Cycling UK Forum

simonhill wrote:Reading these posts, particularly the OP's, 2 comments.

Firstly, you don't seem to have (cycle) camped before. I'd give it a try for s few nights somewhere local before deciding for your big trip.

Secondly, do you want to camp, do you really want to camp? Might sound daft, but you'll be buying loads of gear, and could have some challenging weather. I think you need to be sure it's what you want to do.

Yes, very sage advice. I suppose I need to:

1. Do a few multi-day rides, loaded up. Even if I always return home each night. The common theme about new cycle tourists is that it's not the first day that's difficult, it's the second and third.

2. Try that again. Camping. Or even better, as it's probably 30+ years since I camped, just sleep in a tent in the back garden. If my back's killing me/I can't stand the cold/whatever.....

Good, you've talked me out of it. Credit card touring it is, thanks.

I never wanted to camp, if they hadn't closed half the hostels after the foot and mouth episode, I would never have bought a tent. The alternatives were B&B's which would have meant less touring for the budget, or give camping a go. So, I spent the cost of ten nights B&B on the complete kit (I already had panniers) telling myself I'd have to use it for ten nights regardless of how much I hated it.
I never hated it, surprised myself at how well I slept in a tent and loved the freedom. Took a bit of trial and error to refine the kit, now unless I'm in a group it's my first choice and would be regardless of budget. But yes, I wouldn't set out on a big tour without a bit of easier experience first.

Nice to see Scotrail making plans in advance, just for me!

https://road.cc/content/news/267921-scotrail-unveils-forthcoming-west-highland-line-carriages-space-20-bikes?fbclid=IwAR0nmLFvZaoV26F41H6pPojp-R38fujOS3T3LVXELRzJ_iuvuWDO7ggnkyg

mikeymo wrote:

simonhill wrote:Reading these posts, particularly the OP's, 2 comments.

Firstly, you don't seem to have (cycle) camped before. I'd give it a try for s few nights somewhere local before deciding for your big trip.

Secondly, do you want to camp, do you really want to camp? Might sound daft, but you'll be buying loads of gear, and could have some challenging weather. I think you need to be sure it's what you want to do.

Yes, very sage advice. I suppose I need to:

1. Do a few multi-day rides, loaded up. Even if I always return home each night. The common theme about new cycle tourists is that it's not the first day that's difficult, it's the second and third.

2. Try that again. Camping. Or even better, as it's probably 30+ years since I camped, just sleep in a tent in the back garden. If my back's killing me/I can't stand the cold/whatever.....

Good, you've talked me out of it. Credit card touring it is, thanks.

I loved my Outer Hebrides tour so much that the following year I took my non cycling Mrs around the same route in a car a month later, the weather was unbelieveably cold and wet but she loved it. I did book all the b&bs and ferries in advance though. One night we stayed with the Harris Tweed weaver who we had stayed with on the cycle tour who demonstrated his loom for us, what a thrill. We bought some tweed too.

Al

mikeymo wrote:Where I'll be going (Outer Hebrides) doesn't really have such a thing as "camp sites" I don't think. Even if it did I'd be tied to getting to one, which is sort of what I'm trying to avoid. So it would be wild camping.

There are some, and good spots for wild camping aren't round every corner (generally best on the landward side of the dunes on the west coast).
I mostly aimed at getting to a site, with wild as the emergency option if it didn't seem I'd make it.

Campsites (all marked on cycle.travel):
Barra - Borve, clockwise round the A888 about 4 km from the ferry. Also a couple of croft sites at the northern tip of the island
S. Uist - Kilbride, about 2 km E of the causeway from Eriskay (pub 1.5 km further on). Also by Howmore Gatliffe hostel.
Benbecula - Liniclate, about 4 km round the coast from the causeway from S.Uist. Hotel nearby.
N. Uist - Carinish, about 1 km from the causeway from Benbecula (pub 1.5 km further on). Balranald, by the bird reserve.
Berneray - by the Gatliffe hostel
Harris - Horgabost, west coast road. Lickisto, golden road (e coast).
Lewis - Laxdale (Stornoway), Valtos & Timsgarry (out towards Uig), Shawbost (about 8 km NE of Carloway)

andrew_s wrote:

mikeymo wrote:Where I'll be going (Outer Hebrides) doesn't really have such a thing as "camp sites" I don't think. Even if it did I'd be tied to getting to one, which is sort of what I'm trying to avoid. So it would be wild camping.

There are some, and good spots for wild camping aren't round every corner (generally best on the landward side of the dunes on the west coast).
I mostly aimed at getting to a site, with wild as the emergency option if it didn't seem I'd make it.

Campsites (all marked on cycle.travel):
Barra - Borve, clockwise round the A888 about 4 km from the ferry. Also a couple of croft sites at the northern tip of the island
S. Uist - Kilbride, about 2 km E of the causeway from Eriskay (pub 1.5 km further on). Also by Howmore Gatliffe hostel.
Benbecula - Liniclate, about 4 km round the coast from the causeway from S.Uist. Hotel nearby.
N. Uist - Carinish, about 1 km from the causeway from Benbecula (pub 1.5 km further on). Balranald, by the bird reserve.
Berneray - by the Gatliffe hostel
Harris - Horgabost, west coast road. Lickisto, golden road (e coast).
Lewis - Laxdale (Stornoway), Valtos & Timsgarry (out towards Uig), Shawbost (about 8 km NE of Carloway)

Thanks for that. Yes, I should have remembered the campsite at East Kilbride, have had dinner in the cafe there umpteen times. And I know about the Gatliffe hostels.

I've spent a fair bit of time touring and camping in both the Outer Hebrides and many other of the Scottish islands. The main thing I'd add to all of this good advice is that the weather can play a huge part in any trip to that part of the world, especially if you are in a tent. I've mainly toured in May/June and have experienced wonderful sunny days when cycling and camping is wonderful, but I've also had to abandon trips (not always easy if the ferries have stopped running!) after spending nights (and days) wondering if my tent will actually survive the high winds (often mixed with heavy rain), heavy snow and being literally blown off my bike.

Being in a small tent for an extended period can get to be pretty miserable and it may not always be easy to bail out to a b&b. It is really not that hard to find yourself several hours ride away from any sort of available accommodation (the Hebrides in particular is becoming very popular and it can be hard to just turn up and find a bed for the night). Although you will not be any danger the thought of hitting a patch of very poor weather with just a minimal bivvy set up, no way to make hot drinks/food, having wet clothes etc. is just grim. The weather can change very quickly at times so it is worth looking at any tent/sleeping bag etc. with a view to how they (and you) will cope if things turn bad. Personally I'd always want to have a stove (for drinks at least), a kindle and a way to get comfortable in a sleeping bag (for me that is an air mattress plus chair kit!).

The other thing I'd mention is that although you can in theory wild camp and the Hebrides is a wonderful place for this, the increase in the number of camper vans in the islands (and the number of folks following the Heridean way) means that once wonderful locations may no longer be so easily found. I've noticed in recent years an increase in the number of "no camping" signs and a change in attitude from the locals (though don't get me wrong this is still a very welcoming part of the world). The good side of this is that there are now more "official" camp sites, but unfortunately they are often geared more towards a camper van, with hardstandings, electrical hook ups and no facilities.

I think some of the above also holds true for the West Coast of Scotland, thanks to the WC500 and other promotions the area is now much more poular than it once was which can make finding accommodation (and camp sites) tricky at times. But that said it is still a wonderful part of the world and a good trip there can be magical and will easily make you forget the odd bad one!

I can add that in May this year I arrived at Shawbost and she was full.
I’d had a hard day and thankfully it must have shown thanks to a group of cyclist who let me share their pitch I got on.

When was the last time you camped?

I would have a trial run of sleeping in a tent on ground similar to that likely to be experienced in the Hebrides.

I stopped camping many years ago when I could barely walk after a couple of nights sleeping in a tent. I'm fitter and stronger now through exercise but still don't want to face the potential pain and discomfort experienced previously so wont even try it in the back garden.

I camp.

Working weight in all four panniers inc tent is roughly 18k-20kg....also includes stove / food etc.

I'm not adverse to a B & B or hotel but only the weather or lack of camp sites would drive me into one .

I've been to the west coast and outer hebs a few times and I wouldn't want to be without my tent.
I've done light touring too - lejog last year staying at hostels and BnB. Also France where there's plenty of cheap bike friendly hotels.

When I first tried out my cycle touring set up, I rode to the Cotswolds about 50 miles away, camped for a couple of nights and rode home.

Fully loaded I carry about 17kg. Light touring I've got it down to about 5kg.

For me, fully loaded is 13kg or so. Add another 2-3kg of food etc depending on how many days being carried: if it's continental Europe I would carry a few snacks but otherwise buy on the day. Obviously in more remote places it's more.

For B&B it's much less - 5kg sounds about right, although this summer I did a 6 day tour with nothing other than a change of cycle clothing plus a t shirt and shorts. I didn't even take a waterproof jacket as the weather forecast was settled.

Ferries are not always reliable - you might want to put up with the extra weight to make it easier to change plan when the ferry you intended to use is not running?

mikeymo wrote:I'm planning a small cycle tour. Scotland, specifically the Outer Hebrides and maybe some of the west coast. In summer.

I'm not a particularly experienced cyclist, and have never toured. But I've tested myself a little in the place I'm going to (on holidays) and 30 miles is fine. I could have done more I think, fairly easily. I even deliberately loaded the bike with an extra 17kgs of stuff, as a test, and it was fine on a 20 mile ride.

I was thinking I would do "credit card" touring, stopping in hostels/B&Bs and similar. But the drawback is that it has to be booked and then I'm tied to get to each place each night. Which may be too far, or too near. Depending on wind/hills/weather/legs.

So if I were to plan for self supported touring, how much extra weight would that need? I would still expect to eat in cafes or from shops, so wouldn't take any cooking gear. I'm thinking tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat. Lightweight tents and bags seem to add about 2/3/4 kilos.

Anything else I need to think about?

TIA

Having cycled around S Ireland..Western Isles from Barra to Harris etc,with tent,and never needed it,I would suggest you do not need camping eqpt...I usually do max 50miles a day.

ossie wrote:I camp.

Working weight in all four panniers inc tent is roughly 18k-20kg....also includes stove / food etc.

I'm not adverse to a B & B or hotel but only the weather or lack of camp sites would drive me into one .

My wife would go mad if i suggested camping.! That drives me into accom!