Cycling in the Hebrides: Island touring and day rides

The 37 day routes and 22 link routes brought together in this guide offer cyclists of all abilities the opportunity to island-hop by bike across the Hebrides, visiting over 20 islands in six sections: Clyde and Kintyre; Colonsay, Islay and Jura; Mull, Coll and Tiree; Skye and Raasay; Barra and the Uists; and Harris and Lewis. From Skye's majestic Cuillin mountains to the palm trees of Bute and the white sands of Tiree and Harris, there is nowhere better to indulge your sense of adventure and experience the thrill of travelling under your own steam in the fresh air. The Hebrides from Islay in the south up to Lewis in the north are all included, along with Arran and its neighbouring islands in the Firth of Clyde, and this comprehensive guide contains all the information you need - from ferry schedules to refreshment stops and bike repair shops - to plan a 600-mile tour of the whole lot, or a clutch of day rides from a single base, and everything inbetween. Each route is graded and accompanied by a profile, colour maps and information about links to ferries and other routes providing a huge network of options.

Table of Contents:
Map key Overview map Introduction Terrain Wildlife and plants History and culture Getting there Getting around The weather and when to go Where to stay Preparing your bike Preparing yourself Planning your trip What and how to pack Riding comfortably Riding in a group Using this guide Maps and itineraries 1 Clyde and Kintyre Introduction Link Routes 1A Gourock to Ardrossan 1B Dunoon to Portavadie 1C Auchenbreck to Rothesay 1D Brodick to Lochranza 1E Claonaig to Tayinloan 1F Kennacraig to Oban Day Routes 1.1 Circuit of south Arran 1.2 Circuit of north Arran 1.3 Circuit of Great Cumbrae 1.4 Circuit of Bute 1.5 Gigha 2 Colonsay, Islay and Jura Introduction Link Routes 2A Port Ellen to Port Askaig Day Routes 2.1 South coast of Islay 2.2 Circuit of northwest Islay from Bridgend 2.3 Circuit of central Islay from Bowmore 2.4 Circuit of southwest Islay (The Rhinns) 2.5 Craighouse and back from Feolin Ferry 2.6 Circuit of Colonsay 3 Mull, Coll and Tiree Introduction Link Routes 3A Craignure to Tobermory 3B Lochaline to Salen 3C Salen to Kilchoan 3D Salen to Mallaig Day Routes 3.1 Slate Islands 3.2 Kerrera 3.3 Circuit across Lismore from Oban 3.4 Circuit of central Mull 3.5 Circuit of northern Mull 3.6 Out to Iona 3.7 Coll 3.8 Circuit of west Tiree 3.9 Fishbone Ride in east Tiree 4 Skye and Raasay Introduction Link Routes 4A Ullapool to Armadale 4B Stromeferry to Uig Day Routes 4.1 Across the Sleat Peninsula from Armadale 4.2 Elgol and back from Broadford 4.3 A three-legged ride from Carbost 4.4 Around the Duirinish Peninsula 4.5 Circuit of the Trotternish Peninsula 4.6 Circuit of central Skye 4.7 Skye Bridge/Glenelg circuit from Kyle of Lochalsh 4.8 Raasay 5 Barra and the Uists Introduction Link Routes 5A Castlebay to Lochboisdale 5B Dalabrog to Clachan 5C Clachan to Berneray 5D Clachan to Berneray Junction Day Routes 5.1 Circuit of Barra and Vatersay 5.2 South Uist machair from Tobha Mor 5.3 Circuit of North Uist 6 Harris and Lewis Introduction Link Routes 6A Leverburgh to Tarbert (west) 6B Leverburgh to Tarbert (east) 6C Tarbert to Stornoway 6D Liurbost to Barvas 6E Stornoway to Butt of Lewis Day Routes 6.1 Circuit of south Harris 6.2 Tarbert to Hushinish and back 6.3 Tarbert to Scalpay and back 6.4 Callanish by the Pentland Road 6.5 West Lewis from Gearraidh na h'Aibhne 6.6 The Bridge to Nowhere from Stornoway Appendix A Link route summary table Appendix B Day route summary table Appendix C Ferry routes Appendix D Suggested tours Appendix E Day trips to islands Appendix F Cycle shops and cycle hire Appendix G Hostels Appendix H Tourist information Appendix I Further reading

About the Author :
Richard Barrett has loved the Hebrides ever since he first visited the islands as a teenager. After a career in marketing, he and his wife moved to North Harris, where Richard can indulge his passion for long-distance cycling. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and of the Hebrides Search and Rescue team.