OK so after having a great time cycling around the outer hebrides last year, missus & eldest fancy doing something similar again this year.
The vague plan is to do this in late june / early july after eldest has finished his exams.
Looking for something around 3-5 days ish long. Roads and/or easy smooth fire road type trails. Nothing too bumpy or technical.
Would prefer to do this camping, as we have all the gear from last year's tour to use 🙂 However we would consider hostel / BnB based also.
I'd really like to do something in Scotland again, but fear the midge could put paid to that by the time we get to late June.
So - whatcha got?
PS should probably say - could consider abroad also, however we probably don't have too much time to spare to get there / back and don't want it to eat into riding time too much.
Not sure where you are in the UK but some obvious ones include King Alfred’s Way; Wolf Way or a combo of Trans Cambrian/Traws Eryri?
Trips we've done (and enjoyed!)
: Oban to Oban via ardnarmurchan and mull
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/220425
: Oban to Oban via colonsay Islay Jura and back on the mainland and loch awe.
: nw Ireland
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/256937
: Normandy. From Poole-Cherbourg ferry. Back via Granville-jersey and jersey-poole ferry. Kind of a petit petit tour du manche.
Train to Kyle of Lochalsh, then through Skye, Ardnamurchan and Mull back to Oban. I did this a year after my first Outer Hebrides E2E and rated it equally.
Thanks all,
Last year for the Hebrides we did Oban-Barra-South Uist-North Uist-Haris-Skye-Ardnamurchan-Mull-Oban
So would be keen to do something where we don't retrace the latter part of that route.
It was excellent though
Islay/Jura route and also Normady sound interesting.
We are in Leeds by the way so most parts of England/Scotland/Wales do-able for a 5 day tour
Yeah I seem to remember us saying that the mainland return to Oban from the Hebrides E2E was a ride in itself. So now's the time!
Last September I did Lon Las Cymru with my daughter on gravel bikes. We used b&b's but camping is an option - cycle.travel will show you where. It was just an absolutely fantastic experience.
if you want easy access, Way of the Roses makes a nice 3 dayer, stopping to see sights on the way.
Edinburgh to Inverness. Sustrans routes all the way.
Extend it on to sky If you have the legs.
Excellent in 1997 for first tour. Not done it since so check it carefully
Rebellion way fits the bill of easy riding, did it last summer with my then 12 year old son. Enjoyed it. Loads of campsites...not the most epic ride or views but it had its own charm!
Moray Triangle? Do the full Aviemore to Aviemore.
https://www.komoot.com/collection/1348795/-moray-gravel-triangle-collection
This idea is nothing like as exciting as some of the suggestions above, but how about the C2C (Whitehaven to Sunderland) and back via the Reivers Route? That feels like it'd comfortably occupy about 5 days without going all out.
This idea is nothing like as exciting as some of the suggestions above, but how about the C2C (Whitehaven to Sunderland) and back via the Reivers Route? That feels like it’d comfortably occupy about 5 days without going all out.
We did this but took 4 days each way which was very relaxed, especially with a day off in the middle. We used B&Bs. 3 days each way would be challenging, more so without a break, even more so when you have to set up a camp on arriving somewhere. Very nice ride though
France is worth considering - portsmouth - Cherbourg - then back from St Malo or Le Havre
Closer to home the Yorkshire Dales cycleway is nice-looking circular route
One of my favourite tours was the Great Northumberland loop. Quiet back roads, country boozers, Northumbria coast, Newcastle for city experience. Loved it.
I'd head to Dumfries and Galloway area
You problem is that you might have exposed them to the best the UK has to offer already!
One of my favourite tours was the Great Northumberland loop. Quiet back roads, country boozers, Northumbria coast, Newcastle for city experience. Loved it.
that sounds interesting, have you got a link to more info?
Train to Aberdeen and then ride the coast south and get as far as you want within the time you have following Sustrans route 1 (Coasts & Castles North & South).
Thanks for the ideas all - will have a good look at these options over the weekend.
You problem is that you might have exposed them to the best the UK has to offer already!
Yeah...I probably peaked too early there. But on the plus side they enjoyed it so much that they want to do it again (which was definitely not the most probable outcome)
Brand new Coast to Cost through the South of Scotland, the Kirkpatrick C2c. Some logistics involved in getting to start point in Stranraer but very doable in 5 days.
https://scotlandstartshere.com/kirkpatrickc2c/kirkpatrick-c2c-challenge/
Not the open wilderness of Highlands and Islands but you'll be grateful for that if the weather is blowing a hooley.