Your Next Adventure
Your Next Adventure
Scotland - Outer Hebrides Bike Tour
DURATION
8 Day(s)
DAILY BIKING
25 to 40 miles
TRIP DIFFICULTY
4-Intermediate to Advanced
STARTING FROM
$4595
SINGLES ADD FROM
$700
Trip Overview
Earn your certificate for completing Scotland’s famous Hebridean Way when you cycle the length of the Outer Hebrides. You experience gorgeous mountains and moorland, white sandy beaches, and wild Atlantic weather. The Outer Hebrides are unlike anywhere else in the U.K.
Cycle from the southernmost accessible tip of the Outer Hebrides islands on Bhatarsaigh (Vatersay) … to the northernmost tip on the Butt of Lewis. You cross over 10 islands, 6 causeways, and 4 ferries heading north through these remote and spectacular islands. And you get an insider look at Scottish history that highlights the Gaelic and Norse cultures. The word “Hebrides” comes from the Norse Viking words for “islands at the edge of the sea.”
Discover a culture very different from the Scottish mainland. Every night on the islands, you are a guest at a small and historic town. This includes the Muthu Alexandra Hotel, which lies in a crescent occupying the hills surrounding Oban Bay, known as the “Seafood Capital of Scotland.” The Craigard Hotel is on the Isle of Barra, the southern gateway to the Isles, where you see outstanding views and the historic Kisimul Castle. Lastly, stay at the Crown Inn – where you can discover the sunset at the Callanish Stones, which have been standing for 5,000 years and pre-date Stonehenge. Let’s cycle through history together!
Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
DAY 1 - Arrival Day
Distance: Optional Ride 5 miles | Terrain: Easier | Muthu Alexandra Hotel
Meet your leaders at the Muthu Alexandra Hotel in the afternoon at 3 p.m. for brief introductions, to fit you with your bike, and to lead you on a short warm-up ride. During the ride, get used to biking on the left side of the road … and enjoy a bit of the lovely Scottish coastal town. After your ride, visit the Oban Distillery to taste the Scottish whisky. Then have the opportunity to take a walk to McCaig's Tower, also known as McCaig’s Folly, built in 1897. Happy hour and dinner are together at the Muthu Alexandra Hotel.
Meet your leaders at the Muthu Alexandra Hotel in the afternoon at 3 p.m. for brief introductions, to fit you with your bike, and to lead you on a short warm-up ride. During the ride, get used to biking on the left side of the road … and enjoy a bit of the lovely Scottish coastal town. After your ride, visit the Oban Distillery to taste the Scottish whisky. Then have the opportunity to take a walk to McCaig's Tower, also known as McCaig’s Folly, built in 1897. Happy hour and dinner are together at the Muthu Alexandra Hotel.
DAY 2 - Oban to Barra
Travel Day | Craigard House Hotel
After breakfast, explore Oban in the morning, where there are plenty of small galleries and stores to browse through … as well as the centrally-located local distillery, chocolate shop, and museum. After roaming, hop on our ferry to the “old world” of the Outer Hebrides, arriving in Barra. Dinner is on your own at a unique spot locals visit: a family-run curry house on the island called Cafe Kisimul. Your lodging is at the Craigard House Hotel, where there’s an outstanding view of the historic Kisimul Castle.
After breakfast, explore Oban in the morning, where there are plenty of small galleries and stores to browse through … as well as the centrally-located local distillery, chocolate shop, and museum. After roaming, hop on our ferry to the “old world” of the Outer Hebrides, arriving in Barra. Dinner is on your own at a unique spot locals visit: a family-run curry house on the island called Cafe Kisimul. Your lodging is at the Craigard House Hotel, where there’s an outstanding view of the historic Kisimul Castle.
DAY 3 - Trails from Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula
Distance: 14, 34, or 48 miles | Terrain: Intermediate to Advanced | Dark Island Hotel
Today is the perfect start to the Outer Hebridean Trail cycling with a ferry and several crossings over causeways. Begin on the island of Bhatarsaigh, which is the most southerly island in the Outer Hebrides and the most westerly in the UK. Cycle north and experience the western edge of Barra. Cross over to the island of Eriskay, where the locals have stories of the “salvage parties” after WWII where, in the ship’s Hold Number 5, a local found 264,000 bottles of whisky … and it mysteriously went missing. You might find a bottle from that era today. After lunch, cycle toward Benbecula, which means “Mountain of the ford,” a place where legend and lore are woven into a fantastic island landscape. End your day in Benbecula at the Dark Island Hotel and get together for dinner at the hotel that evening.
Today is the perfect start to the Outer Hebridean Trail cycling with a ferry and several crossings over causeways. Begin on the island of Bhatarsaigh, which is the most southerly island in the Outer Hebrides and the most westerly in the UK. Cycle north and experience the western edge of Barra. Cross over to the island of Eriskay, where the locals have stories of the “salvage parties” after WWII where, in the ship’s Hold Number 5, a local found 264,000 bottles of whisky … and it mysteriously went missing. You might find a bottle from that era today. After lunch, cycle toward Benbecula, which means “Mountain of the ford,” a place where legend and lore are woven into a fantastic island landscape. End your day in Benbecula at the Dark Island Hotel and get together for dinner at the hotel that evening.
DAY 4 - Grimsay, North Uist
Distance: 42 miles | Terrain: Intermediate to Advanced | Hamersay Hotel
After breakfast, pedal along the western edge of Benbecula before taking a series of causeways to islands before you reach North Uist. Pass miles of sandy beaches and machair (fertile coastal grassland). As you approach the northern tip of the island, loop around and head up to the highest road on North Uist at 188 feet above sea level — and past the only stand of trees on the island! North Uist island is scattered with numerous neolithic standing stones with mythical pasts. For lunch, stop at a Hebridean Smokehouse and bistro where you can taste the fresh smoked salmon and even send a shipment home from the store. End your ride at the Hamersay House in Lochmaddy, which is the only settlement of any size on the island — which has a population of 300. This evening you have the opportunity to take a drive to the old stone circle and watch the sunset over the coastline.
After breakfast, pedal along the western edge of Benbecula before taking a series of causeways to islands before you reach North Uist. Pass miles of sandy beaches and machair (fertile coastal grassland). As you approach the northern tip of the island, loop around and head up to the highest road on North Uist at 188 feet above sea level — and past the only stand of trees on the island! North Uist island is scattered with numerous neolithic standing stones with mythical pasts. For lunch, stop at a Hebridean Smokehouse and bistro where you can taste the fresh smoked salmon and even send a shipment home from the store. End your ride at the Hamersay House in Lochmaddy, which is the only settlement of any size on the island — which has a population of 300. This evening you have the opportunity to take a drive to the old stone circle and watch the sunset over the coastline.
DAY 5 - North Uist, Berneray, Harris
Distance: 11,27, or 38 miles | Terrain: Intermediate to Advanced | Hotel Hebrides
Today, leave the flat islands behind and continue your journey north into the more mountainous terrain of Harris and Lewis. Start heading for the Golden Road, a winding byway that takes you along Harris’s rocky coastline. Rumor has it that the road got its nickname from the high construction cost … if it cost that much to build, then it must be made of gold! The road has little traffic, which allows you to immerse yourself in views of scenery and wildlife. There’s a wide range of birdlife to spot, and seals can even be seen basking on the coastal rocks. End your day in Harris at a beautiful inn along the coast called Hotel Hebrides.
Today, leave the flat islands behind and continue your journey north into the more mountainous terrain of Harris and Lewis. Start heading for the Golden Road, a winding byway that takes you along Harris’s rocky coastline. Rumor has it that the road got its nickname from the high construction cost … if it cost that much to build, then it must be made of gold! The road has little traffic, which allows you to immerse yourself in views of scenery and wildlife. There’s a wide range of birdlife to spot, and seals can even be seen basking on the coastal rocks. End your day in Harris at a beautiful inn along the coast called Hotel Hebrides.
DAY 6 - Harris to Stornoway Lewis
Distance: 35 miles | Terrain: Intermediate to Advanced | Crown Inn
Today you ride out of Tarbet and over the shoulder of the Clisham, which is the highest mountain on the Outer Hebrides. Have lunch at the Island Art Gallery, where you can admire the work of local artists from the island. After lunch, you ride the ridge before dropping down to Loch Shiphoirt and on toward Stornoway, where you stay for two nights.
Today you ride out of Tarbet and over the shoulder of the Clisham, which is the highest mountain on the Outer Hebrides. Have lunch at the Island Art Gallery, where you can admire the work of local artists from the island. After lunch, you ride the ridge before dropping down to Loch Shiphoirt and on toward Stornoway, where you stay for two nights.
DAY 7 - Stornoway to Butt of Lewis
Distance: 52 miles | Terrain: Intermediate to Advanced | Crown Inn
This is your final riding day! Your goal for the day is cycling to the Butt of Lewis — mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records as the windiest place in the UK. North of here, it’s just open ocean to the Arctic. This marks the end of your route and the finish of the classic “Outer Hebridean traverse” from Vatersay to Lewis. The finish is marked with a 121-foot-high red brick lighthouse built by Robert Louis Stevenson's father between 1859 and 1862. Before you get there though, you still have some exciting cycling to do around the eastern edge of Lewis. Take a very short detour to pass by the Callanish Stones, a set of standing stones erected 5,000 years ago — which predates Stonehenge. End the day with Hebridean Way certificates, whisky, and a celebration dinner in Stornoway.
This is your final riding day! Your goal for the day is cycling to the Butt of Lewis — mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records as the windiest place in the UK. North of here, it’s just open ocean to the Arctic. This marks the end of your route and the finish of the classic “Outer Hebridean traverse” from Vatersay to Lewis. The finish is marked with a 121-foot-high red brick lighthouse built by Robert Louis Stevenson's father between 1859 and 1862. Before you get there though, you still have some exciting cycling to do around the eastern edge of Lewis. Take a very short detour to pass by the Callanish Stones, a set of standing stones erected 5,000 years ago — which predates Stonehenge. End the day with Hebridean Way certificates, whisky, and a celebration dinner in Stornoway.
DAY 8 - Departure Day
Get ready for an early departure ferry this morning from Stornoway to Inverness at 5:45 a.m. By noon, arrive for farewells in Inverness, which is the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. The old town features a 19th-century cathedral, an indoor Victorian Market selling food, clothing, and crafts, and a museum and art gallery that trace local and Highland history. It’s a great town in which to stay a few extra days with an airport to head back home to the states. Our shuttle is available to downtown Inverness or the airport on Day 8. Don’t book any departing flights before 6 p.m.
Map
Dates & Pricing
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
7 nights’ lodging, 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 6 dinners (you are on your own for 3 lunches, and 1 dinner in Barra), a distillery tour, ferry tickets, museum entrance fees, and a certificate for finishing the Hebridean Way. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus the use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Dates & Pricing
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
7 nights’ lodging, 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 6 dinners (you are on your own for 3 lunches, and 1 dinner in Barra), a distillery tour, ferry tickets, museum entrance fees, and a certificate for finishing the Hebridean Way. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus the use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Inns
Where you stay along the way.
Muthu Alexandra Hotel
Nestled between the lodgings of the Bishop of Argyll & the Isles and the Old Oban Baptist church, the Alexandra Hotel enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in Scotland. The views across Oban Bay to the island of Kerrera and beyond are an instant joy. Colorful sunsets, seabirds of all kinds, and seals can be spotted most evenings. The interior of this impressive Victorian building was completely renovated, whilst still retaining many of its magnificent original features. The beautiful glass frontage allows guests to soak up stunning views every minute of the day. Should you succeed in dragging yourself away from the views of Oban Bay you will discover spacious and carefully considered bedrooms with equally beautiful interiors and all the comforts you need to make your stay as relaxing as possible. Truly an experience you will never forget.
Craigard House Hotel
Craigard House Hotel overlooks Campbeltown Loch, in a quiet cul-de-sac, but minutes from the center of town.
A recently converted Victorian mansion, originally built by a Whisky Distiller, Craigard offers a friendly and informal stay, in thirteen comfortable and well-appointed rooms, many with glorious sea views.
A recently converted Victorian mansion, originally built by a Whisky Distiller, Craigard offers a friendly and informal stay, in thirteen comfortable and well-appointed rooms, many with glorious sea views.
Dark Island Hotel
On a summer evening as you stroll along the machair tracks close to the hotel, you will hear corncrakes, oystercatchers and lapwings calling from the vibrant patchwork of machair cornfield. Enjoy the comfortable rooms here with updated amenities. And appreciate the fresh foods ... many of them locally sourced.
Hamersay House
Purpose built as a hotel in 2005 in the village of Lochmaddy, Hamersay House was bought by the team from Langass Lodge in 2014. A series of refurbishments has established this as a comfortable 4-star hotel popular with discerning visitors keen to explore the lovely island of North Uist.
Hotel Hebrides
In the heart of the Hebrides, this boutique-style hotel offers 21 individually designed en-suite bedrooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea/coffee-making facilities. Every bedroom is laden with delightful considerate touches such as a range of luxury Ishga and Essence of Harris products, top quality pocket sprung mattresses and sumptuous thick bath sheets and robes for your added comfort.
The Crown Inn
The proprietors strive to make The Crown Inn a key part of the Stornoway community, offering a little bit of something for everyone. They are a small inn-style hotel (16 en-suite rooms), which also features their Harbour view Restaurant and Lounge Bar (which boasts the largest selection of gin in the Outer Hebrides ... 120 & counting).
Gallery
Images from this tour. Click each to see it larger.
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