 in an honesty box to wash & dry your clothes) not bad for £7 a night.
So I put the tent up in the fading light and went into the kitchen to make myself some grub.
Next morning awoke to these lovely views
The islands of North & South Uist, Bernery and Eriskay are joined together by one mostly single track road with passing places which is in surpisingly good condition, with roads branching off with most turning into rough tracks but there are some awesome views on these tracks.
At the time I was there, mid August, there was very little traffic.
A war memorial for islanders
There are wild ponies roaming around and these ones were reluctant to move out of my way
At the end of the track after the tarmac stopped I came across this little harbour
Some rain clouds, luckily it didn't rain
The islands have some lovely empty beaches, these are Uist and Erskay
I stayed for 3 nights on North Uist then got the ferry from Bernery to the Isle of Harris & Lewis (warning, check ferry times and prebook as this ferry gets very busy in August and depends on a high tide ) and pitched my tent on the Lickisto Blackhouse Campsite
www.freewebs.com/vanvon/ owned by John & Harvey £10 per night, a lovely spot although it is midge central when the wind isn't blowing.
I took loads of photos of Harris & Lewis but unfortunatly a fault on the camera memory card caused it not to save the photos and I didn't notice until I was on the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry :cursing: but luckily I had a spare card.
If you're planning to do the Hebrides then an Island Hopscotch 11 ticket costs £73-60
www.calmac.co.uk/tickets/island-hopping/hopscotch-11-skye-uists-harris-and-lewis.htm
So back on the mainland and a coastal route from Ullapool the A835 then the A832 towards Gairloch the the B8021 through Melvaig and follow the single track to the Rua Reidh Lighthouse Guesthouse & Hostel
www.ruareidh.co.uk/index.htm
I managed to get a bed in the hostel for 2 nights for £13 per night.
The nearest other building is 3 miles away and the views from the single track are outstanding, almost fell off the bike several times looking around me.
The best view of Ullapool, the road out of it.
What can I say about this place, the best hostel / B&B I've ever stayed in
Time to do some exploring
The A832 from Gairloch to the A835 (main road to Ullapool) is a lovely sweeping road just made for a sports bike (should have brought the VFR)
I returned on the A832 and turned onto the A896 to Torridon and followed the single track over the mountain to a lovely little harbour
Time to start heading further south, this wee jaunt is almost over
Stopped off in Fortwilliam for the night in the campsite and done the reverse of my route from Troon to catch the 8-15pm ferry.
I was lucky with the weather, apart from the first day I didn't get anymore soakings
Dearest petrol was £1-54 per litre
A thing to be aware of is fill up with petrol when you can, I stopped at Applecross for petrol and the garage didn't have any and I seen other garages with signs saying no petrol.
But it was a great wee trip.