The Hebridean Way and West Coast of Scotland

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The Hebridean Way and West Coast of Scotland

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The sublimely beautiful Hebridean Way forms the basis of this fully supported tour with a return to the start point along the west coast of Scotland. A feast of beauty for the eyes in one of the UK's great unspoilt regions which you will fall in love with very easily! From the southern to northern tip of the Outer Hebrides, we return via Skye and Mull to the start point, meaning you can get back to your car or the station easily.

All ferries are included in price and accommodation is in single hotels - we don't spread groups around different establishments as the social side of things is very important to us and to our customers, many of whom travel alone and enjoy meeting others. In common with all of our UK tours evening meals are not included on this tour although we will of course point you in the right direction.

The tour is graded difficult not for the terrain but for the daily distances being 60 miles or more each day (except one).

Your Next Adventure Awaits

What you need to know...

Start Location
Oban

Finish Location
Oban

Country/Region
United Kingdom

Grading
Difficult

Shortest Day
36 miles

Longest Day
72 miles

Total Days
8

Total Miles
435 miles

Departure Dates & Prices

There are no available dates at this moment.
Please choose an alternative Tour or check back soon.

Itinerary

Day 1

We catch the 1pm ferry from Oban meaning you will need to arrive by 12.noon in order for us to get your luggage loaded onto the vans. You will travel over as a cyclist, taking your bike onto the ferry, on which there are several lounges with excellent views of the passing islands and approaching Hebrides as well as food outlets. On arrival in Castlebay it is a 16 mile loop down to the southern tip of the Hebridean Way and back again to our hotel where your luggage will be ready and waiting. This first section is particularly picturesque so don't forget your camera. (Meals included: none).

Day 2

After breakfast it is an easy 10 mile ride to the ferry to Eriksay, along the western edge of the island with nothing on your left other than several thousand miles of ocean. The beaches, as everywhere, are of the most brilliantly coloured white sand, and the sea gin-clear. There are plenty of sea birds and other flora and fauna to spot, making this a nature-lovers paradise. Eriksay is but a small island and soon you cross the causeway to South Uist. The wide open views and big here are a treat as you ride next onto North Uist and our hotel in the old fishing vilage of Lochmaddy. (c.65 miles)

Day 3

Another short ride after leaving the hotel and you take the third ferry of your holiday, from North Uist on to Harris. It's a shorter day and you can expect to get to the hotel early afternoon, in time for a tour of the Harris Tweed shops or the gin distillery; alternatively take your time on the route admiring the ancient remains, the views or the wildlife. Time is unhurried here and you can really make the most of your visit to these special islands. (c. 36 miles)

Day 4

There is no escaping the fact that there is a hill out of town, but the other side is fantastic too! This is the largest obstacle on the islands. As everywhere, there is very little traffic and like us you may well see golden eagles and red deer. The landscape is always changing and small tarns, streams and even waterfalls will be passed today on your journey to the tip of the archipeligo. Although it's a longer day you will, as always, get all the support and cake you need to get you to the lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis and the couple of miles back to our delightful small hotel. (c. 72 miles)

Day 5

The aim today is to get the afternoon ferry to Skye. Returning along the 'other' road you will see different but no less spectacular views as we ride through Stornaway, a name familiar from the shipping forecasts. There is the same hill as yesterday to conquer (in the opposite direction) and plenty of laybys to stop and take phototgraphs or just admire the view, before the long descent to the ferry which will have us on Skye in good time for an evening meal. (c 60 miles).

Day 6

From the northwest tip of Skye you take a verry pretty route past the Cuilins. Although it is busier from Portree (the busiest section of the whole holiday) it is not normally too bad by mid morning so you can enjoy the scenery that has made this magical island famous worldwide. We turn right before the famous bridge to take a small ferry to Mallaig where the evening views will astound you if the weather is good, a massive panorama of where you have been and surely one of the finest sunsets on the British Isles. (c 60 miles).

Day 7

Mallaig to Tobermory: two wonderful west coast fishing and leisure ports with yet more incredible scenery in between. You start with a lovely road out of Mallaig with more white-sanded beaches before passing Loch Ailort and cutting across the Acharacle peninsula. From the southern coast of this is a lovely road with the sea on your left as you ride to Kilchoan. There is an ascent just before the ferry, and a corresponding down, but the panoramic views at the top are yet another excuse to take photographs of a land and sea-scape that will live long in the memory. The ferry to Tobermory on Mull is a delight, especially as you arrive into the port with its multi-coloured houses on the sea front. (c.60 miles)

Day 8

The last day already! Time flies when you get into the swing and routine of a cycling tour and tonight you return to Oban. First however are the delights and joys of Mull, many people's favourite. It's easy to see why as you ride anticlockwise along the western side with yet more wonderful views and an evocative glimpse of distant Iona. The afternoon ferry gets you to Oban from whence you depart. (c.66 miles)

Some Tour Photos...

An overnight stop back on the mainland

Castlebay castle

Hebridean landscape

Pristine beaches and clear waters

Sailing out of Oban

Sunset on Vatersay

The northern tip of the Hebridean Way at the Butt of Lewis

The southern end of the Hebridean Way

Typical Hebridean roads

Vatersay panorama

Waiting to board the ferry at Oban

Travel Information

Oban has a railway station conneting to Glasgow. Alternatively it is within a 2 hour drive of Glasgow and you can park for the duration of the holiday in the town.

Click here for our Travel Information page.