Cycling UK Forum

Lacasdail camp and caravan site on Stornoway. An excellent site with spotless facilities, showers are free and there is a shed type thing for campers with worktops that you can cook in using your own stoves. Bunkhouses with four bunks in each with communal kitchen at £15pppn. Three of us spent three nights there as a base for a cycle around Lewis and found the pricing strange. £9pppn for a backpacker, cost us £81 for three nights with three small tents. Three guys in large tent with landrover parking cost £10 pn + £2.50 pp cost for three nights for them £52.50. Caravan tourer is £10 + £2.50pppn.
Gerry

Wild Country Zephyros 2. Used once for two nights. £100.
Gerry

Would not be without my rackpack, only thing I carry in it is an uncompressed sleeping bag, every thing else is in the panniers.

http://youtu.be/nRH5SZDCi5w

Did a short trip last year to Uist and Harris. Planned to return to Oban via Skye and Mull but had to change plans and return via Loch Boisdale. Trip was Oban to Loch Boisdale, cycle approx. 14 mls for overnight at Howmore hostel £12 then 42 mls to camp in the dunes near Berneray Hostel, ferry to Leverborough and explored Harris. returned to camp across the road from the Lochmaddy Hotel then back to Howmore and Loch Boisdale.
Cycling is easy on good roads, plenty wild camp spots. Boat from Leverborough will take you to St Kilda and back same day. Will do this this coming year. Above is a short video of the trip.
Gerry

Fold the inner, Stuff the fly.
http://youtu.be/aKMi-tV07Xg
Gerry

Bestthing I have found for stashing my sleeping bag in is Ortlieb 24ltr rack bag, lofts easily and is light on top of pannier bags. Nothing is left hanging off the bike, unlike my mates whose bikes can resemble christmas trees.
A short video of a recent few days on Uist and Harris will let you see my set up. The bike balances perfectly even with the kitchen sink.
http://youtu.be/nRH5SZDCi5w
Gerry

I like porrage so carry a few eggs in a plastic bottle filled with porrage oats.

Like yourselves we were tired of crawling into our tent so splashed out on Vango Omega 600xl at £200. Sleeps 6 in a four and a two person pod. weighs in at 8.5kg but we do not take the two man pod nor the main groundsheet. Luxury when erected, especially when it is raining as everything can fit in. Stood up well to very high winds on Islay recently with the tension bands helping. Might be too big for your needs but well worth a look at the price.
Gerry

The Rag, Tag and Bobtail cycle touring club which comrpise of three over 65 males, will be touring the Western Isles some time in June, date not yet set. Just returned from some serious into the wind and alcohol consumption training during our Whisky tour on Islay and Jura, to help prepare us for the big trip. So if any of you guys see three oldies drinking coffee or Guinness at the side of the road, pull up and have one.
Gerry

At 64 yrs old ex mountain climber and current sea kayaker I have been talked into doing some cycle touring so getting a lighter tent is a priority for me just now. My group of three usually use our own tents but since we have decided to take a trailer for many tours we have just purchased a vango Omega 600xl, weighs in at 8.8kilo and will sleep three easily, store the bikes overnight and gives loads of living room should the weather be bad. Last outing to a wee bothy we towed 15 kilow of coal and 18 cans of guinness for an overnight so 8.8 kilo should be no problem. Worth looking at for those who don't mind a bit of weight nor sharing.
Gerry

I have kayaked around Bute a few times and have camped wild at Kilchattan Bay, St Ninians Bay, Etterick Bay along the shore from the wee cafe. and at Balnakailly Bay, for the latter there is a rough Landrover track NW of Rubodach ferry slip Grid 028 742 will take you to a good spot at 023 743. Don't know any campsites, never use them.
Gerry