Womble wrote:Thanks for that. I did find the Gatliff Hostels site and have a read. When you went last year were there generally bed spaces avialable? Not too keen on pitching up to find no space!
It's been a real eye opener working out the ferries and so on for this, the original plan was to Go via Oban/Lochboisdale and ride up through the islands. Think we might just do Harris/Lewis and see if we can make a day trip to the Uists.
Cheers
No problem with bed spaces - me plus 5 the first night at Rhenigidale and me, a bottle of whisky and 2 lovely young ladies the 2nd night :woohoo:
The CalMac hopscotch ferries can be a logistic nightmare - sometimes seem to be run for their convenience not the passengers. I think I started Monday from Oban to Barra Castlebay at about 3pm, had a night on a hostel about 1 minute from the port in Castelbay then up to South Uist for 2 nights in the Howmore Hostel, then onto Harris and 2 nights at Rhenigidale. I didnt book any of the accomodation in advance; in fact I planned to wild camp but the weather was a bit shite so the Hostels won out. With 2 nights at each place I ended up with loads of time to explore the Islands; South Uist is particularly good and there are some tracks alongside the dunes that were good fun - even on a fully loaded Varadero.
The lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis is worth a trip just for the wild views and edge of the world feel but the ride up there isnt up to much - straight road, boring scenery after the first minute or two and is very exposed.
here's a link to my ride report on the XRV.org forum.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/ride-repor ... -tour.html
Have you checked out my trip to Islay and Jura on the way up to Ullapool this year. It might be an option for you if the planning for the Outer hebrides trip gets too complicated. Now we arent staying at the bothy on Jura there's no space limitation. Just a thought.
http://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum ... apool.html
