Hello everyone,
We've got a cycle tour around the Hebrides all planned out for the end of May (during English half term). We're intending camping / wild camping for most of it. Ferries all booked, route all planned, gear all bought. A few minor things to sort out but pretty much ready to go
So long as the weather is at least OKish then we'll do that. However if it is looking horrendous up in NW Scotland then I want to formulate an alternative plan or two which we could do elsewhere.
So looking for recommendations...
Requirements:
0) Enough geographic separation from NW scotland to be likely to have different weather!
1) Preferably camping and/or wild camping for most of it. Would still consider stuff requiring accommodation, but given we would only plan to enact this plan B at the last minute, would prefer the flexibility to camp as I won't be bookign stuff in advance. (something in eastern Scotland might be good for the wild camping so long as it's only NW Scotland getting hammered by the weather)
2) Can get from Leeds to the start point in half a day ish or maybe up to a day at the most. Gives us options in most of Scotland/Wales/England and maybe some near continent options also.
3) Either circular, or easy transport (e.g. via fairly direct train) back to the start point
4) 5-6ish days cycling. No more, a day or so less is OK.
5) Road, or a combination of road and easy well-surfaced non-technical gravel
6) Generally flat ish or at least not too hilly (doing it with wife & eldest)
7) Not a stupid amount of distance per day. Looking for up to 60-70Km ish per day, maybe a touch more (depending on terrain)
8) Interesting stuff to look at. Places to eat, shops etc along the way. Not completely remote from everything
9) Roads that aren't too busy
Watcha got?
me and the good lady have ferry booked from Hull for 21st of may.
heading to Belgium for a 2 week beer tour.
so rather than turning right off the ferry like we will be, you could turn left and head up the dutch coast as far as Den helder.
campsites a plenty. not hilly at all. lots to see.
head back via Amsterdam and Delft.
all on bike paths. safe as houses.
thanks was thinking about the Hull ferry to Rotterdam. Very easy.
Belgium and Netherlands coast both good shouts. I like Belgium!
Predicting any kind of weather on the Hebrides is an ask as whatever weather it is will change and be blown through.
I’m assuming it’s only storms and biblical rain will change your mind.l and force a plan B.
Part of the attraction for me is you’re going to get the full message mix of everything over there. Just gotta roll with it.
I’m assuming it’s only storms and biblical rain will change your mind.l and force a plan B.
Yep that pretty much sums it up. Not expecting it to be anything other than a mixed bag, which will be fine by me.
Would only enact plan b if it is looking nailed on awful for a large portion of the trip
(Have also got bail options sussed out if the weather takes a massive turn for worse while there)
Drive to North Wales. Get the ferry to Dublin, ride south to Rosslare, ferry to Fishguard and ride back up Cardigan Bay to the car. We did exactly that though i think we did Saturday to Sunday so maybe too many days? I can dig out the gpx files and probably even details of the hotels we used if you fancy not camping. If you need to cut short (as we did thanks to illness) then there are regular bus services so you can pop up to get the car and come back for the bikes
Thanks nbt that sounds a good option. If it's easy enough to find them then I would appreciate the details. I'll see if I can PM you (if I can get it to work!)
We did the Lon Las Cymru from Holyhead to Cardiff a couple of years ago. It was easy enough to find somewhere to leave the car for a few days in Holyhead then get the train back up on our last day. We did 5 days which I think was 3 100km days and then an 80k day with 30k on the last day. Wild camped 2 night, campsite 1 night, then the Premier Inn in Merthyr for our last night. The 2nd day was pretty hilly going from Porthmadog to just beyond Mach, but the rest was fine on fully laden bikes, so would recommend maybe splitting the 2nd day if you can afford an extra day. You pass through loads of towns with shops, cafes, supermarkets, and plenty of bus shelters about if an Audax hotel is quickly needed! Really beautiful route, would highly recommend!
https://cycle.travel/route/lon_las_cymru
Edit: Its very well signposted as it's NCN 8!