New trip planning May 2024

[Ian the woodworker]

Hello all,

Last year myself and my friend did the Caledonian way in May, and a few extra days on the Black Isle while waiting for the train back from Inverness to the car parked in Ardrossan. What a wonderful trip we had camping all the way with our electric bikes.

This year we fancy the Hebridean way leaving the car in Oban.

Rough Route as follows

Oban - CastleBray - Stornoway - Ullapool - Kyle of Lockalsh - Mallaig - Oban.

We are both 67, and the important thing to know is that my friend will finish his second round of chemotherapy for his prostrate cancer on 26th April.

We both want to go, and the planning of this is, I am sure helping him get through the next few months.

My biggest concern is that if it all proves too much, and we have to get back to Oban via train from say Ullapool is this easy to achieve with the bikes. The last think I would want is to be stranded in the middle of Scotland.

Any advise on the route and backup possibilities?

Many Thanks

Ian

[Jdsk]

There's a parallel thread about the same region, with a similar request for advice on bail-outs if needed:
viewtopic.php?t=159458

We've used Garve as an access point to trains for both Ullapool and Wester Ross.

Previous discussion of bikes on buses from Ullapool:
search.php?keywords=bus+ullapool

Where are you starting from before driving to Ardrossan?

Jonathan

[pjclinch]

My biggest concern is that if it all proves too much, and we have to get back to Oban via train from say Ullapool is this easy to achieve with the bikes. The last think I would want is to be stranded in the middle of Scotland.

Via train from Ullapool certainly not easy, as the railway doesn't go to Ullapool...
Hovever, Scottish CityLink buses do allow for bicycle storage on their booking website, and popping in a speculative Ullapool to Oban request with a bike it does seem to think it's possible.

Digging a little further gives us https://www.citylink.co.uk/conditions-o ... e/bicycles and the Help & Support page has:

Can I take my bike?
Yes, subject to availability of accommodation, bikes in a box/bag or fitted with a bike sock will be carried on our coaches.

We have partnered up with HITRANS to pilot a scheme which now makes it easier to take your bike on a number of our services running in the Highlands.

A maximum of two bike socks will be available for use on the following routes; Inverness/Portree, Inverness/Fort William, Inverness/Ullapool, Fort William/Glasgow, Glasgow/Fort William/Skye Stops, where we can safely permit cyclists to board/alight, are listed here

You can book your bike on the bus at the same time as making your seat reservation. Bike space can be reserved as an Additional Hold Item when buying a ticket online via our journey planner.

When we were doing the Western Isles many years ago we weren't progressing as well as we'd hoped and bailed quite successfully out to Skye and from there back to Mallaig rather than carry on all the way to Stornoway, so worth realising that's another way you can cut short and still have a nice time.

Pete.

[Ian the woodworker]

Thanks for the replies.

I will take a look at the threads.

[Pendodave]

Depending on how you feel, and after reading all the bussing opportunities (some of which I am familiar with ), it might be worth also considering that you can get a ferry straight back from Lochboisdale to Mallaig. This has the advantage of allowing a circumnavigation of Harris (both east and west sides are lovely), while you are in the outer hebrides.. it then gives direct access to a railway by which you can get back to Oban.
Obviously ymmv, but I don't think you would feel short changed if you finished the trip in this way rather than going up to the top of lewis and thence to Ullapool and beyond.

[Ian the woodworker]

Thanks for that.

That is an option if things don't go to plan.

Ian

[Ian the woodworker]

Where are you starting from before driving to Ardrossan?

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan,

Last year when we did the Caledonian Way we left the car at Largs near Ardrossan at South Whittlieburn Farm .

This year we are planning on leaving the car at Oban, and will be looking for a similar site to leave the car.

[Thehairs1970]

Why not start in Ullapool? My thoughts on this are that driving to Ullapool is easier than public transport but to pick up the car in a early finish situation would be easy as you could leave bikes somewhere else on the mainland and get public transport to Ullapool. Perhaps… Plus there is a shuttle you can book that would pick you up and take you back to Stornaway if needed.

One thought on your plans, and I know I have no idea of your experience etc, the Hebridean way is a lot hiller than the Caledonian Way and I would be concerned that your companion may find the experience quite hard work. Add in to that the more extreme weather possibilities and lack of possible shelter and it could end up being an “experience” rather than fun. However, only you can really be the judge of this. Good luck though. We loved it. Did in July and August a couple of years ago. Did top to bottom and back and thoroughly enjoyed it despite the 45mph headwinds, hail squalls, evil mosquitoes and lack of temperatures above 18.

[Jdsk]

Where are you starting from before driving to Ardrossan?

Last year when we did the Caledonian Way we left the car at Largs near Ardrossan at South Whittlieburn Farm .

This year we are planning on leaving the car at Oban, and will be looking for a similar site to leave the car.

Thanks

I was thinking of before that car journey. Because it might be easier if the start were at another station...

Jonathan

[Ian the woodworker]

I too am concerned about my friends abilities following the Chemo. He is very keen to go, but the thought of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere concerns me.

Cycle travel shows the Caledoian way as having 13,500ft ascent and descent whereas the Hebridean way shows only 7,500 (moderate) . I took this to mean that it would be somewhat gentler than the Caledonian Way we did last year.

I remember the steep climb out of Fort Augustus with a nearly flat battery was a struggle.

What do you mean about a shuttle bus?

Isn't the recommended route south to north because of the winds?

Thanks

Ian

[Ian the woodworker]

Where are you starting from before driving to Ardrossan?

Last year when we did the Caledonian Way we left the car at Largs near Ardrossan at South Whittlieburn Farm .

This year we are planning on leaving the car at Oban, and will be looking for a similar site to leave the car.

Thanks

I was thinking of before that car journey. Because it might be easier if the start were at another station...

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan
We live near Newcastle Staffs so were thinking of overnight in Moffat and then on to Oban the next day.
What other location were you thinking of for the start?

Ian

[Jdsk]

Last year when we did the Caledonian Way we left the car at Largs near Ardrossan at South Whittlieburn Farm .

This year we are planning on leaving the car at Oban, and will be looking for a similar site to leave the car.

was thinking of before that car journey. Because it might be easier if the start were at another station...

...
We live near Newcastle Staffs so were thinking of overnight in Moffat and then on to Oban the next day.
What other location were you thinking of for the start?

Thanks

I was thinking about the sleeper, so that could be Crewe for you. But with or without the beds some solution that doesn't require returning anywhere remote to pick up the car...

Jonathan

[Ian the woodworker]

That's an idea I had not considered.

I will take a look at that.

Thanks

[Jdsk]

Caledonian Sleeper:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-jo ... an-sleeper
https://www.seat61.com/sleeper-to-scotland.htm

Jonathan

[Thehairs1970]

I too am concerned about my friends abilities following the Chemo. He is very keen to go, but the thought of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere concerns me.

Cycle travel shows the Caledoian way as having 13,500ft ascent and descent whereas the Hebridean way shows only 7,500 (moderate) . I took this to mean that it would be somewhat gentler than the Caledonian Way we did last year.

I remember the steep climb out of Fort Augustus with a nearly flat battery was a struggle.

What do you mean about a shuttle bus?

Isn't the recommended route south to north because of the winds?

Thanks

Ian

Apologies Ian. I didn’t refer back to your email and was thinking of Fort William to Inverness rather than the added bit you refer to. There are definitely some flatter sections on the Hebridean Way but also some bigger hills. Yes wind is predominantly south to north but you aren’t always going south and many sections give protection. Apart from the gale days(!) we didn’t find the wind too much of an issue.

Re the shuttle, here’s a link https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/he ... -your-bike. The whole website is a mine of info tbh - worth a visit. Are you camping btw or proper beds? If camping, I can recommend a few.

Martyn