West Coast Islands ...
 

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[Closed] West Coast Islands bikepacking advice please

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 Pezz
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I want to do a west coast island hopping bikepacking trip, wild camping, bothying and hostels.I have 3 weeks to a month off in spring/early summer.  I want to explore, rather than race.

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I plan to start at Ardrossan to Arran, Islay, then up to Oban. </span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">From Oban to Mull and maybe the inner Hebrides, before heading to the outer Hebrides, starting at Bara, returning from Tarbert on Harris to Uig, if I'm going to take in Raasay, Canna, Rum and Eigg. I've done Barra to the Butt before, so not bothered about that.</span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm taking a plus bike, hoping to do things like ride into the bothy on Mull, the Lookout bothy if I do Skye. </span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'd be grateful for advice please. Is it worth/feasible to include detours to do the following: </span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">include Jura, Tyree and Coll in the first part of the trip? </span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">include Raasay, Canna, Rum and Eigg in the second part? If they aren't worth doing, I could explore Uig on south Lewis instead and come back by Ullapool, missing out Skye. </span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm meeting friends in Kenmore to ride to Applecross at the end, so could come up from Kyle of Lochalsh or down from Ullapool. </span>

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm taking a plus bike, so any recommendations for off road routes across islands or into great wild camps would be great, gpx would be even better. </span>


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 2:56 pm
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There is not much offroading in the outer Hebrides.  We wild camped all up the island chain then back down thru to Oban. Nicest camp probably on the beach on south uist


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 3:03 pm
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The other good camp was amongst the less popular stone circles to the west of callanish


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 3:08 pm
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sounds like a good trip. only thing id suggest it take the general wind direction into account.


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 4:23 pm
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Have answered your question over on the BB forum. Well as much as I can.


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 4:45 pm
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Great idea!

If it was me, id def. include a trip to Jura.

but if you're not fit, I'd start with tiree to 'acclimatise' before heading out to the more strenuous islands (mull is pretty hard work)

colonsay would be nice, but are you allowed to camp on that island?

Again, if it was me, I'd start with Coll/ tiree and then go in a figure of eight, with oban as your 'hub'/ midpoint.


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 4:54 pm
 scud
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As above, not really much off road in Outer Hebrides, myself and a couple of mates did a brilliant fat bike trip, riding down the length of the chain of islands on the beaches and sleeping on the beach each night, the people are really friendly and it is really scenic, some great off road rides on Skye and around Applecross area though


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 4:55 pm
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There is(was?) A hostel on colonsay. If you are going from Islay  to oban you need to go through colonsay. When i did it islay to colonsay only ran one day a week.


 
Posted : 03/02/2018 5:00 pm

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